Quasimodo |
After this, narration explains that on Quasimodo Sunday, a young woman abandoned her child in the cathedral of Notre Dame. Claude Frollo, a "young priest", adopts the child, despite it being "horribly misshapen."
Years later, Frollo had become the archdeacon of Notre Dame. He hired Quasimodo to be the ringer of the church bells. While this profession renders Quasimodo deaf, he seems to enjoy it enough.
This particular day is the celebration of the festival of fools. While a play is being preformed at the palace of justice, the people's attention is drawn instead to Quasimodo, who is ringing the bells and climbing the church architecture madly. The author of the play, Pierre Gringoire, is disheartened to see his work fail.
A donkey, for whatever reason |
During the night, all eyes are on Esmeralda, a gypsy girl who dances before a roaring bonfire. After she finishes her dance, she begins to collect money. she goes to Gringoire, but he's completely broke. He then goes to Frollo, who briskly walks away from her.
Quasimodo appears, paraded as the pope of fools. Frollo puts a stop to this, crying "Sacrilege!" and "Profanation!" Quasimodo tackles Frollo, but upon recognizing him his kneels. Frollo orders him to follow.
Th attempted kidnapping |
Gringoire is pinned down by vagabonds, who bring him to the Duke of Egypt. He's forced to preform several bizarre
tasks, and is offered to the local women. Gringoire is rejected for being to "poor" and "thin" and "young." Esmeralda ultimately chooses to marry him, but the marriage remains platonic. She is in love with Phoebus.
P-H-O-E-B-U-S |
Gringoire, after the failure of his play, becomes a juggler, much to Frollo's dismay. Frollo himself feels "possessed by (Esmeralda)" Seeing Esmeralda wander the street, he begins to follow her. She is on her way to meet Phoebus at the docks. Frollo stabs Phoebus, and Esmeralda begs to be murdered herself. Esmeralda is blamed for the murder. She is condemned to die.
"'Thank you Larry," at least that's what it sounds like |
that Esmeralda is safe from the law when inside.
Quasimodo informs Esmeralda that if she leaves Notre Dame, she will die, and then he just walks away.
Then another song begins to play, which shows all of the main cast, except Frollo, dancing with Esmeralda. The omnipotent singer ponders whether Esmeralda is "real or only in my mind."
The next morning, Esmeralda opens her door and says "good morning." This sentiment is repeated by Frollo, who then tries to grope and force himself on her. Frollo eventually chooses to stop, saying that no one will have her. Esmeralda tries to tell Quasimodo, but he refuses to listen, wanting to keep his kind vision of his master.
Again, "the version that children love." |
Quasimodo brings Esmeralda dinner. He tries to hide from her, but she makes him reveal himself. For whatever reason, Esmeralda is in love with Quasimodo, and knows that he'll protect her from Frollo.
The vagrants enter the church during the night and bring Esmeralda out. Quasimodo tries to stop them, but the Duke of Egypt stops the hunchback from doing so.
Frollo brings the soldiers attention to the group. The vagabonds fight the soldiers, and Phoebus, leading the charge, grabs Esmeralda. Esmeralda wonders how she could have ever loved him, to which he replies with a simple declaration. "I'm irresistible, that's why."
"I'm irresistible, that's why!" |
Esmeralda frees herself, and encounters Frollo. He tells her that the only way to live is to follow him. After debating whether or not she should trust an attempted murderer and rapist, she decides to anyway.
Quasimodo utters a battle cry and jumps from the height of the church to the ground below. Phoebus tries to stop Quasimodo, only to be tossed aside. Frollo tells Esmeralda to love him or die. Because she refuses, Frollo pulls out a knife, but, before he can do anything, Quasimodo stops him. Quasimodo throws Frollo off of the bridge, shouting that he's an "impostor!"
Dodging thousands of arrows fired by the advancing cavalry, Quasimodo and Esmeralda run off together. They're never seen again, though rumor spreads of the happy couple being seen out in the countryside.
Next: Characters
No comments:
Post a Comment