Today I have come to share my reading experience with a French classic "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" By Voctor Hugo.
The story is set in Paris in the 14th century..It is the dark times where the religious and political evolutions are playing crucial roles in human lives...This is the story of a beautiful Gypsies girl called Esmeralda..When she was an infant she got kidnapped by Gypsies from her loving mother..Esmeralda earns her bread by dancing in the streets along with her goat..She is a heartthrob of Paris people.Her extreme beauty also fascinates Claude Frollo,an Archdeacon (a rank below Bishop) of Notre Dame church..He admires her beauty most ardently but struggles internally,to have her against his social cadre and principles.Quasimodo is the step son of Claude Frollo..He is the Hero yet a hunchbacked bell ringer of Notre Dame with so many physical disabilities including deafness..He elected as the 'King of Fools' in the "Fools festival" where all the criminals,thieves and ugly people choose a person among them as King...
Quasimodo tries to kidnap Esmeralda on Claude's orders but Captain Phoebus saves her.Esmeralda falls in love with Phoebus but this guy only loves her physical beauty..While Quasimodo is getting punished for kidnapping her,Esmeralda shows her kindheartedness and serves him water..Quasimodo finds her as the only person,treated him with such great humanity and he starts loving her...Claude Frollo turns crazy and jealous and almost attempt to kill Phoebus at the moment he found Esmeralda and Phoebus very close...But he survives with minor injuries..Esmeralda got punished by the Parisian mob but Quasimodo saves her and set her safe in a closed cabin of Notre Dame church...Finally Esmeralda was hanged to death by the Parisian mob and Quasimodo disappears from the day on..After two and half years,in the pit of Montfaucon,people found two skeletons,one which held the other singularly embraced.
The novel depicts the true love of Quasimodo for Esmeralda...The story reveals the fact that beauty lies in the heart but not in the skin or in the physical appearance...It potraits the selfish nature of Phoebus who never loves Esmeralda but wants to use her.The main antagonist,Claude Frollo's multiple shaded character is much interesting in the novel..His love towards his brother Jehan is very unique..He proves to be good hearted when he adopts the ugly little Quasimodo..But pity, he got pushed from the top of the church by his beloved son only....His foolish attraction towards Esmeralda leads to his transformation from human to demon...There is another person Pierre Gringoir who is a poet and namesake husband of Esmeralda..His fearful nature causes difficulties to Esmeralda from Claude Frollo.Esmeralda's real mother 'Sister Gudule''s search for her lost child ends by finding her and loosing her on the same day..
Breifly the book is a blend of human emotions and beliefs of ancient Paris cultural..The book focussed on the architecture of Paris churchs in 14th century and it gave a very nice illustration about Parisian culture, the people and their blind beliefs..Some cultural facts are really scary to read as we are too far from that time..But its always nice to know about ancient times..:-) Totally enjoyed the read..:-)
The story is set in Paris in the 14th century..It is the dark times where the religious and political evolutions are playing crucial roles in human lives...This is the story of a beautiful Gypsies girl called Esmeralda..When she was an infant she got kidnapped by Gypsies from her loving mother..Esmeralda earns her bread by dancing in the streets along with her goat..She is a heartthrob of Paris people.Her extreme beauty also fascinates Claude Frollo,an Archdeacon (a rank below Bishop) of Notre Dame church..He admires her beauty most ardently but struggles internally,to have her against his social cadre and principles.Quasimodo is the step son of Claude Frollo..He is the Hero yet a hunchbacked bell ringer of Notre Dame with so many physical disabilities including deafness..He elected as the 'King of Fools' in the "Fools festival" where all the criminals,thieves and ugly people choose a person among them as King...
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| Image courtesy booksshouldfree.com |
Quasimodo tries to kidnap Esmeralda on Claude's orders but Captain Phoebus saves her.Esmeralda falls in love with Phoebus but this guy only loves her physical beauty..While Quasimodo is getting punished for kidnapping her,Esmeralda shows her kindheartedness and serves him water..Quasimodo finds her as the only person,treated him with such great humanity and he starts loving her...Claude Frollo turns crazy and jealous and almost attempt to kill Phoebus at the moment he found Esmeralda and Phoebus very close...But he survives with minor injuries..Esmeralda got punished by the Parisian mob but Quasimodo saves her and set her safe in a closed cabin of Notre Dame church...Finally Esmeralda was hanged to death by the Parisian mob and Quasimodo disappears from the day on..After two and half years,in the pit of Montfaucon,people found two skeletons,one which held the other singularly embraced.
The novel depicts the true love of Quasimodo for Esmeralda...The story reveals the fact that beauty lies in the heart but not in the skin or in the physical appearance...It potraits the selfish nature of Phoebus who never loves Esmeralda but wants to use her.The main antagonist,Claude Frollo's multiple shaded character is much interesting in the novel..His love towards his brother Jehan is very unique..He proves to be good hearted when he adopts the ugly little Quasimodo..But pity, he got pushed from the top of the church by his beloved son only....His foolish attraction towards Esmeralda leads to his transformation from human to demon...There is another person Pierre Gringoir who is a poet and namesake husband of Esmeralda..His fearful nature causes difficulties to Esmeralda from Claude Frollo.Esmeralda's real mother 'Sister Gudule''s search for her lost child ends by finding her and loosing her on the same day..
Breifly the book is a blend of human emotions and beliefs of ancient Paris cultural..The book focussed on the architecture of Paris churchs in 14th century and it gave a very nice illustration about Parisian culture, the people and their blind beliefs..Some cultural facts are really scary to read as we are too far from that time..But its always nice to know about ancient times..:-) Totally enjoyed the read..:-)
37 comments:
A good review. I read the book years ago. I intend to read it again. I remember, however, an example the brilliant antithesis of Victor Hugo in this novel where three women were moving in the street and describes them one as - the most curious, and therefore, least sensitive.
@ Rajesh,
Certainly interesting read..Thank you..:-)
@ Nandagopal,
Welcome to my blog..:-)Yeah,thats a wonderful depiction indeed.Really great,you remembered those details even now..:-)Thanks for dropping by..:-)
Lovely book review - one of my all time favourite classics :)
Wonderful review. I read this book sometime back...
Thanks for sharing..
@ Privy,
Thanks a lot Privy..I liked it too..:-)
@ Panchalibolchi,
Thanks a lot Panchali Jee..Glad to hear from you..:-)
A great review!!! Thoroughly enjoyed reading it.
The first time I had read it I was a kid and then last year, I got a chance to get back to the book to write a paper for a course.
It kept me rapt for days.
:)
p.s: Have you tried comparing your reading of the book to the Disney version of the same? might turn out to be an interesting endeavor.
@ Neeraj,
I'm really happy you enjoyed reading the post..:-)Thanks for taking time and commeting..:-)
@ Amropali,
Thanks a lot for stopping by and commenting..:-)No,I haven't seen the Disney version yet..But as you are recommending,will get it for sure..I hope my little kiddu will definitely enjoy...:-)
Hi
Thank you for bringing some happy memories from childhood - those days the classics were food for our young minds. We read Hugo, Dickens, Shaw, Emerson and others.
Am glad to encounter a young person who reads the classics.
Your narration kept me engaged. I look forward to reading more of your work.
Just one suggestion before I go ... you can improve the readability and finish by doing a spell check and some minor adjustments to sentences.
Best wishes!
@ Jayadev Menon Jee,
Thanks a lot for stopping by and giving your valueble feedback..:-)Its my pleasure that my posts revived your memories.I love classics a lot..:-)I feel very soothing and peaceful while reading them..:-)
Will definitely follow your suggestions.Pls keep visiting..Thanks once again..:-)
Victor Hugo stops above all in objective description of characters and the period in which it was written and also the fragrance of emotions........I loved the book and I love it again as I read your blog....thanks for sharing such insights
@ Bradz Blog,
Thanks a lot for dropping by.:-)This is my first book of Hugo..Looking forward to pick few more works from him..:-)
Victor Hugo is one of the best. Lovely review Nagini gaaru. Chaala baaga raasina post. thank you.
@Mak,
Thanks buddy..:-)Good telugu by the way..:-)
Interesting review. I also loved this book.
I am inspired by your review to read this book. Thanks for sharing:)
కమల్ సినిమా "గుణ" కి ఈ నవల కథే ఇన్స్పిరేషన్ అంటారు.
@ The Fool,
Thanks a lot for the visit and comment..Good to know you also liked the book..:-)
@ Sanjeev Menon,
Thanks a lot for dropping by..I'm happy that you are inspired to read it..You'll surely enjoy the read...All the best..:-)
@ తృష్ణ గారు,
అవునా !!! నాకు తెలీదండీ.నేను ఆ మూవీ పూర్తిగా చూడలేదు...If so will see..:-)
definitely an interesting read....
http://sushmita-smile.blogspot.in
@ Sushmita,
Thanks a lot for dropping by..:-)
I had read this book when I was in school.Nostalgic to read your review !
@ Vasu,
Thank you so much for dropping by..:-)
It's really a very good book. Thanks for this nice review :)
Hi Aswini,
Thanks a lot for your visit and comment..:-)Glad to have met you here..:-)
Good review..nicely written..first time here !!
@ Logic,
Thanks a lot for taking time and commenting..:-)
@ Logic,
Thanks a lot for taking time and commenting..:-)
Emite nagini chala pedda lineyevundi nee fans di. I am feeling very happy by seeing ur blog. At least now u started to share ur talent. It is very nice ra.
@ Dear Mohini (Pishachi,)
Hey Today is the happiest day for my blog..I'm surprised to see you here yaar..:-)Thanks a lot for your lovely and precious comment..:-)
I wanna read this book.Thanx for following:) V r near.I'm from pondicherry:)
Hi Shylu,
Glad to know we are near by..:-)yeah its a lovely read ..don't miss..:-)
Hi,
I liked your blog. I thought that we could do a few cross blog things.
Would you be interested in reviewing my new book "Love, Peace and Happiness:What more can you want?"
I could do an author interview on yours. I could also post your review on my fanpage referenced below which has more than 10,000 fans giving you a whole new set of visitors.
Let me know if this makes sense for your blog.
Rituraj Verma, author
www.facebook.com/BookLPH
www.riturajverma.com/blog
email:riturajverma2005@gmail.com
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