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
Shocked by the Paquette’s curse, Esmeralda staggers down from the pillory and rushes away. The crowd loses interest and begins to disperse—they will not challenge Paquette because she is believed to be holy. Mahiette, who has been watching, suddenly remembers the cake and asks Eustache what he has done with it. Eustache replies that a dog ate it and his mother lovingly leads him away.
People believe that Paquette is holy because she is a religious recluse. Religious recluses rejected worldly pleasures, which were associated with sin in medieval society, in favor of abstinence and physical deprivation, which were associated with spiritual purity. People thus believe that if they offend Paquette, they may offend God and may be punished for this because God controls their fates.
Themes
