The Hunchback of Notre Dame

Published in 1831, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, alternatively titled Notre Dame of Paris, is a captivating historical novel crafted by the French writer Victor Hugo.

Within its pages, readers are introduced to a cast of intriguing characters, including Esmeralda, a gypsy; Quasimodo, the hunchback; and Claude Frollo, an archdeacon, whose intertwining tales paint a vivid picture of the French Middle Ages.

Recommended for: Readers interested in classic literature, historical fiction, and stories that explore complex themes of social injustice, morality, and the human condition. The Hunchback of Notre Dame would appeal to those who appreciate richly developed characters, vivid depictions of medieval European society, and narratives that grapple with profound questions of humanity.

You will:

Immerse yourself in the vibrant and turbulent world of 15th-century Paris, where the towering cathedral of Notre-Dame serves as both a physical and symbolic backdrop to the unfolding drama.
Witness the tragic tale of Quasimodo, the deformed bell-ringer of Notre-Dame, whose physical appearance belies his kind and sensitive nature, and his unrequited love for the beautiful gypsy dancer, Esmeralda.
Explore the complex character of Claude Frollo, the archdeacon whose obsession with power and control leads him down a dark path of manipulation, jealousy, and violence.
Gain insight into the social structures, religious institutions, and power dynamics that defined medieval Parisian society, and how they shaped the lives and fates of the characters.
Reflect on the novel’s themes of justice, morality, love, and the struggle for personal identity and acceptance in the face of societal prejudice and marginalization.
Appreciate Victor Hugo’s masterful use of language, symbolism, and dramatic tension to create a captivating, multifaceted narrative that has stood the test of time.
Develop a deeper understanding of the creative and intellectual traditions that have influenced subsequent generations of writers, artists, and thinkers.
Engage with the novel’s timeless questions about the human condition, the nature of compassion and cruelty, and the complex relationship between the individual and the institutions that shape their world.

Plot

The novel begins with a scene of the double celebration of January 6, in 1482, the day of Kings and the feast of the insane.

Esmeralda’s kidnapping

Claude Frollo adopted and raised Quasimodo. Quasimodo was the bell ringer of the cathedral of Notre-Dame. A prominent figure of the festival was the gypsy Esmeralda, and she attracted many spectators who admired her dance. Frollo is in love with Esmeralda and creates a plan to kidnap her. And he uses Quasimodo as part of his program. The captain named Phoebus de Châteaupers witnesses Esmeralda’s attempted kidnapping. And he interferes to prevent it. Arrest Quasimodo and plead him guilty. Thus, Quasimodo is publicly flogged in the square.

Pierre Gringoire and Esmeralda

Meanwhile, Pierre Gringoire is caught by gypsies while looking for a place to sleep. They want to kill him since Gringoire attended an assembly by chance. And now the gypsies fear that he can reveal some information about what he heard in this meeting. To avoid his death, Esmeralda decides to marry him. But Esmeralda is in love with her savior, Captain Phoebus de Châteaupers.

The captain Phoebus murder

Captain Phoebus and Esmeralda plan a meeting, but they ignore that the jealous Frollo has followed them. Frollo stabs Captain Phoebus and flees from the scene. The police accused Esmeralda of attempted murder and witchery. Then, the court condemns her to death. Thus, Frollo sees this situation as an opportunity to conquer Esmeralda. So, he decides to visit her in the prison where she is captive and confesses her love.

Esmeralda’s ecclesiastical asylum

Yet Esmeralda recognizes him as the man who attacked Captain Phoebus and rejects him. Moreover, Quasimodo saves Esmeralda on the day of her execution. And he organizes a place inside the church of Notre Dame to give an ecclesiastical asylum to Esmeralda. For a while, Esmeralda manages to live there and protect herself from Claude Frollo. Besides, during her stay in the church, a particular affection was born for the hunchback Quasimodo.

Unfortunately, the story will change course when the court removes Esmeralda’s right to live in the church.

Licensing

Victor Hugo. The Hunchback of Notre Dame. Publisher: Thomas Y. Crowell & Co (New York), 1888. Translated from the french by Isabel Florence Hapgood. Originally published in 1831. This work was published before January 1, 1929, and is in the public domain worldwide because the author died at least 100 years ago. This English translation was published in 1888, so it is in the public domain in the United States and other countries where the copyright term expires 95 years after the translator’s death or earlier.. Text from Wikisource: https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Notre-Dame_de_Paris_(Hapgood)
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