The Hunchback of Notre-Dame
Familiar?
Written in Victor Hugo 1831, the Hunchback of Notre-Dame is a fictional piece of literature. Set in France in 1482, it follows the story of the hideously deformed Quasimodo’s one-sided love affair for the beautiful and kind-hearted gypsy Esmeralda. It has been adapted into films many times, one famous example being the Disney one in the photo to the left.
Of course, the actual book isn't quite as happy an ending as the Disney movie, and the plot is fairly different. The gypsies continue to face discrimination, however, and we will analyse how the gypsies are treated in the book, particularly through our heroine, Esmeralda.
This page is going to be quite chunky, but bear with us, it's interesting!
For the ease of reference, we'll use the animations in the movie where possible, to make identifying characters easier.
Written in Victor Hugo 1831, the Hunchback of Notre-Dame is a fictional piece of literature. Set in France in 1482, it follows the story of the hideously deformed Quasimodo’s one-sided love affair for the beautiful and kind-hearted gypsy Esmeralda. It has been adapted into films many times, one famous example being the Disney one in the photo to the left.
Of course, the actual book isn't quite as happy an ending as the Disney movie, and the plot is fairly different. The gypsies continue to face discrimination, however, and we will analyse how the gypsies are treated in the book, particularly through our heroine, Esmeralda.
This page is going to be quite chunky, but bear with us, it's interesting!
For the ease of reference, we'll use the animations in the movie where possible, to make identifying characters easier.
The Gypsies
The backstory behind Esmeralda and Quasimodo is greatly altered in the movie, and there are no pictures (sorry). The gypsies do play a major role, and it isn't the most positive.
Fifteen years before the novel begins, the gypsies kidnap baby Esmeralda (whose birth name is Agnes) as they tell her mother’s (who is later seen again in the novel as anchoress Sister Gudule) fortune, replacing her with the hideously deformed infant Quasimodo. She is convinced that the gypsies have cannibalized and eaten Agnes, driving her insane.
While the gypsies haven’t given the most positive of impressions by kidnapping Esmeralda and leaving Quasimodo in her place, the ridiculous notions provided by the townsfolk help to showcase the great discriminations the gypsies suffered against in France. Cannibalism is clearly the most logical link to make, for there is obviously no other possible reason to explain a kidnapping.
Fifteen years before the novel begins, the gypsies kidnap baby Esmeralda (whose birth name is Agnes) as they tell her mother’s (who is later seen again in the novel as anchoress Sister Gudule) fortune, replacing her with the hideously deformed infant Quasimodo. She is convinced that the gypsies have cannibalized and eaten Agnes, driving her insane.
While the gypsies haven’t given the most positive of impressions by kidnapping Esmeralda and leaving Quasimodo in her place, the ridiculous notions provided by the townsfolk help to showcase the great discriminations the gypsies suffered against in France. Cannibalism is clearly the most logical link to make, for there is obviously no other possible reason to explain a kidnapping.
Because the only thing you can do is eat kidnapped babies.
Far later into the book, Esmeralda is accused of
murder and witchcraft and sentenced to death (details will come later!), but afforded sanctuary at the
Notre-Dame Cathedral. However, the parliament eventually decrees that Esmeralda
be forcibly removed from Notre-Dame to be hanged, resulting in the Parisian
Gypsies declaring Esmeralda to be their “sister”, and rally together to
rescue her.
As noble as it sounds, the novel portrays the gypsies in a rather negative light instead. They become but a ragtag band of thieves, claiming to be sincerely devoted to Esmeralda, yet are really only interested in the thought of stealing the silver and gold of Notre-Dame Cathedral. They really are seen as but thieves, further contributing to the negative stereotype the gypsies already had, and still continue to have to this day.
As noble as it sounds, the novel portrays the gypsies in a rather negative light instead. They become but a ragtag band of thieves, claiming to be sincerely devoted to Esmeralda, yet are really only interested in the thought of stealing the silver and gold of Notre-Dame Cathedral. They really are seen as but thieves, further contributing to the negative stereotype the gypsies already had, and still continue to have to this day.
Esmeralda
That covers the gypsies as a whole, but our gypsy heroine Esmeralda deserves loads more attention. Especially with her cute goat Djali (bottom-left corner of picture!).
She is described as having an elegant figure and large black “eyes of flame”, and is said to be extraordinarily beautiful. A talented entertainer, Esmeralda first appears in the novel as she dances outside the Palace of Justice, enchanting the crowd. Later that same night, she bewitches a crowd as she balances two swords on her forehead, who are so spellbound that they do not leave even after she finishes her performance.
Esmeralda here fulfils the stereotype as a talented gypsy entertainer, a person who wows crowds with her amazing acts. Of course, this isn’t really a problem because it was true that many gypsies were entertainers, and this was their occupation wherever they went.
She is described as having an elegant figure and large black “eyes of flame”, and is said to be extraordinarily beautiful. A talented entertainer, Esmeralda first appears in the novel as she dances outside the Palace of Justice, enchanting the crowd. Later that same night, she bewitches a crowd as she balances two swords on her forehead, who are so spellbound that they do not leave even after she finishes her performance.
Esmeralda here fulfils the stereotype as a talented gypsy entertainer, a person who wows crowds with her amazing acts. Of course, this isn’t really a problem because it was true that many gypsies were entertainers, and this was their occupation wherever they went.
Esmeralda's dance synced to a Britney Spears song. Disturbing!
Firstly, let's begin by establishing that Esmeralda is portrayed in a greatly positive light. She saves the playwright Pierre Gringoire’s (not important) life, after gets himself lost and somehow ends up in the Cour des Miracles, the Court of Miracles, an area restricted to beggars. There, he is given an ultimatum – either be hanged to death, or marry a gypsy. Esmeralda steps in, and offers to marry him for four years in order to save his life.
Her kindness is seen yet again, as Quasimodo is sentenced to torture on the pillory (a medieval torture device) for attacking Esmeralda (it’s a long story, let’s not go into that) and, dehydrated, begs the crowd present for water. However, he receives only jeers, and it is, in fact, Esmeralda who gives him water to drink.
The great kindness of Esmeralda is seen here, willing to marry a man she does not know to save his life, and willing to forgive and show compassion. The writer here shows the gypsies in a positive light through Esmeralda, that they can be good, kind people.
Her kindness is seen yet again, as Quasimodo is sentenced to torture on the pillory (a medieval torture device) for attacking Esmeralda (it’s a long story, let’s not go into that) and, dehydrated, begs the crowd present for water. However, he receives only jeers, and it is, in fact, Esmeralda who gives him water to drink.
The great kindness of Esmeralda is seen here, willing to marry a man she does not know to save his life, and willing to forgive and show compassion. The writer here shows the gypsies in a positive light through Esmeralda, that they can be good, kind people.
The part where she helps the tortured Quasimodo lasts almost 4min.
We're skipping a lot of sections here, so that it's more readable for you. We'll pull a quick jump here, and Esmeralda has been accused of witchcraft and is to be burned at the stake, as well as the murder of the man she loves, Phoebus (another big jump here, but there are a LOT of details).
In court, she is accused of conjuring a demon from hell to kill Phoebus, and her goat Djali is accused of being possessed by Satan as it it able to tell the time, and spell "Phoebus" using a group of letters. These are street tricks Esmeralda taught it, but are viewed as witchcraft by the court. This is worsened by how Djali begins to imitate the judge, another trick taught by Esmeralda. Both Esmeralda and Djali are sentenced to death by hanging.
Our lovely Esmeralda is accused of witchcraft for these little parlor tricks she taught her goat for the sake of entertaining audiences, and the judge makes the perfectly logical conclusion that she had summoned a demon from hell to kill Phoebus. The great misunderstanding and discrimination which the gypsies faced is seen here, bring stereotyped as witches. Now this truly is depressing.
In court, she is accused of conjuring a demon from hell to kill Phoebus, and her goat Djali is accused of being possessed by Satan as it it able to tell the time, and spell "Phoebus" using a group of letters. These are street tricks Esmeralda taught it, but are viewed as witchcraft by the court. This is worsened by how Djali begins to imitate the judge, another trick taught by Esmeralda. Both Esmeralda and Djali are sentenced to death by hanging.
Our lovely Esmeralda is accused of witchcraft for these little parlor tricks she taught her goat for the sake of entertaining audiences, and the judge makes the perfectly logical conclusion that she had summoned a demon from hell to kill Phoebus. The great misunderstanding and discrimination which the gypsies faced is seen here, bring stereotyped as witches. Now this truly is depressing.
Of course, Quasimodo saves her here, and the story continues, but this is enough to portray the discrimination the gypsies faced. We're already missing out on a lot of plot points, like how she meets Phoebus, how she reunites with her mother, and how Quasimodo's guardian has a disturbing obsession with her. This stuff is worth a read if you want!
Hopefully this has given you a better insight into the discrimination that the gypsies faced!
Hopefully this has given you a better insight into the discrimination that the gypsies faced!