The Hunchback of Notre Dame by Victor Hugo book Review

The Hunchback of Notre Dame by Victor Hugo book Review

This book is super depressing and hilarious. It is always hovering between the comedy and tragedy. I sometimes wonder how it was even made into a kids movies. That Disney must have had a loose screw or two. Anyhow, the kid's movie hardly bears any semblance to the book. La Esmeralda is actually a 15 year old teenage darling. Claude Frollo is only 35 years old. Lastly, Quasimodo is deaf. Working with the bells made him deaf. He liked the fat bell because it was the only one he could hear. You know, the problem with this book was the time and date that it was written. During the Romanticist period, the publicist paid more money for thicker books. Thus, there was the incentive to make stories ridiculously long, via fillers. 



The fillers of this novel are somewhat interesting. It is amassing how you write 2 books describing Paris. The guy who read me the book took like 4 hours to describe the scenery. Other fillers are far more memorable, I do so love the description of Frollo's alchemy. Yeah, that Claude Frollo was an alchemist. He also did not keep Quasimodo like a prisoner on the high tower. In the Disney movie, they split Claude Frollo's personality in half. The Claude Frollo was a good man, before meeting La Esmeralda. His unrequited love drove him insane. As a matter of fact, he picked up and raise Quasimode out of the sheer goodness of his heart. Not out of guilt. 

You see, during the time of Frollo, Pope Innocent II had recently banned priestly marriage. Victor Hugo, though he identified himself as a Catholic, expressed many anti Catholic views. In any case, one of the few things I agree with Luther is priestly marriage. Luther argued that this was not a true church doctrine. You see, this was a new development from the 12th century. He said that not all could live a celibate life. This was forcing many priest to live a life of sin. He also noticed that many priest awoke to their desires later in life. Claude Frollo was of this kind.

Claude Frollo began to see women as women when he turned 35. He used to isolate himself in his tower working on alchemy to forget his desires. One day, he looked outside his window and saw La Esmeralda dancing. He was enchanted by her beauty. However, he feared to break his vows. After all, he was truly a religious man. At first, he tried to get rid of the maiden. He intercepted Quasimodo's Pope of Fools parade. He commanded him to aid him in his diabolical plan. This kidnapping attempt was foiled by Phoebus.

This book bears testament to the results of this terrible new canonical law that mandates celibacy. Had this law not existed Frollo's desires might not have taken such a twisted manifestation. Seriously, his love pleas where really quite pathetic. He did not care that La Esmeralda did not love him. All he wanted was for her to have him. He said he would become her most devoted slave. In any case, this book is a love Square between Las Esmeralda, Phoebus, Quasimodo and Claude Frollo.

Quasimodo's devotion is more slavish. He simply guards and protects her. His love is the spiritual love of the church. One that desires just to give love and devotion without expecting anything in return. According to Victor Hugo, the Catholic church used to be like this. He represents the Medieval Spirit of the church. Anyhow, Quasimodo knows that La Esmeralda cannot stand to look at. So he takes care to make himself invisible. Phoebus is more of a jerk in this book. He is a hot stud that is afraid of commitment. He really only wants to sleep with La Esmeralda from time to time. He never had any intention to marry the girl. The tragedy is that she did not care. La Esmeralda was content to just being his lover girl.

As for Claude Frollo, he had no experience wooing women. Thus, he tried to get La Esmeralda via threat. I suppose it cannot be helped. The Inquisition was really popular back then. That was the only way for the priest to get anything he wanted. Its either me or the gibbet, baby. Oh, and La Esmeralda was not burned, she was sentenced to be hanged. The epic "Sanctuary" scene does appear in book. Plus, the epic Court of Miracle battle. The leader was fighting with a grim reaper scythe.

How La Esmeralda got convicted was an interesting story in of itself. What is hilarious is that the judge was deaf. That is an interesting critique of Justice of the Medieval times. Then again, perhaps Victor Hugo was referring to the Justice of his time. As a matter of fact, the Inquisition was still alive and well in Spain. I must admit that the church could have done well without the Inquisition. Then again, this branch was needed to keep the barbarians from slaying the priests. Don't forget what they did to the Roman Empire!! Things where crazy back then.

In any case, this novel is 5 star worthy. I don't wanna spoil the ending, but Quasimodo ends up marrying La Esmeralda. Just read the novel and see how this happens. Heheheheh... Oh, you know something else that humored me. Whenever, Claude Frollo used to walk with Quasimode, the people used to say that they looked like the heart of one another. Meaning, that Frollo's heart was as ugly and twisted as Quasimiodo's looks. Quasimodo ,on the other hand, had a kind and noble heart.