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
A few weeks later on a beautiful spring evening in Paris, as the sun sets behind Notre Dame, a group of young ladies sits on a balcony overlooking the square. The house belongs to a widow, Aloïse de Gondelaurier, whose daughter, Fleur-de-Lys de Gondelaurier, is being trained as a companion to the new Flemish princess. Inside the house, Aloïse de Gondelaurier sits beside a handsome (but rather arrogant) young man. He seems oblivious to the young ladies on the balcony, who are trying to attract his attention.
Although Phoebus is handsome, his good looks conceal his arrogant nature and suggest that attractive appearances can be deceiving.
Themes
This young man is Phoebus, the captain of the guards. He is engaged to marry Fleur-de-Lys, but he is clearly bored with her. Aloïse, who senses Phoebus’s lack of interest in Fleur-de-Lys, repeatedly tries to draw his attention to how pretty her daughter is. To keep Aloïse happy, Phoebus sullenly approaches Fleur-de-Lys and makes awkward small talk with her. Fleur-de-Lys is irritated by him and can tell that he does not want to talk to her.
Although Phoebus is very handsome, he is selfish and does not care that he upsets Fleur-de-Lys. He has become engaged to her but resents having to follow through on this commitment. This suggests that Phoebus’s handsome appearance conceals his thoughtless nature.
Themes
Just then, a little girl among the party leans over the balcony and cries excitedly that Esmeralda is in the square below, dancing for the crowd. The young ladies rush over to see and Phoebus gratefully retreats. Although he was once besotted with Fleur-de-Lys, Phoebus has now lost interest in her and wishes he were not engaged. He feels uncomfortable with refined ladies and has grown used to the rough, bawdy life of a solider.
Phoebus is clearly an impulsive and thoughtless man who does not take responsibility for his behavior. His handsome looks are deceptive; he is not as noble as he appears. He does not take responsibility for his fate, which he has brought on himself, and instead resigns himself to feeling trapped.
Themes
Fleur-de-Lys turns to Phoebus and asks him if this gypsy might be the same one that he rescued from two men who wanted to abduct her. Phoebus comes to look and recognizes Esmeralda. As they watch Esmeralda, the group notices a man in the tower of Notre Dame who stares down at Esmeralda like a predator eyeing its prey. Fleur-de-Lys recognizes the man as Claude Frollo and says that Esmeralda had better watch out because Frollo hates gypsies.
Frollo’s great height on the tower, as he watches Esmeralda, represents his powerful social status, which is far above Esmeralda’s. Frollo is frequently referred to as a predator in his relationship with Esmeralda because, as a high-ranking member of the church and a man in a patriarchal society, Frollo has great power over Esmeralda.
Themes
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Fleur-de-Lys suggests that, since Phoebus knows Esmeralda, he should invite her inside. Phoebus calls down to Esmeralda and she looks up from her dance. When Esmeralda sees Phoebus, she moves towards him like a bird that has been hypnotized by a snake. Phoebus invites her inside and, when Esmeralda arrives upstairs, the young ladies are dazzled by her beauty.
Phoebus has power over Esmeralda because he is handsome and because he is a high-ranking solider, while she is a poor, powerless girl. Medieval society was misogynistic, and men generally had more rights and power than women. In this sense, Esmeralda is powerless to resist Phoebus. The fact that he calls to her from the balcony above her symbolizes his elevated social position and his power over her.
Themes
Phoebus asks Esmeralda if she remembers him and Esmeralda says that she does. Phoebus then asks her if she knows why Quasimodo tried to abduct her and Esmeralda replies that she doesn’t know. Phoebus is clearly very struck by Esmeralda and this makes the other young ladies jealous. They begin to insult Esmeralda’s clothes and Esmeralda meekly tolerates their abuse, unsure why she has been invited inside.
The young ladies attack Esmeralda because she is beautiful. Esmeralda is ostracized for something she cannot help, and, in this sense, she is akin to Quasimodo, who is outcast because of his extreme ugliness.
Themes
Phoebus defends Esmeralda and tells her she is beautiful. Fleur-de-Lys looks upset by this, but Esmeralda breaks into a radiant smile. Aloïse watches the scene critically but she is distracted when Djali runs into the room and gets caught up in her skirts. One of the young women recognizes Djali and whispers to her friend that Esmeralda is a witch and that she has taught Djali magic. The girls insist that Esmeralda must do some witchcraft to entertain them, but Esmeralda seems nervous and says she does not know what they mean.
Medieval society was extremely superstitious; the girls believe that Esmeralda is a witch because she can make Djali do tricks that they cannot explain. Witchcraft was a crime and was persecuted by the church. Women, in particular, were often suspected of witchcraft and executed based on rumors and superstitions.
Themes
Esmeralda bends down to stroke Djali and Fleur-de-Lys notices a leather pouch tied to Djali’s neck. She asks what’s in it, and Esmeralda says that it is her secret. Fleur-de-Lys says that, if Esmeralda is not going to entertain them, then she must leave. Esmeralda reluctantly makes for the door, sorry to leave Phoebus. As she goes, however, he calls her back to ask her name.
Fleur-de-Lys and the other girls ostracize Esmeralda because she is beautiful, and they are jealous of her. This highlights how people are often unfairly judged or treated badly because of their appearances.
Themes
Meanwhile, the little girl lures Djali into a corner to play and tips the contents of the leather pouch onto the floor. The pouch is full of little blocks with letters on them and, when Djali sees them, he spells out the word “Phoebus” with his hoof. The girl squeals with delight and Esmeralda turns bright red when she sees this. Fleur-de-Lys looks at the letters and bursts into tears. Phoebus seems to understand something and smiles at Esmeralda, clearly very pleased with himself.
Fleur-de-Lys quickly works out that Esmeralda is infatuated with Phoebus because of his handsome and noble appearance, which disguises his conceited and immoral character.
Themes
Before Esmeralda can explain, Fleur-de-Lys cries that Esmeralda is a witch and falls into a swoon. Aloïse angrily dismisses Esmeralda, who rushes from the room, and the young ladies carry Fleur-de-Lys to bed. Phoebus is left alone in the room. He dithers for a few moments and then follows Esmeralda and Djali into the street.
Although Fleur-de-Lys is not upset really because she thinks Esmeralda is a witch (she is upset because she knows that Esmeralda is attracted to Phoebus), Fleur-de-Lys uses a supernatural explanation to justify her hatred of Esmeralda. This suggests that, although the supernatural was considered a genuine threat in the medieval period, it could also be used to justify unfair persecution.
Themes
