Mum's Monday: The Hunchback of Notre Dame by Victor Hugo

This edition published by Penguin Popular Classics

As I start to read this version of the Hunchback of Notre Dame, I questioned, whether it was a fictional or a factual story. It is however, I have found out, a fictional story. It proceeds to break the ‘fourth wall’, I have only known this in films before. When the film characters talk to the watching audience down the camera lens, during the film. In this book the fourth wall is broken throughout, referring things to the reader directly. i have never known this to happen in a fictional story, in a book, making it, for me, unusual, but I have known numerous times in films.

I also like, that, whenever there is a sentence in French, the translation is in a key at the bottom of the page.

At the end of the first 4 chapters of book 1, I feel sorry for Gringoire, it is annoying and frustrating, when things don’t go according to your plans. He is at a loss with so many people not on his side.

It is not until, book 1, chapter 5, we meet Quasimodo, AKA the Hunchback of Notre Dame, he is the well-known bell ringer, of the cathedral. It is sad to see, how the public treat Quasimodo, the judgemental comments, just because he looks different.

It is not until the end of book 1 chapter 6 we come across La Esmeralda, where everyone seems to look upon her in awe. The opposite of how they see Quasimodo. It is sad to see them judging someone on beauty, or how they look alone.

It was sad to read of Gringoire’s predicament, but good to see him, instead of wallowing, he took the ‘if you can’t beat them, join them, attitude’. I am glad he found another way, although I still felt sorry for him. Someone trying to help themselves. I hoped, as I read on things would get better for him.

It is good to see, any person, whatever, their circumstances, in this case Quasimodo, has a place in life, and can fit into a group of people, however rough and ready they appear to be, including thieves and the such like. I am not sure I agree with the company he is keeping, but for the purpose of fitting in friends are friends.

Also now at last we have come across Frollo, so we have now met all the main characters of theis story.

There is a lot going on in this story, but it does all have a purpose and makes it an interesting read. However, whilst reading this book, I have just found out another side to Quasimodo I didn’t know. Well I suppose, if you mix with the company you keep, it is no surprise, if you end up a bad guy as well. Like I said, I never knew that of Quasimodo. It is sad to see his options thus far in the book, are limited.

As for the character of Gringoire, will he ever have some good luck? Who knows at the moment. However, a last piece of luck, saves Gringoire, but mixing with the dregs of society in Paris, could be seen as the lessor of 2 evils. He is saved, rescued, but married, but not in the usual way, if indeed at all in the eyes of his rescuer.  I don’t see Gringoire’s life as being dull, just lucky, for the time being, at the last minute.

Book 3, starts of and seems to have been researched really well, describing the Notre Dame Cathedral, as how it was, back when this book is set, and what it is like now.

Chapter 2 in book 3, is all about the view from the towers, it is interesting to read, the history of Paris, as I never knew it started off as 3 different cities, which are now amalgamated into one, the well-known city of Paris, we know today. Not only do we get a love story, we also get an interesting history lesson. This enhances the book, as we learn a lot about where, and the era this book is set.

I like what has been written at the end of book 3, ‘during the day Paris is talking, during the night, Paris is breathing and when the church bells chime, the city is singing’. This is a great description, of how a city can be seen as a living breathing organism.

This book is written, in great detail, going back to when Quasimodo was a young child and was adopted by a priest, who turns out to be Claude Frollo. To have the back story to the Hunchback of Notre Dame, adds to the, getting to know the character fully.

Book 4, chapter 2, made me questioned, whether I had read and understood the previous parts of the book correctly. Quasimodo is described as a good guy, who hardly left the Notre Dame cathedral, so it made me, wonder how it comes to be, that he mixes with bad people and that side of Paris. The story becomes intriguing, and I want to read on, to see the connection, and whether the character of Quasimodo was actually miss-understood initially, or I misread or was misled on how he was portrayed.

We have to wait and see as chapter 2 of book 5, is all about, how architecture, has changed over the centuries. How it became less and less from the imagination of them. The reasons why and described in this chapter, are because people seem to be channelling their thoughts and ideas into books. Although this is an insight into why the Notre Dame was built the way it was and I am yet to see the connection, and where the information fits into the story. We only know that to start with Frollo, is asked for some advice about learning to read.

This book goes off in many different directions, away from the love story between Quasimodo and La Esmeralda, however, as this is near the beginning of the book, it only serves to set up, solidly the setting and the goings on in the background and Paris back drop to this classic story. This is described so much that sometimes, you can lose sight of what this tale is actually about though.

The story soon reverts back to Quasimodo and now we find him being put before a judge. The chapter where the judge and Quasimodo are both deaf is borderline silly, and sad to read. I however, am made to feel sympathy for Quasimodo, so although unamusing, it is well written, for me to feel towards him as I do.

The story, goes on, begin to go back to Gringoire, but quickly goes off in a another direction, describing the ‘Rat Hole’ and the comings and goings of the life of the occupants in the cells.

Book 6, chapter 3, has a very good line written in it, this line basically says, that if you say everything at the beginning of the book, you will have nothing to say later on in the story. Although this the case in other books I have read, this is the first time, that I have actually read a description of this as a method of storytelling in a book.  

The connection between Quasimodo, being a good bell ringer, to finding himself in the predicament, he unfortunately had to suffer, becomes apparent. La Esmeralda, shows kindness to him so we, begin to see why he falls in love with her. It is nice to read about the help she gives him, and that she doesn’t care how others may see this, the only thing is, he is still miss-understood, but it is still early days in this love story.

Book 7 chapter 1, started off reminding me of arranged marriages, with trying to find a wife for a Captain Phoebus, but soon quickly turned in a different direction, when La Esmeralda and her goat appeared on the scene. This part shows that, just because you are from a noble background, it doesn’t mean that you act in the appropriate manner expected of you and your up-bringing.

It is good to see all the elements I have previously read about, start to, all come together. the book is getting easier to read, more story based, than a factual account of Paris at that time.

I like the fact that the author, Victor Hugo, treats the reader as an intelligent person, especially at the beginning of chapter 8 in book 7. In the previous chapter, chapter 7 book 7, it is clear who is wearing the cloak, but the person isn’t actually mentioned by name, it is left up to the reader to work out who it is throughout the chapter. I like the air of mystery and to be allowed, a, what could be described as a puzzle to solve, cleverly interweaved in to the story.

In book 8 chapter 1, shows that something, that is seen in one context, can be seen differently in another, what is seen as entertainment out on the street, is seen as witchcraft in a court of law. This doesn’t seem fair, but I suppose, it does depend on how a variety of people in many situations think about what they are witnessing.

Now as we approach the end of the book the love story slowly begins, during the previous books and chapters it built a solid and well explained basis to this outcome. Everything, I now realise, had to happen in the way that it does to conclude in the classic romance of it all.

This book is an extremely good example of showing, that beauty on the inside can be just as important as beauty on the outside of a person.

Someone can be pretty on the outside but be ugly on the inside and also some people can be deemed ugly on the outside but be a kind, caring and lovely person on the inside. Quasimodo is a prime example of this.

Overall in this book there is a lot of background descriptions to get to the story’s conclusion, but worth a read. Also the phrase ‘The Bells, The Bells’ is not actually in this book.

If you get a chance to go to Paris, you can visit the Notre Dame Cathedral. It is situated on an island in the river Seine. The nearest metro station is St Michael Notre Dame and is on the dark blue line B.