Comments about Frank’s
Blog
Frank’s piece was good but more detail would improve this
piece strongly.
Showing posts with label Section 2 - Daniel Lee. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Section 2 - Daniel Lee. Show all posts
Thursday, June 7, 2012
Response to Frank's Questions
Response to Frank’s
Questions
1.
Explain how you would feel if what happened to
Frollo happened to you.
I would
feel betrayed and why my actions have wronged another person being Quasimodo. Quasimodo
trusted in Frollo to do what is right and I would feel the same and he evilly
laughing at someone being killed would hurt me.
2.
Throughout the novel how is the theme of
obsession portrayed.
The book
shows obsession through Frollo and La Esmeralda as he won’t let anyone have her
but himself. This shows that he is obsessed with her and can’t give her some
room.
Comments about TJ's Blog
Comment about Daniel
TJ’s Blog
Daniel’s blog was really insightful as it made me think
about another perspective of the book. With a little bit more detail and more
emphasis on certain parts and I feel that this will be a job well done.
Response to TJ's Questions
Response to Daniel TJ’s
Questions
1.
Why did La Esmeralda
bring water to Quasimodo when he is being tortured?
La
Esmeralda brought water to Quasimodo as she felt bad for him and she was also
on the other end of that as well. She was also tortured before so she knows how
it feels and doesn’t want others to feel the same pain she did.
2.
What is the theme of The Hunchback of Notre Dame?
The theme
of the Hunchback of Notre Dame is obsession and how people get obsessed over
things and can’t control themselves. Frollo was obsessed with La Esmeralda and
never gave her space when she was clearly married.
Tuesday, June 5, 2012
The Hunchback of Notre Dame
Response to Daniel's Questions
5. Who does Quasimodo love more than Notre-Dame? Explain why.
Quasimodo love La Esmeralda than Notre-Dame because Quasimodo clearly finds Esmeralda very attractive, but he is under no illusion that she could feel the same way about him. Quasimodo shows intelligence, understanding and respect for Esmeralda. Clearly Quasimodo is a "nice" guy trapped in a deformed body, which causes a certain reaction in others. Yet he does not react in kind. He retains the capacity for love and understanding despite his treatment at the hands of others, which is another of the work's major themes - that of compassion and optimism in the face of adversity and injustice, as a result of the capacity for love.
4. In chapter 19, Claude Frollo has a flashback when he was developed more fully. Explain the flashback.
Claude Frollo is developed more fully. When he is nineteen, Frollo’s parents die, leaving him to raise his younger brother, Jehan. He devotes himself totally to Jehan and spoils him terribly. As a result, Jehan does not amount to anything.
Comment's about Eric's Section
Comments about Eric’s
Blog
Eric’s section was really insightful
and shows a deep understanding of the novel The Hunchback of Notre Dame, the
only concern was that it more details could have been added to give a deeper
understanding of the novel.
Response to Eric's Questions
The Hunchback of Notre Dame
Response to
Eric’s Questions
1.
Do you think a relationship will build between
Esmeralda and Grignoire even though they seem a little rough now?
I think
the relationship probably won’t build between La Esmeralda and Grignoire
because their relationship isn’t true. Their relationship was voluntary as La
Esmeralda offered to marry Grignoire to save him from being flogged. The two of
them don’t have true love as it was to help the both of them, mainly Grignoire
from being flogged. The relationship between two people will only build when it
is true love and this relationship was to help one of the parties.
2.
What reaction did Grignoire have when
Esmeralda saved his life from being hung? Would you have the same reaction?
Grignoire
was surprised when La Esmeralda saved his life from being hung. He was surprised
after all the things his master Frollo has done to him. Grignoire has changed
his point of view of Esmeralda after she saved him from being hung. I would
have had the same reaction as him because you are risking you’re relationships
to save someone else’ life.
Monday, June 4, 2012
Contemporary Relevance
The Hunchback of Notre Dame
Contemporary
Relevance
The
National French
The most
trusted newspaper in France since 1300
Monday July,
1, 1482
The Steps to
Deal with Obsession
By: Daniel
Lee
Over time,
here in Paris many cases of murder have arose due to obsession. Now everyone is
human and having to be obsessed with something is ruining our concentration. The
most recent case of Claude Frollo murdering La Esmeralda was because he was so
obsessed with her that no one but he can have her, this led to him giving her
the option either choosing him or turning her to the authorities. This led to
Frollo and Esmeralda to think about what option they will choose. Esmeralda
made the right choice and decided to choose death over having to marry someone
she doesn’t like. Obsession can be dealt with by thinking about other priorities
that may be more important. Frollo put all concentration on loving Esmeralda
when she never loved him back. We must forget what we are obsessed by and think
about the future and how we can change our habits. Obsession can be dealt with
in many ways it’s whether we have strength inside us to conquer ourselves and
change.
Questioning and Critical Thinking
The Hunchback of Notre
Dame Questioning and Critical Thinking
1.
How would you describe Frollo when he adopted
Quasimodo than later in the novel?
2.
What kind of relationship does Quasimodo have
with the bells?
3.
How is the city of Paris divided into? Explain
three parts.
4.
In chapter 19, Claude Frollo has a flashback
when he was developed more fully. Explain the flashback.
5.
Who does Quasimodo love more than Notre-Dame?
Explain why.
Analysis of Style and Structure
The Hunchback of Notre Dame
Analysis of
Style and Structure
Theme
Theme #1 – Obsession
Claude
Frollo’s obsession with Esmeralda grows and when he finds out Grignoire married
her, he is furious. He manipulates a former student into telling him intimate
details about La Esmeralda, including the fact that she is in love with Captain
Phoebus. The priest, in disguise, goes to the Court of Miracles, where he
observes La Esmeralda making love with Phoebus. In rage, the priest stabs the
Captain and leaves. Esmeralda faints out of fear, when she regains
consciousness she is arrest for the stabbing and is later sentenced to death by
hanging.
Theme #2 – Bravery
La
Esmeralda is about to be executed, Quasimodo rescues her off the pillory and
carries her over his head into the cathedral for safety. As long as she remains
inside Notre Dame, authorities cannot come inside to seize her. Amazed at his
bravery, La Esmeralda cannot tolerate looking at Quasimodo’s disfigured face
and body. Frollo enters her cell and tries to get her; Quasimodo fights him,
keeping her away from her. La Esmeralda reveals to Quasimodo that she is in
love with Phoebus; he agrees to go and find the captain and bring him to
Notre-Dame to see the gypsy girl. Phoebus laughs at the hunchback and refuses
to see La Esmeralda.
Theme #3 – Selflessness
La
Esmeralda repeatedly rejected him; Frollo decides no one will have her. He
develops a wicked plan to take La Esmeralda from the tower and asks the help of
Grignoire, to carry out the plan. Grignoire organizes the gypsies in the Court
of Miracles to rescue La Esmeralda, and they march towards Notre-Dame. Quasimodo
sees the mob approaching and prepares to fight them, thinking they are coming
to harm La Esmeralda. When they break through the door of the great cathedral,
Quasimodo throws a beam, rocks, and molten lead at them, killing several people
in the process. King’s army arrives, the gypsies retreat. Quasimodo rushes up
to the tower and checks on La Esmeralda and discovers that she’s gone. Although
he does not know what happened, Grignoire and Frollo have managed to steal her
away.
Theme #4 – Family
In
the street below, Frollo sends Grignoire with a goat. The evil priest then
tells La Esmeralda that she must love him, or he will turn her over to the
authorities for hanging; she chooses hanging. In anger, Frollo takes her to
Ronalde’s Tower and locks her in a cell with Sister Gudule, the old woman who
hates gypsies. When he leaves to go and bring the King’s army, La Esmeralda
talks with Sister Gudale (Pacquette). She discovers that La Esmeralda is the
old woman’s long lost daughter. When the police arrive, Sister Gudale tries to
protect her newly found daughter by hiding her; but when the gypsy girl heard
Phoebus, whom she loves, she comes out of hiding to see him. As she is seized
and dragged away Paquette tries to save La Esmeralda. In the process, Paquette
is struck and killed by one of the soliders as her daughter watches.
Theme #5 – Revenge
Back
in the tower, Quasimodo finds Frollo as he watches the events taking place in
the humiliation. The hunchback looks down to see what is happening, he sees his
beloved being dragged to be hung. He watches the horror as she is hung. When
the priest lets out an evil laugh about her death, Quasimodo goes crazy. The
hunchback charges the priest and throws him off the towers balcony to his death
below. La Esmeralda and Frollo dead before his eyes, Quasimodo cries out as he
has lost everyone whom he has ever loved. The hunchback then disappears, never
to be seen in Paris again.
Theme #6 – Tragedy
In
the final chapter, Hugo ties up all the loose ends of the novel. Grignoire, who
lives with his goat, becomes a successful writer; Phoebus marries Fleur de Lys;
and King Louis XI dies. Two years after the death of La Esmeralda, the body of
Quasimodo is found. When the vault of Montfaucon is opened, the soldiers find
the skeleton of the hunchback intertwined with the skeleton of La Esmeralda. He
grieved himself to death; Quasimodo eternally united himself with the one he
loved.
Conflict
Protagonist
Quasimodo
is the central character and protagonist of the novel, as shown by the title of
the book. He is deformed, deaf and one-eyed hunchback; he is exiled from
society and treated cruelly. For most of his life, his only companions are
Claude Frollo and the bells. When La Esmeralda, the gypsy street performer
shows him kindness, Quasimodo becomes devoted to her, becoming her savior and
protector.
Antagonist
There
are two antagonists in the novel. First is Quasimodo’s deformity. His hunched
back, one-eyed and disfigured face, and his deafness, Quasimodo is
misunderstood and hated by the people of Paris, who call him the devil. He
saves La Esmeralda from death and carries her into Notre-Dame for safety; she
cannot bear to look at him because of his ugliness.
The
second antagonist is Claude Frollo, his master. He was once a good man who
helped Quasimodo, Frollo becomes transformed by his lust of La Esmeralda. Driven
by his evil passion, he ignores Quasimodo, stabs Phoebus, manipulates
Grignoire, and eventually causes the hanging of La Esmeralda. He wickedly
laughed about her execution; Quasimodo pushes him off the balcony of
Notre-Dame, causing him to fall to his death on the street below. Ironically,
with the death of the priest, Quasimodo is totally alone in the world. He
disappears from Notre-Dame and perishes in the Montfaucon vault, clinging to
the dead body of La Esmeralda, his beloved. Frollo is therefore, indirectly
responsible for the death of the hunchback of Notre-Dame, as well as the death
of La Esmeralda.
Climax
The
climax of the novel occurs when Quasimodo realizes he has lost La Esmeralda, in
spite the fact he tried to save her by fighting the mob of gypsies in the Court
of Miracles. He no longer has anything to live for, Quasimodo later kills
Frollo, who is responsible for La Esmeralda’s dissapearence from her cell in
the tower and her eventual hanging and then perishes in grief.
Outcome
The
novel ends in tragedy, for Quasimodo is defeated by his deformity and his
master, Claude Frollo. La Esmeralda, who he deeply loves, can never return his
love of his horrible appearance; in face she finds it difficult to even look at
him, even though she tries to be king to him. Frollo defeats Quasimodo in the
worst way. He causes the death of La Esmeralda, which takes away the purpose of
the hunchback’s life. With nothing to live for after La Esmeralda’s death,
Quasimodo perishes in the vault, clinging to her dead body. In death, his
misshapen body is no longer a distance away from the one he loves.
Narrative Structure
The
narrative structure throughout the book was told through a third person
narrative and at certain points where appropriate there was dialogue. The novel
was divided into various books with chapters in them. I feel the book was well
set up and everything flowed just right when Hugo used this method.
Analysis of Setting
The Hunchback of Notre Dame
Analysis of
Setting
Majority
of the book takes place in the city of Paris in the fifteenth century. Most activity took place in and around the
Cathedral of Notre-Dame, one of Paris’ most notable landmarks. From the tower
of Notre-Dame the entire city is visible. Beneath the tower is the Place de
Greve, a dark and sinister place where criminals are hung. The novel’s tragic
events take place in the Place de Greve. The Court of Miracles, a Parisian neighborhood,
is also important in the novel or the gypsies and beggars live here and formed
their own mini government.
In
my section of the novel, Hugo starts describing the area in detailed. In
chapter 15, the area of Paris surrounding Notre-Dame is described in detail. The
city is divided into three distinct parts, each with its own customs,
privileges, and history. These parts are the City, the University, and the
Town. These three sections appear to be a whole at a glance.
The
church is part of the city and sits on an island in the middle of the River
Seine. Gothic galleries are to the north of the cathedral, and the Palace of
the Bishop is to the south. An uninhabited part of town is called the Terrain
and is located on the eastern side of the cathedral, and in front of
Notre-Dame. Towards the south is the Palace of Justice and is the pillory where
criminals are put to death.
Hugo
explains that the cathedral of Notre-Dame is only one of the twenty-one great
churches in the city. It is considered the greatest because of its excellent
location. The cathedral also has a wonderful view of Paris. The popularity of
the cathedral makes it the most venerable of all the churches.
The
culture of Paris is really interesting when they celebrate Epiphany and the
Festival of Fools. The traditional
celebrations revolve around three things: exhibition of fireworks in the Place
de Greve, the painting of a May tree at the Chapel
of Braque, and a mystery play performed at the Palace of Justice. The main
attraction for most citizens is the mystery play which is followed by the
Election of the Pope of Fools.
Most Memorable Journal
The Hunchback of Notre Dame
Most Memorable Journal
My
most memorable moment happened in chapter 16 as Quasimodo’s life changed. At
this point in the novel we learned more about fifteenth century Paris society,
we start hearing about the life of Quasimodo thus far.
A
custom in fifteenth century Paris was for churches to display orphaned babies
for the purpose of charity. Sometimes these orphaned children would be adopted
and given homes. One Sunday in 1467, one such orphan was presented to the
people. The baby was deformed and so ugly that many of the woman called such
child a demon. Some of the suggested that he should be drowned or burned. A
young priest named Claude Frollo declared that he would adopt the deformed
baby. The astonished crowd wondered whether Frollo was a sorcerer rather that a
priest.
In
this chapter, the story of Quasimodo’s adoption by Frollo is revealed. Born
deformed and horribly ugly, Quasimodo is abandoned as an infant. Taken in by
the church, he is presented for adoption. The women, who are horrified by his
appearance call him a demon child and want nothing to do with him. Frollo, the
young priest decides he will adopt the deformed infant, the amazement of
everyone.
I
feel that this part in my section was the most memorable because Frollo does
what is right. Frollo was my favorite character in the novel at this point
because of the kind actions he shows to Quasimodo by adopting him because
people don’t want him in society. Some people in the society like the women
have harsh criticism for his appearance as they feel he looks like the demon
and he should be burned or drowned. Quasimodo felt sad every day because of
society’s harsh criticism for his hideous appearance. Frollo was the only one
who was willing to accept him in his house. This part of the book relates to
the novel study we’re doing in school, Flowers for Algernon. Charlie is
ostracized from society and Quasimodo has the same feeling where Charlie is
accepted by Ms. Kinnian, his dad, and Mr. Donner. Quasimodo was only accepted
by Frollo and everyone else removed him from society from his appearance. This
novel strongly relates to Flowers for Algernon in the context of the main
character being ostracized for either appearance or intelligence. This part in
the novel when Frollo takes in Quasimodo to be his adopted son would be the
most touching moment of the novel.
In
conclusion, the most memorable part in my section would be when Quasimodo gets
adopted by Frollo. This is a really touching moment and strongly relates to our
novel study, the main idea of acceptance in society.
Character Analysis
The Hunchback of Notre
Dame: Character Analysis
Quasimodo (Writing In Role)
I,
Quasimodo, am the main character and the protagonist of the novel; I am the
most fascinating character. With my hunched back, one-eyed and disfigured face,
and my deafness, I am the perfect example of ugliness. In appearance, I seem to
be almost half-human and half-beast. No wonder the citizens of Paris think I am
the devil.
As
an infant, I was abandoned by my own mother, who found my deformed body
horrifying and painful. Belonging to a group of gypsies, my mother exchanged me
for the lovely infant daughter of Paquette. When Paquette discovers that her
own baby has been kidnapped and replaced with the little hunchback, she refuses
to do anything with him. Being orphaned, I was given over to the church at
Notre-Dame. The churchwomen, who have always supported the cause of abandoned
babies and found suitable homes for them, many took one look at this deformed
infant and proclaim him to be the devil. Since no one would adopt me, Claude
Frollo, one of the priests of Notre-Dame decides that he will keep the deformed
baby and raise him.
Under
the guidance of Frollo, I try to learn to speak and take responsibility of
ringing the great bells of the cathedral. Even though their loud noises cause me
to completely go deaf, I think of the bells as his friends. Because of my ugliness
no one other than Frollo will have anything to do with me. In fact, I must
endure the insults and accusations of the people of Paris. As a result, I feel
sad, isolated, and lonely.
Entirely
committed to the man who has raised him, I adore Claude Frollo and will do anything
for him. When Frollo asks me to kidnap La Esmeralda, I do so thinking nothing
about the fact that Frollo deserts me, leaving me to take all the blame for his
crime. When arrested and sentenced for public beating, I was unconcerned; for I
am sure Frollo will save me. While I am on the edge ready to endure my
punishment, I am delighted to see Frollo amongst the audience and sure I will
be spared. The priest, however, shows his true personality, by disappearing
into the crowd and pretending not to know me. I feels totally rejected when my
own beloved master ignores his needs.
After
I was flogged, beaten and miserable as I beg for water, but no comes to aid.
Finally La Esmeralda, the beautiful gypsy street performer who he tried to
kidnap for Frollo, steps forward to give me something to drink. Her kindness
towards him awakens feelings that Claude Frollo had never portrayed. I fall
instantly and deeply in love with La Esmeralda.
Now
that I am devoted to La Esmeralda, I do heroic deeds. When she was about to be
hanged for a crime she did not commit, I race up and snatch her away from death.
To ensure her safety I carry her into the Cathedral of Notre-Dame for safety.
As long as she remains inside the church, authorities cannot seize her. When
Frollo, the evil priest, tries to get a hold of La Esmeralda, I come to her
rescue, fighting my master. A mob of gypsies from the Court of Miracles come to
get her, I bring them to me by throwing a beam, rocks, and molten lead at them.
In spite of his efforts, La Esmeralda is still stolen from her cell by
Grignoire and Claude Frollo. I realize that my beloved is being hanged because
of Frollo, I charge my master and pushes him to his death from the tower of
Notre-Dame. The priest and La Esmeralda lay dead before his eyes, I realize
that I am totally alone in the world; the only people he has ever loved are gone.
Sad and miserable, I mourn myself to death and die in the vault of Montfaucon,
clinging to the dead body of my beloved La Esmeralda.
Quasimodo Quotes
Quasimodo mentions that his master is Claude Frollo
as he says, “At the moment when he stood forth from the crowd,Gringoire, who
had not noticed him up to that time, recognized him:
“Hold!” he said, with an exclamation
of astonishment. “Eh! ’tis my masterin Hermes, Dom Claude Frollo, the
archdeacon! (Hugo, 63) At this point in the novel Quasimodo considers Frollo as
his guardian and the one that will be his inspiration. Frollo acted as a role
model to Quasimodo as no one was willing to take him in. Quasimodo never knew
what Frollo was going to do to him in the future.
At
one point in the novel Quasimodo became responsible for ringing the bells of
the cathedral. Coppenole says, ““He! I recognize him,” exclaimed Jehan, who
had, at last, descended
from his capital, in order to see
Quasimodo at closer quarters, “he’s the
bellringer of my brother, the archdeacon.
Good-day, Quasimodo!”” (Hugo, 46) As Coppenole says that he rings the bell for
Frollo which the bells have become his good friend as no one in the town would
accept him, even though the bells made him deafer he still enjoyed their
presence.
The
child of Paquette was exchanged for Quasimodo watches her child with a keen eye
as she says, “I don’t want that to happen to me
which happened to Paquette la
Chantefleurie.”
(Hugo, 196) People heard what happened to the child of Paquette and they feared
that their child would also be kidnapped. Quasimodo would eventually have to be
told that he was never wanted even by his own parents that they would exchange
him for a beautiful infant.
La Esmeralda
In
contrast to Quasimodo, the beast in the novel, La Esmeralda is the beauty. La
Esmeralda reaches out to others in time of need. She saves Gringoire from
execution by marrying him, even though she really doesn’t know the playwright.
When Quasimodo has been flogged and on the pillory and begs for water, she is
the only one who is willing to help him.
La
Esmeralda was born to a young country girl named Pacquette and was stolen by a
band of gypsies when she was an infant. She was raised by them in the Court of
Miracles which was a gypsy community in Paris. As a young adult, she becomes a
street entertainer performing tricks with her pet goat. With her physical
loneliness, she always attracts a crowd. Las Esmeralda, not realizing her own
beauty, believes the people are charmed by her performance.
Her
beauty and kindness, variety of men fall in love with La Esmeralda. Grignoire
loves her because she saves him from execution in the Court of Miracles by
marrying him. Although she is his wife, La Esmeralda makes it clear that their
relationship is only nonphysical. Claude Frollo falls in love with her for her
beauty and lusts her body. He is determined that if he can’t her for his own,
no one else will have her either. Quasimodo falls in love with her because she
is the only person who has ever shown him kindness. He becomes her savior and
protector. Captain Phoebus pretends to love La Esmeralda so he can seduce her.
Like
Quasimodo, Esmeralda is innocent. She allows herself to be seduced by Phoebus,
thinking he will love her forever. Quasimodo loves La Esmeralda, she loves the
captain. She thinks Phoebus is dead, but she is still devoted to him. When she
learns that he is alive and hears his voice when he comes to arrest him, she
emerges from hiding, for a chance to Phoebus in an effort to win back his love.
La
Esmeralda loves Phoebus; Frollo stabs him in La Esmeralda’s presence. She was
blamed for the crime and is sentenced to death. About to be hanged, Quasimodo
rescues her from death because she has been kind to him in the past. He carries
her into Notre-Dame for sanctuary and ministers to her needs. Quasimodo
protects her from the advances of Frollo and fights off the mob of gypsies who
come to take her away. During the fighting, Frollo and Grignoire steal La
Esmeralda from her cell. The evil priest tells her that she must love him or he
will turn her over to the authorities. La Esmeralda chooses death.
Frollo
goes to find the King’s army to arrest La Esmeralda; he puts her in Rolande’s
tower in a cell with Paquette. Two discover that La Esmeralda is the long last
daughter, stolen from her crib by gypsies. As the mother and daughter are
reunited, the soldiers arrive to take La Esmeralda away to her death. Paquette
fights to save her daughter, one of the soldier’s strikes and kills her. La
Esmeralda is the lead to the pillory and hanged before a large crowd. Frollo
and Quasimodo see the execution from the tower of Notre Dame.
La
Esmeralda is an important, sympathetic and tragic figure in the novel, she is a
static character. Unlike Quasimodo, who under goes significant changes, she
essentially stays the same throughout the book.
La Esmeralda Quotes
La Esmeralda agreed to marry Grignoire to save his
life from being flogged. When Grignoire says, “What’s the meaning of this, of the
Esmeralda?” said Gringoire, wringing his hands in despair. “Ah, good heavens!
it seems to be the turn of the windows now.” (Hugo, 48). When Grignoire shows
this kind of disrespect to La Esmeralda this shows that this relationship can’t
actually happen as it was just as a favor. La Esmeralda agreed to marry him to
save his life from being beaten. The relationship between Grignoire and La
Esmeralda is just as a favor to save his life.
La
Esmeralda was a street dancer and was loved by the people in Paris. One of the
people walking by commented, “is la Esmeralda! a celestial creature! a street
dancer! so much, and so little!” (Hugo, 90) This passerby was saying that La
Esmeralda can do many things but there is so little effort put into all her
work. The people love La Esmeralda for her street dancing as there’s lots of
effort put into dancing and everyone loves it. The passerby doesn’t just want
La Esmeralda to street dance but spread out her wings and extend her effort
into other things for people to enjoy.
La
Esmeralda has one of the most interesting names as a character in the novel.
She has no knowledge of where her name came from as a poet asked her, “Why are you called ‘la Esmeralda?’” asked the poet.” (Hugo, 94)
La Esmeralda is still yet to find out the reason she was given that name as a
child and I feel this is one of her long-term goals. She suspects her name was
from an amulet given from Grignoire which is written in Egyptian but we still
don’t know for sure why she was given that name.
Claude Frollo
In
the beginning of the novel, Frollo is portrayed in a favorable way. Serving as
one of the priests of Notre-Dame, he is an intellectual man who is able to
influence others and has become a great figure in the community. It proves that
he has a kind heart when he adopts and raises Quasimodo, the deformed and
orphaned infant that nobody else wants.
When
Claude Frollo was a youth, his own parents died. He was committed to raise his
younger brother, Jehan. He poured all his efforts and energy into making a man
out of Jehan. Unfortunately, Jehan becomes a worthless loser who constantly
begs his older brother for money. Frollo abandons him entirely.
As
a religious leader, Frollo becomes obsessed with La Esmeralda, the beautiful
gypsy street entertainer. He was determined to have her for his own. Frollo
tries to kidnap her by forcing Quasimodo to help in the attack. Grignoire and
others see what’s happening, Frollo runs away, leaving Quasimodo to be arrested
for attempted kidnapping. The hunchback is about to be whipped for the crime,
Frollo pretends not to know him and refuses to come to his aid.
Frollo
learns that La Esmeralda is in love with Phoebus; he goes to the Court of
Miracles and stabs the captain. La Esmeralda is arrested for the crime and
sentenced to die by being hanged. Frollo refuses to come to her aid and tell
the authorities the truth. As she is about to be executed, Quasimodo rescues La
Esmeralda and carries her into Notre-Dame for safety. Frollo finds out that she
is being taken care of in the tower of the cathedral; he tries to force himself
on her. Quasimodo must fight the priest to save La Esmeralda.
Manipulating
Grignoire, Frollo comes up with a sinister plan to free La Esmeralda. After he
kidnaps her from the tower cell in Notre-Dame, he tells her that she must love him
or he’ll turn her over to the authorities. She refuses, he gets angry and sends
the King’s army to arrest her and lead her to execution. La Esmeralda draws her
final breath while the evil priest laughs cruelly. Quasimodo charges his master
and pushes him off the balcony to his death below.
The
darkest character in the novel and nowhere in the books does he show any guilt
for his villainous actions. As a priest he should be showing virtue and
kindness; instead, he acts like the devil himself. He abandons is brother,
betrays Quasimodo, stabs Phoebus out of jealous, manipulate Grignoire, attacks
La Esmeralda and becomes the instrument of her death.
Claude Frollo Quotes
The
narrator for the novel slowly introduces the main characters, in terms of their
role in society, personality, etc. As the reader we got to know Frollo’s
significance to the Paris society as the narrator says, “One day I
met by luck, Dom Claude Frollo, the reverend archdeacon of Notre-Dame.” (Hugo,
96) Hugo wanted us to find out what he does which can help us predict how his
personality is going to be like. This method Hugo used really made me think
what kind of personality does Frollo have which was one later changed in the
novel.
When
Claude was kind enough to adopt Quasimodo the citizens thought he was crazy.
They were thinking what kind of person would adopt someone so hideous unless
they could transform him. Many of the citizens thought he was a sorcerer and
not a priest like when one of the ladies says, “I told you so, sister, — that
young clerk, Monsieur Claude Frollo, is a sorcerer.” (Hugo, 132) Many of the
ladies in there thought maybe Frollo was hiding his identity as sorcerer and
instead portraying as a priest. They thought he could change Quasimodo’s
physical appearance to something that was appealing.
Frollo was
always called to become a priest by his parents. They destined Frollo to become
a priest to do what is right and help society. When Hugo starts describing
Frollo we get hints of his parent’s personality like when he says, “Claude
Frollo had been destined from infancy, by his parents, to the ecclesiastical
profession.” (Hugo,
133) Frollo’s parents seem to be very religious and want to pass on the
traditions to Frollo so, they destined him to become a priest.
Monday, April 16, 2012
First Impressions Journal
The Hunchback
of Notre Dame:
First
Impressions Journal
Summary
The novel opens up
on January 6, 1482. The city of Paris is in the middle of its yearly celebrations for Epiphany and the Festival of Fools. The traditional
celebrations revolve around three events: an exhibition of fireworks in the
Place de Greve, the painting of a May tree at the Chapel of Braque, and a
mystery play performed at the Palace of Justice. The main attraction for most
citizens is the mystery play which is followed by the Election of the Pope of
Fools.
In the first
chapter, the paths of the Palace of Justice are packed with people awaiting the
arrival of the Flemish Ambassadors. The noise of the impatient crowd, as they
charm themselves by making fun of each other, echoes throughout the entire
palace.
The clock strikes
twelve, the show has still not begun and the angry crowd begins shouting.
Finally Michel Gibourne, an actor dressed as Jupiter, appears and announces
that the play will being soon as the Carnival arrives.
Contextual Opinion (According to
the Context of the Novel)
In
this chapter, Hugo introduces some of the customs of fifteenth century Paris,
especially in public celebrations. The Parisian citizens enjoy the festivals
and attend them in high spirit. The especially look forward to seeing and
honoring Foreign Ambassadors who may be present at the celebrations. Hugo
emphasizes the customs of publicizing important matters through tolling the
bells in the tower of the great cathedral of Notre Dame. In addition, Hugo
points out that Paris has a well-established system of low and order. Also,
describing in detail the law keepers, including a description of their clothes.
After
doing some research, the celebrations of the Epiphany and the Festival of Fools
were not documented in history books; in the novel Hugo indicates that these
festivals attracted a great gathering of people in Paris. The crowd becomes a
disorderly mob, even does some damage to some of the great architectural
structures of Paris.
In
the opening chapter, Hugo draws intense images of the architecture and
sculpture in the Palace of Justice and Great Hall. He clearly reveals that he
has an appreciation of history and compassion to the spirit of his country. The
main purpose of the first chapter is to draw the reader’s attention to the rich
medieval heritage of Paris.
Personal Opinion
Hugo
really emphasizes the importance of creating a setting for the reader to think
about. Images are being drawn in my head as I’m reading. I have a stronger
appreciation for architecture and its beauty after Hugo captured this vibrant
image. I feel that the main purpose of the first chapter was to draw attention
to the beautiful architecture of Paris.
I
feel that nothing much has happened in the plot lately. Hugo has described the
traditional celebrations that are about to happen in Paris. Even though the
novel doesn’t really match history, Hugo describes the events that would
happen. I hope that the next few chapters reveal more about the celebrations
that are about to happen in Paris.
The
novel has not revealed many characters except one minor character. Michel
Gibourne who was an actor announces when the play will start. How Hugo
describes groups of people like the law keeps is in a lot of detail. He
describes their clothing and personality which can help us generate and image
and connections to certain characters. I like how Hugo portrays and reveals
characters in this novel.
Tuesday, April 3, 2012
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