The Hunchback Of Notre-Dame Essay, Research Paper
The Hunchback of Notre-Dame
?Love is a universal language.? This popular quote
from many movies and literary works describes the importance
of love, and how there are no limits or barriers when
dealing with love. Many people cannot even help whether or
not they fall in love. There are many types of love and
they need not be between members of opposite sexes. In
Victor Hugo’s novel, The Hunchback of Notre Dame,
Quasimodo’s love for Esmerelda is not as strong as his
different sense of love for the Archdeacon, Claude Frollo.
Quasimodo loves each person in a different manner, but is
truer to the Archdeacon.
The hunchback feels, among other things, a love
described as Eros for the Mistress Esmerelda; whereas, for
the Archdeacon the love he feels is known as Philia. While
Quasimodo is drawn to Esmerelda by her inner beauty and
personal qualities, he admires the Archdeacon for his
powerful position in the social structure of the town.
Throughout the story, Quasimodo does his best to protect
Esmerelda. Contrarily, he is protected by the Archdeacon.
There are four types of love, only one of which involves a
man’s physical love for a woman and vice versa. This type
of love is known as Eros. It is defined as a relationship
in which two parties are physically attracted to one
another. Esmerelda, the gypsy, is quite beautiful. She
dances in the midst of a crowd near a bonfire: ?All eyes
were fixed on her, all mouths hung open. As she danced to
the rhythm of the tambourine which her round, delicate arms
held over her head, she seemed to be some sort of
supernatural creature(p.22). Quasimodo is taken by her
loveliness just like most other men. However, because he is
deformed and hideous, Quasimodo’s physical attraction to the
Mistress is unrequited. Nevertheless, this attraction is
uncontrollable. Although he never acts upon his urges nor
openly displays his affection, the hunchback feels the type
of love called Eros for Esmerelda. Accordingly, he feels a
different kind of love for the Archdeacon: Philia. Just as
Eros as love stems from physical factors, Philia is a result
of external factors. The Archdeacon is a man of God. He is
considered the religious authority in Paris. Quasimodo
resides in the Notre Dame Cathedral. He takes a great
interest in God, and apparently shares this interest with
the Archdeacon. Quasimodo was taken in by Claude Frollo
when he was quite young. The two men grew quite close
together: ?When the poor bellringer became deaf the two men
developed a mysterious language of signs and gestures which
was understood by them alone. Thus the Archdeacon was the
only person with whom Quasimodo maintained communication
(p.65). The hunchback feels a sense of love based on
comradery and years of relations. He deeply admires Claude
Frollo’s religious faith and charity: that is, the charity
shown to Quasimodo when he was only a young, abandoned boy.
The two men have a complex system of hand gestures and sign
language which they use to communicate with each other. This
illustrates their mutual correspondence and understanding.
Through these experiences and this upbringing, Quasimodo
develops a Philial love for the Archdeacon.
In the timeframe of this story, the late 1400’s and
early 1500’s, the Catholic Church is a major factor and
authority in virtually all of a town’s laws, transactions
and business. This being the case, holding the position as
Archdeacon, or head of the church, is a much coveted
occupation. Quasimodo admires the Archdeacon’s powerful
position. The hunchback himself enjoys authority as he
possesses the power of rule over people. This is visible
when he is elected Pope of Fools: ?Quasimodo let himself be
decked out in them with a kind of proud docility. He was
then made to sit down on a brightly colored litter. Twelve
officers of the Brotherhood of Fools lifted it to their
shoulders. A bitter and haughty joy spread over the gloomy
face of the Cyclops [Quasimodo] as he saw under his deformed
feet the heads of all those handsome, straight and well-made
men (p.17). It is evident that he is happy to be exalted
among normal men, even if only for one night and he is
chosen because he wins an ugliness contest. Since Claude
Frollo holds such a praiseworthy position, the hunchback
respects him. He is also honored that such a figure as the
Archdeacon even associates with he, a measly and horrid bell
ringer.
As opposed to the Archdeacon, Esmerelda holds no real
power or authority. Rather she has the ability to see
beyond the exterior appearance of something, and learn about
its true value. She accomplishes this with Quasimodo. At
first, she is repelled by his terrible ugliness. The gypsy
?often reproached herself for not being grateful enough to
blind herself to his appearance but, try as she might, she
could not accustom herself to him. He was too ugly
(p.206).? Eventually, however, she overcomes her aversion
to his appearance. She realizes that he is a caring and
compassionate human being. He has feelings, he loves, and
he can be loved. Quasimodo discovers Esmerelda’s ability to
view someone from a different perspective. He also becomes
aware than she is a decent and caring person on the inside,
despite her reactions to his grotesque appearance. He then
feels a sense of kinship and a deeper sort of love towards
the Mistress that transcends Eros love.
Esmerelda is guilty of committing a grave
transgression. She is sentenced to be hanged. Just before
the platform is dropped from beneath her feet and her life
ended, Quasimodo appears and strikes the two guards.
Esmerelda is free. He brings her to the Cathedral as a
sanctuary to take refuge in one of the towers. During the
length of her stay in the tower, she is completely isolated
from the outside world. Quasimodo is the only person always
present in the church. He takes it upon himself to be
responsible for keeping Esmerelda happy and comfortable. He
brings her food, drink, any news and he does his best to
answer any questions she may ask. One night, a violent mob,
the vagabonds, wishes to enter the Cathedral and abduct
Esmerelda. Quasimodo manages to fend off the entire mob
until help arrives in the form of Phoebus, one of the King’s
archers, and his squadron of soldiers. ?Those who were not
shrieking, those who were still alive, saw two streams of
molten lead falling from the top of the church into the
thickest part of the crowd, making two black, smoking holes
in it,? Dying men, half burned to ashes, were writhing and
groaning in agony (p.241).? The hunchback throws stones,
tools, anything he can find down on the attackers. He then
sets fire to lead sheets. They become molten and the
intensely hot liquid rains down, burning and melting the
mob. Such desperate actions are surely a sign of love and a
willingness to protect Esmerelda.
In contrast, Quasimodo does not, in any way, protect
Claude Frollo. In fact, the opposite is true. The
Archdeacon acts as a father figure to the hunchback. In
turn, Quasimodo shows the utmost respect for Frollo. He
takes punishment and scorn from Frollo, even when it is not
deserved, and accepts it quietly. He does this while he is
quite capable of defying the Archdeacon physically as he
does with any other person that angers him: ?Quasimodo came
up to the priest, looked at him and fell to his knees?
Quasimodo remained on his knees, lowered his head and
clasped his hands together?They then began a strange
dialogue of signs and gestures,?the priest standing, angry,
threatening and imperious; Quasimodo kneeling, humble and
supplicating. Yet there was no doubt that Quasimodo could
have crushed the priest with his thumb (p.27).? This
obedience signifies that the bell ringer is deeply thankful
for the priest’s company and leadership. Quasimodo
continues to show gratitude by obeying every command given
to him by the Archdeacon. When the Archdeacon decides that
Esmerelda should hang, even though Quasimodo loves her he
could not defy the priest’s command: he sat quietly by and
awaited the hanging. It is clear that this love stems from
the protection of the Archdeacon through Quasimodo’s early
years of life. This also exposes the fact that Quasimodo’s
respect and obedience to the Archdeacon outweighs his
feelings for Esmerelda.
Throughout the story by Victor Hugo, Quasimodo shows
love to both Esmerelda, a beautiful gypsy, and to Claude
Frollo, the Archdeacon that took the hunchback into his
custody. Two types of love displayed are Eros, to the
Mistress, and Philia, toward Frollo. Quasimodo’s protection
of Esmerelda is seen inversely through his relationship with
the Archdeacon. The Archdeacon and Esmerelda have diverse
qualities that evoke separate types of love from Quasimodo.
In the end, the bell ringer’s relationship with Frollo
supercedes his emotions towards the Mistress. The Philial
and brotherly love triumphs over unrequited erotic love.