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Claude Frollo
Pierre Gringoire is a writer and philosopher and a comic figure throughout the novel. Gringoire is a mildly ambitious man who is commissioned to write a play for the arrival of a Flemish princess in Paris. This play is performed during the “Feast of Fools” and is not popular with the crowd. Gringoire is arrogant and self-aggrandizing and believes that the play’s reception shows that the Parisian public is too stupid to appreciate his art. Gringoire meets and becomes married to Esmeralda after he wanders into the “Court of Miracles,” a notorious den of thieves, and is almost hung as a trespasser. Esmeralda saves Gringoire’s life and agrees to marry him so he will not be killed. Although Gringoire believes he is a great artist, he is oblivious to great beauty and immune to extreme emotions—he prefers all things in moderation. While he is attracted to Esmeralda, who is widely considered to be extremely beautiful, Gringoire prefers Djali, Esmeralda’s pet goat, whom he finds very pretty and endearing. Gringoire ultimately chooses to save Djali, rather than Esmeralda, at the novel’s end and this demonstrates that he is a petty, ignorant man who does not truly appreciate beauty or goodness. Gringoire is also a cowardly figure and is not willing to risk his life to save Esmeralda, even though she saved him from being killed. Although Gringoire generally means well, he is self-interested and likes to lead an easy life. He gives up his artistic career when he realizes that he can make more money as a street performer and he often gives things up as soon as they start to bore him. In this sense, Gringoire is the opposite of characters like Frollo, who grow obsessive about certain things to the point of madness. Although he is an extremely ignoble character and gets Esmeralda and many of the “truants” killed with his thoughtless actions (he organizes a riot against Notre Dame which gets out of hand), Gringoire is one of the only characters in the novel who does not meet a tragic end, which suggests that his approach to life may be somewhat wise after all.
Pierre Gringoire Quotes in The Hunchback of Notre Dame
The The Hunchback of Notre Dame quotes below are all either spoken by Pierre Gringoire or refer to Pierre Gringoire. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
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Book 1, Chapter 2 Quotes
Hanged by the populace for waiting, hanged by the cardinal for not waiting; either way he could see only the abyss, that is a gallows.
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Book 1, Chapter 3 Quotes
Gringoire was what today we would call a true eclectic, one of those elevated, steady, moderate, calm spirits who manage always to steer a middle course […] and are full of reason and liberal philosophy, while yet making due allowance for cardinals […] They are to be found, quite unchanging, in every age, that is, ever in conformity with the times.
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Book 1, Chapter 4 Quotes
We should add that Coppenole was of the people, just as the crowd around him was of the people. Thus the contact between him and it had been prompt, electric and, as it were, on level terms. The Flemish hosier’s haughty quip had humiliated the courtiers and aroused, in all these plebian souls, some sense of dignity as yet, in the fifteenth century, dim and uncertain. This hosier who had just answered the cardinal back was an equal: a sweet thought indeed for poor devils used to showing respect and obedience to the servants of the serjeants of the bailiff of the Abbot of Sainte-Genevive, the cardinal’s train-bearer.
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Book 2, Chapter 3 Quotes
Around her, all eyes were fixed and all mouths agape; and as she danced, to the drumming of the tambourine she held above her head in her two pure, round arms, slender, frail, quick as a wasp, with her golden, unpleated bodice, her billowing, brightly-colored dress, her bare shoulders, her slender legs, uncovered now and again by her skirt, her black hair, her fiery eyes, she was indeed a supernatural creature.
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[…] it was lit by the harsh red light of the bonfire, which flickered brightly on the encircling faces of the crowd and on the dark forehead of the girl, while at the far end of the square it cast a pale glimmer, mingled with the swaying of the shadows, on the black and wrinkled old facade of the Maison-aux-Piliers on one side and the stone arms of the gallows on the other.
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Neither crust nor resting-place; he found necessity crowding in on him from all sides and thought necessity mighty churlish. He had long ago discovered this truth, that Jupiter created man in a fit of misanthropy and that, throughout his life, the sage’s destiny lays siege to his philosophy.
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Book 2, Chapter 4 Quotes
Such voluntary abdication of one’s free will, such a subjection of one’s own fancy to that of some unsuspecting other person, has about it a mixture of whimsical independence and blind obedience, a sort of compromise between servitude and freedom which appealed to Gringoire, whose mind was essentially a mixed one, both complex and indecisive, holding gingerly on to all extremes, constantly suspended between all human propensities.
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Had Gringoire lived in our own day, how beautifully he would have bisected the Classics and Romantics!
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Book 2, Chapter 6 Quotes
In this city, the boundaries between races and species seemed to have been abolished, as in a pandemonium. Amongst this population, men, women, animals, age, sex, health, sickness, all seemed communal; everything fitted together, was merged, mingled and superimposed; everyone was part of everything.
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As you use our kind among you, so we use your kind among us. The law you apply to the truants, the truants apply to you. If it’s a vicious one, that’s your fault. We need now and again to see a respectable face above a hempen collar; it makes the whole thing honorable.
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Pierre Gringoire Character Timeline in The Hunchback of Notre Dame
The timeline below shows where the character Pierre Gringoire appears in The Hunchback of Notre Dame. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Book 1, Chapter 2
Jupiter returns to the stage and the man—Pierre Gringoire, the writer of the play—joins two young women in the audience, who beckon him over....
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...dolphin to the most beautiful princess in the land. The prologue is very wordy and Gringoire stands back and admires his masterpiece.
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The actors are distracted by these jokes and turn to watch. Gringoire irritably tells them to go on and he looks down once more when Gisquette tugs...
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Book 1, Chapter 3
Gringoire is dismayed because his play has been interrupted again. He wants to impress the Cardinal...
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Book 1, Chapter 4
Gringoire, meanwhile, furiously tries to restart his play, but the audience has lost interest. They are...
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...may continue, however, much to the annoyance of the crowd, which is now bored with Gringoire’s work. The actors go on, but the usher continues to call out names as more...
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Gringoire is astounded by the fickleness of the crowd. Just as the play gets going, Coppenole...
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Book 1, Chapter 5
Gringoire is dismayed to see such a spectacle distract from his play. He plans to join...
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Book 1, Chapter 6
The “fool’s pope” procession follows Quasimodo from the hall. Gringoire thinks that perhaps now those left in the audience will enjoy his play. However, the...
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Book 2, Chapter 1
It is dark when Gringoire storms out of the palace and begins to tramp through the city. He has nowhere...
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On his way, Gringoire comes across the “fool’s pope” procession and hastily avoids them. He stumbles into a dark...
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Book 2, Chapter 3
Gringoire arrives at the Place de Grève and realizes, bitterly, that the crowd around the bonfire...
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As Gringoire watches, Esmeralda’s hair falls from its braid and a coin drops to the ground. Gringoire...
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Among the crowd, Gringoire notices a stern-looking man who stares at Esmerelda with an intense, passionate expression. He is...
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...her things and begins to collect money from the crowd. She stops in front of Gringoire, who is embarrassed because he has nothing to give her.
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...who lives in a cell known as the “rat hole” in the Place de Grève. Gringoire slips away from Esmeralda while she is distracted and tries to get himself some food...
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In the middle of the square, Esmeralda begins to sing and Gringoire finds her song uplifting. The recluse breaks in again and chides Esmeralda. The crowd is...
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The crowd is alarmed—they assume that Quasimodo will hurt Frollo. Gringoire suddenly recognizes Frollo as the archdeacon of Notre Dame. Quasimodo leaps down from the litter...
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...away. Frollo leads Quasimodo across the square and the crowd parts to let them through. Gringoire thinks this is an amazing spectacle but he wonders where he will find something to...
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Book 2, Chapter 4
Gringoire sees Esmeralda leave the square and follows her to see where she will go. As...
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Esmeralda enters the winding, narrow streets that surround the cemetery of the Holy Innocents. Gringoire follows, but he observes that Esmeralda has noticed him and seems to be trying to...
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Gringoire sees two men catch hold of Esmeralda. Djali bleats frantically and Gringoire calls out for...
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Book 2, Chapter 5
Gringoire lies on the pavement where Quasimodo has thrown him, in front of an effigy of...
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As Gringoire lies in the gutter, a group of children run down the street, dragging a mattress...
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When Gringoire bursts up from under the mattress, the children take fright and run away: they think...
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Book 2, Chapter 6
Frightened by his experience, Gringoire charges through the narrow streets and, when he stops, he realizes he is hopelessly lost....
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Gringoire tries to find his way back to the mattress but he is lost in the...
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When Gringoire gets close to one of the figures, he realizes that they are beggars, who drag...
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The beggars lead Gringoire into a crowded square lit by several fires. He sees now that the blind man...
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...of thieves,” the place where all the criminals, beggars, and con artists gather at night. Gringoire looks around and is horrified to see beggars removing false wounds and tossing aside their...
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Gringoire begins to understand the horrible reality of his situation as the beggars set him down...
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...the rest of the city they hang thieves. Clopin feels that this makes things fair. Gringoire explains that he is the poet who wrote the morning’s mystery play, which Clopin attended....
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Clopin thinks this is a waste of time and wants to hang Gringoire immediately. Gringoire insists that he should receive a fair trial and Clopin says that he...
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...set of gallows and dressed in a costume covered in bells. Clopin explains that if Gringoire can pick the dummy’s pocket without ringing any of the bells, then they will make...
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Gringoire tries to pick the dummy’s pocket, but he immediately sets it swinging and all the...
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Several women come forward to inspect Gringoire, but none of them want him for a husband. As he is about to be...
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Book 2, Chapter 7
Gringoire follows Esmeralda to her room and finds himself alone with her. He is amazed by...
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Gringoire is surprised and confused, but he immediately backs down and asks Esmeralda why she has...
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At last, Djali gets Emseralda’s attention by chewing her skirt and Gringoire asks Esmeralda if she will be his friend. Esmeralda agrees and says that the difference...
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Gringoire suddenly remembers that, earlier in the evening, Quasimodo tried to abduct Esmeralda. He asks her...
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Gringoire then tells Esmeralda his life story. He is an orphan and has tried many different...
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At this moment, a bracelet falls from Esmeralda’s wrist and Gringoire bends to pick it up. When he straightens up again, Esmeralda has vanished into another...
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Book 7, Chapter 2
Frollo recognizes this man as Pierre Gringoire and cries out in surprise. Hearing his name, Gringoire is frightened and loses his balance....
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...Dame, the hall is dark and gloomy. Frollo looks very serious when he turns to Gringoire, and he comments on the strange, colorful outfit that Gringoire wears. Gringoire explains that his...
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Frollo asks Gringoire how he has ended up as Esmeralda’s companion and Gringoire answers that Esmeralda is his...
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Gringoire also explains that Esmeralda carries a dagger to fend off men’s advances. Frollo questions Gringoire...
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When Frollo hears about the priest, he seems upset. Gringoire continues that Esmeralda does not practice witchcraft, so she is not afraid of the priest....
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Frollo asks Gringoire what “Phoebus” means to Esmeralda, and Gringoire says that she seems to think the word...
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...this and seems taken aback. He says that he is worried for the sake of Gringoire’s soul. If Gringoire were to sleep with Esmeralda, Frollo says, then Gringoire would be ensnared...
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Book 8, Chapter 1
Gringoire and his companions in the “Court of Miracles” are deeply concerned about Esmeralda. No one...
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Gringoire decides to go in and watch the trial. He joins the enormous crowd as it...
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Gringoire listens in horror, terrified by the tale of the phantom monk. One of the judges...
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...accused woman jumps up and begs the court to tell her if Phoebus is alive. Gringoire is horrified to see that the woman on trial is Esmeralda. The judges silence her...
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...enjoyed Djali’s performance in the square, they are now convinced that Djali is a demon. Gringoire shouts out that it is just a trick, but the judge ignores him. Charmolue then...
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...Charmolue suggests quietly to the judge that Esmeralda should be tortured, and the judge agrees. Gringoire watches in horror as Charmolue leads Esmeralda from the court.
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Book 10, Chapter 1
Although Gringoire is pleased that Esmeralda and Djali have been rescued, he does not want to risk...
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Gringoire is surprised to see Frollo and he explains his new love of architecture. Frollo seems...
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Frollo leads Gringoire to a quiet street and asks him if he is jealous of the soldiers, with...
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...that, in three days’ time, parliament will overrule Esmeralda’s sanctuary and she will be hanged. Gringoire says this is a pity but he does not want to be hanged himself; he...
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Frollo announces that he already has a plan. He suggests that Gringoire should sneak into Notre Dame and give Esmeralda his clothes to disguise herself and escape....
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As Frollo turns to leave, however, Gringoire has a better idea and he rushes after the archdeacon. Gringoire explains that he doesn’t...
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Book 10, Chapter 3
...is armed and says that they will set out in one hour. Beside the fire, Gringoire sits deep in thought. Jehan is in the tavern and he is very drunk. He...
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...contains. Jehan says they should hang Quasimodo and he curses his brother, Frollo. Clopin approaches Gringoire and asks him what he is thinking. Gringoire says that he loves to contemplate the...
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Book 10, Chapter 4
...asks where Jehan is and someone says he is probably dead. Clopin then asks for Gringoire but he is told that Gringoire has snuck off. Jehan suddenly appears, pulling a huge...
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Book 10, Chapter 5
...drunk and stupid and can give the king no information, and the other is Pierre Gringoire. The king dismisses the first man and sends him to be hanged. He then questions...
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Louis XI orders that Gringoire should be hanged too, but Gringoire throws himself at the king’s feet and begs for...
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Book 10, Chapter 6
Once Louis XI has released him, Gringoire rushes down to the Porte Baudoyer where Frollo waits for him. Frollo irritably asks Gringoire...
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Book 11, Chapter 1
Suddenly, the door bursts open and two men enter the cell. One is Gringoire and the other, Frollo, is disguised by a black cloak. Gringoire is delighted to see...
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...the island on which Notre Dame sits. A small boat is moored there and Esmeralda, Gringoire, Djali, and Frollo climb in. Esmeralda is still very unnerved by Frollo and presses close...
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Gringoire suddenly asks Frollo if he saw the young man who fell from the tower and...
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...coming from the towers of Notre Dame. Esmeralda nearly faints with fear and clings to Gringoire. Gringoire feels conflicted. He is desperate to save Djali and knows that he cannot escape...
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Book 11, Chapter 2
...to help her. Quasimodo would have accidentally betrayed her if she had not escaped with Gringoire and Frollo. When Tristan leaves, Quasimodo continues to search.
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Book 11, Chapter 3
...Frollo is denied a religious burial. The year after these events, Louis XI also dies. Gringoire goes on to be a successful playwright, though he also dabbles in many other things....
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