The Hunchback of Notre Dame by Victor Hugo

Everyone knows the story of The Hunchback of Notre-Dame…or do they? I thought I did, but I only had a limited glimpse of the intriguing tale spun expertly by Victor Hugo.

The Festival of Fools in Paris is held on January 6 1482 and various circumstances bring out cruelty and humanity simultaneously. Those revered are revealed as beasts and those seen as hideous are shown to be the true angels.

Quasimodo, abandoned and left at Notre Dame, was adopted by the seemingly revered Dom Claude Frollo. He knows little of life beyond the bells of the cathedral other than the fear and disgust of those he does encounter. Any small act of kindness to him is seen as extreme benevolence and he innocently devotes his life to those he believes are worthy of his loyalty.

Another abandoned child, La Esmerelda grew up with gypsies and her beauty and enchanting dancing attract men where ever she goes. An amulet she secures around her neck is all that remains of her heritage and she hopes to one day find her mother.

Phoebus, a Captain, is Esmerelda’s true love who saves her life and then destroys it by keeping mum the true circumstances about his stabbing. A true hedonist, his only love is himself.

Quotes:

The belfry of the transept and the two towers were to him were like three great cages; in which the birds,trained by him, sang for him alone; and yet it was these very bells which made him deaf. But mothers love that child best which has cost them most pain.

Then began between the doctor and the archdeacon one of those congratulatory prefaces with which it was at this period customary to precede every conversation between learned men, and which did not hinder them from hating each other most cordially. However, it is just so today: the lips of every learned man who compliments another scholar are like a cup of honeyed poison.

Royal palaces, princely mansions and above all churches, had the right of sanctuary; sometimes an entire town which stood in need of repopulation was given the temporary right.

At Dom Claudes unexpected proposition, the poet’s benign and open face had suddenly darkened, like a smiling Italian landscape when some fatal blast sweeps a cloud across the sun.

I believe politics would be an intriguing conversation with Mr. Hugo whose own views evolved over time. He would surely see parallels to the current state of democracy. Hopefully, we’d also find time to discuss his writing processes.

My rating for The Hunchback of Notre Dame is a 9 out of 10.

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Next up , John Steinbeck’s Cannery Row…