The Hunchback of Notre-Dame: Review

The hunchback of Notre-Dame is a beautifully written story, in which Victor Hugo has delineated the beauty, grandeur, and history of Gothic architecture. The novel is a result of the author's careful examination of the cathedral of Notre-Dame. The cathedral of Notre-Dame forms the center of the novel, and the lives of several characters, who live in or around it including Quasimodo, the hunchback; bellringer of Notre-Dame. The constant presence of Notre-Dame in the novel and lengthy descriptions of the Gothic architecture of Paris suggests that Hugo believed that it was an art form and should be preserved and appreciated. 

In this novel, various themes and issues have been targeted by Hugo one of which is how people are primarily judged on their appearance, rather than their internal character. In the story, by presenting different scenarios, the author argues with the reader, that the appearance can be deceiving, and judging people based on their looks would cause people to be ill-treated. This often causes alienation of such people from society, as society has rejected them, they too reject society and live in solitude. As presented in the story, where the hunchback is detested and jeered whenever he appears in public merely out of his appearance. So he stays within the cathedral and enjoys his own company while befriending the cathedral in his solitude. No one empathizes with him or sees him as a person with feelings. Esmeralda is also shown to be judged on her looks and appearance. In the story, where at one point she is dancing in a square, she is called in by Fleur-de-Lys and made fun of how poorly she is dressed. Later on, merely on her appearance, she is accused of being a witch, luring men with her beauty, and killing them. Whereas, both of the characters, despite their appearances are virtuous inside and are unfairly judged on their looks. The cruelty that society demonstrates towards Quasimodo, teaches him to be vicious in return, which is only a result of the mockery of the crowd, during the "Feast of Fools". However, the true nature of Quasimodo is revealed later in the novel, when he falls in love with Esmeralda and saves her from being executed. His true nature is shown to be loving, kind, and caring. Through this part of the story, Victor Hugo demonstrates that cruelty breeds cruelty, and kindness will make the other person kind eventually. 

In addition to that, different sections of the novel suggest that Paris in this era had an active system of justice. However, although a justice system is in place, it is a corrupt and often laughable one. Which is portrayed, when Quasimodo is caught and tried by Florian Barbedienne, who is deaf. To save his skin, he pretends to hear Quasimodo's answers and replies during the trial, while being unaware of Quasimodo's deafness. He later sentences Quasimodo to be publically flogged. Similarly, Esmeralda is held and accused of being a witch, whereas the poor goat Dijali, whom she has taught to do some tricks is convicted of being a demon and both are sentenced to death. This whole scenario suggests the poor justice system of that era. 

Lust and purity is another theme of the novel, where lust is said to be associated with sin and purity with holiness. In the story, the alchemist Frollo is infatuated with Esmeralda and while trying to repress his feelings, he thus gives rise to an unhealthy obsession and lust for her, which causes him to behave destructively. He hounds Esmeralda to death because he cannot satisfy his lust. 

In the end, in the story, the author suggests that the purest of love can come even from the most deformed appearance.

A beautifully written novel by Victor Hugo.