Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in The Hunchback of Notre Dame, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Gothic Architecture, History, and Art
Lust, Sin, and Misogyny
Appearances, Alienation, and Hypocrisy
Fate and Predestination
The Supernatural, Rationalism, and Knowledge
Justice, Punishment, and Freedom
Summary
Analysis
When Frollo arrives back at his cell, he finds Jehan waiting for him. Jehan slyly explains that he has run out of money again. He claims that he is deeply ashamed of his behavior and wishes to change his ways, but Frollo does not believe him and answers that he has no money. Jehan, therefore, announces that he will become a thief and Frollo angrily sends him away. As Jehan trudges down the stairs, Frollo opens the window and throws a purse full of coins at Jehan’s head. Jehan happily hurries away, his head bruised where the purse hit him.
Despite Frollo’s efforts to raise Jehan as a devout and scholarly young man, Jehan is destined to be a debauched hedonist. However, Jehan’s belief that he should become a criminal (since he lives a debauched life anyway) is partly a self-fulfilling prophecy. Jehan’s belief in fate allows him to justify his immoral behavior to himself, because he believes the same thing will happen no matter what he does.
Themes
