The Hunchback of Notre-Dame:
The End of the Medieval Dark Ages and the Wickedness Within Human Nature
1. Introduction
2. Characters
3. Plot and Summary
The story revolves around Quasimodo, the deformed bell-ringer of Notre-Dame Cathedral, who falls in love with the beautiful gypsy dancer Esmeralda. Meanwhile, the archdeacon Claude Frollo harbors a twisted obsession for Esmeralda, leading to tragic consequences for all involved.
4. Review
The Hunchback of Notre-Dame is a profound exploration of human nature and the societal tensions of its time. Victor Hugo masterfully intertwines themes of love, obsession, and prejudice against the backdrop of medieval Paris. The characters are complex and flawed, reflecting the moral ambiguity of the era. The novel's tragic conclusion serves as a poignant reminder of the destructive power of human passions.
5. Conclusion
The Hunchback of Notre-Dame stands as a timeless classic, offering readers a captivating glimpse into the tumultuous period of medieval France and the depths of the human soul.
Introduction
Set against the backdrop of medieval Notre-Dame Cathedral, Victor Hugo's masterpiece, "The Hunchback of Notre-Dame," transcends time and society as it reflects on the fundamental nature of humanity through a dramatic portrayal of a generation. Overall, the work exudes a fantastical atmosphere and romantic elements.
Published by Victor Hugo, a celebrated figure in France, in 1831, "The Hunchback of Notre-Dame" is set in late 15th-century France. This period marked the transition from the medieval era to the Renaissance in Europe. Known for its adaptation into the musical "The Hunchback of Notre-Dame," this work centers around Quasimodo, the bell-ringer of Notre-Dame Cathedral, who was abandoned as a child and became the cathedral's bell-ringer, Esmeralda, the gypsy dancer, and Claude Frollo, the archdeacon and Quasimodo's guardian, unfolding a tragic tale.
First published in 1831, the work has been adapted into a successful musical, which drew an audience of over 3 million, captivating even the reserved French audience with its genre.
Characters
The central character of the story is Esmeralda, around whom the major events of the plot unfold. Many men fall in love with her because of her dazzling beauty, including Quasimodo, the bell-ringer of Notre-Dame Cathedral, and Frollo, the archdeacon. Quasimodo can be seen as a sort of double agent for Frollo. Additionally, Pierre Gringoire, a writer, and Phoebus, a soldier, also briefly admire her. However, it is Phoebus whom Esmeralda loves. Another significant character is Sister Gudule.
Plot and Summary
The setting of this work is late 15th-century Paris under the reign of Louis XI of France. The city is abuzz with excitement due to an impending national event—the marriage of the French crown prince to the Princess of Flanders—and the approaching festival of the Feast of Fools, celebrated by the French populace.
The Feast of Fools involves the selection of a peculiar individual as the Pope of Fools, who leads a procession through the streets of Paris. To impress the Flanders envoy and the people, the French royal court prepares a play in the Great Hall. Pierre Gringoire, a writer, is the playwright of this drama.
As the play begins, the late arrival of the Flanders envoy disrupts the atmosphere. Furthermore, the abrupt commencement of the Pope of Fools ceremony, the highlight of the festival, leads to chaos and ruins the performance.
It is revealed that the chosen Pope of Fools is Quasimodo, the bell-ringer of Notre-Dame Cathedral. Quasimodo, with a hunched back, a deformed face, and impaired hearing from ringing the cathedral bells, owes his survival to Archdeacon Frollo, who took him in despite his disabilities.
Disappointed by the failure of his play, Gringoire wanders aimlessly through the streets of Paris that night. In an alley, he witnesses thugs kidnapping a woman and rushes to her rescue but is knocked unconscious by the thugs. Fortunately, Captain Phoebus passes by and manages to apprehend one of the kidnappers, while the other escapes. Surprisingly, the captured kidnapper is Quasimodo, and the fleeing one is Archdeacon Frollo. The woman they attempted to abduct is Esmeralda, a gypsy girl renowned for her beauty in Paris, who disappears amidst the chaos.
Frollo, having seen Esmeralda in the streets of Paris, becomes infatuated with her and instructs Quasimodo to kidnap her. Gringoire, after regaining consciousness, stumbles into the Court of Miracles, where the beggars and gypsies of Paris gather, and narrowly avoids death thanks to Esmeralda's help.
Quasimodo, caught as the kidnapper, is brought to trial and subjected to the punishment of public humiliation, with many mocking him and even Frollo turning away from him. Esmeralda, however, is the only one who shows him kindness by offering him water.
Meanwhile, Esmeralda falls in love with Phoebus, who had rescued her, despite his reputation as a womanizer. Phoebus, despite having a mistress, attempts to engage in a physical relationship with her. At a critical moment, Frollo follows them and, in a fit of jealousy, stabs Phoebus with a dagger and flees. Fortunately, Phoebus survives, but Esmeralda is charged with attempted murder for trying to kill him.
As she is being escorted, Quasimodo, the bell-ringer, witnesses her and rescues her, taking her to Notre-Dame Cathedral, where she finds refuge. However, Frollo, who harbors lustful feelings for Esmeralda, approaches her. Quasimodo, who loves Esmeralda, protects her from Frollo. Frollo devises a malicious plan to use the beggars and gypsies of the Court of Miracles, led by Gringoire, to attack the cathedral under the pretext of rescuing Esmeralda.
Unaware of the plan, Quasimodo fiercely resists the attackers to protect Esmeralda. Meanwhile, Frollo kidnaps Esmeralda and flees. However, she ultimately rejects him. Enraged, Frollo instructs Sister Gudule to hold Esmeralda captive while he leaves to report her to the authorities.
Sister Gudule harbors deep resentment towards gypsies like Esmeralda because her own daughter was taken by them years ago. However, she discovers that Esmeralda is her lost daughter. The joy of their reunion is short-lived as Esmeralda is apprehended by soldiers dispatched by Frollo and is eventually sentenced to death by hanging.
As Frollo watches from atop Notre-Dame Cathedral, Quasimodo, filled with grief, pushes him to his death. He then alternates between the bodies of Frollo and Esmeralda, uttering the following words:
Oh! I have loved them both!
Reflection
The ending is incredibly tragic. If one expected a happy ending where Esmeralda reunites with her mother, the nun finds her lost daughter, and Quasimodo protects his beloved, they might be caught off guard by the sudden tragedy.
According to the epilogue, no one ever saw Quasimodo again. Years later, two bodies, mostly reduced to bones, are found in the charnel house where the bodies of executed prisoners were kept. One skeleton, with a broken neck, indicates death by hanging, but the other, with a hunched back, does not, suggesting that it was not a convict. The hunched skeleton is found clutching the other, and when people try to separate them, both sets of bones crumble.
The story is commonly known for the tale of Quasimodo's love, but upon reading the work, one realizes that most characters, including Quasimodo, long for love. Esmeralda seeks the love of Phoebus, while Quasimodo desires her love in return. Even Frollo, albeit distorted, desires her. Additionally, the prioress, who has spent 15 years waiting for her lost daughter, also demonstrates a profound love for humanity.
As the story unfolds and seems to align the characters' desires, it abruptly concludes in tragedy. Despite suffering from unrequited love, the characters do not give up on love. The work suggests that despite the agony caused by love, humans cannot abandon it.
Early in the story, Quasimodo is brought to trial for the attempted kidnapping of Esmeralda. Due to his hearing impairment and grotesque appearance, people have already branded him as guilty. Later, Esmeralda also faces trial for attempted murder, and due to her status as a Romani and accused heretic, she too is unjustly condemned.
Given the characters' innocence, the unjust trials and societal biases portrayed in the story evoke a deeper emotional response from readers. It highlights the cruelty of prejudice and discrimination based on one's appearance or social status, leading to tragic outcomes for the innocent.
This work also reflects the end of the cathedral era. The musical's opening song speaks of the era of cathedrals, and this work depicts the end of that era. The cathedral era refers to the medieval period, characterized by moral and ethical constraints on human desires. The subsequent Renaissance era saw people beginning to express their suppressed desires.
Frollo's character symbolizes this shift. By portraying a figure like Frollo, a clergyman in a cathedral representing the medieval era, openly expressing desires, Victor Hugo signifies the end of the medieval era. Through this portrayal, the work signifies the end of the medieval era and the beginning of a new era marked by the expression of human desires.
Conclusion
This work was written by Victor Hugo when he was just 29 years old. While age is irrelevant in art, the fact that he crafted such a intricate plot and incorporated symbolic elements at a young age is a testament to his greatness as a writer.
In Korea, especially, it may be assumed that Quasimodo is the protagonist of this work due to its association with "The Hunchback of Notre-Dame." However, upon reading the work, it becomes clear that the focus is on the anguish of Archdeacon Frollo and the life of Esmeralda. Nevertheless, Quasimodo depicted in the work, with his grotesque appearance, unfortunate upbringing, and sensory impairments, yet noble heart and pure love, became a recurring character in many subsequent works.
Perhaps due to its medieval setting, the work evokes a dreamy and ethereal atmosphere, which makes the tragic ending even more poignant.
