Esmeralda's destiny

[Jozanny]

While it may be true that Gringoire is better educated than the general populace at the time, I think his perception is debatable: One could see that Hugo makes him a bit of a pompus droll through his inability to stage a successful play in the opening, and although Esmeralda saves his life, all he does in return is complicate hers. Rather than being grateful to the girl for saving him, she is little more than a sexualized doll to him, one to be chased around her own rooms. When he cannot satisfy his desire with her, he becomes basically indifferent, and instigates the beggars' uprising which draws the king's attention and ultimately seals her fate.

And Phoebus is little more than a modern day playboy who lives only to satisfy appetite, only moderately redeemed by Hugo for his otherwise stalwart conduct as a soldier in battle. Neither of these men are willing or able to stand up to Frollo.

Quasimodo, can, and does, but only by being able to circumvent his master, perhaps unwittingly, for a short time-- his disabilities make him stand out, but they also lead, ironically, to dooming the girl and himself, since the vagabonds marched on Notre Dame to rescue her, and not to become victims of mass murder.

Joanne

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DisabilityinArts/

[Remarkable]

I don't think that the vagabonds were really after the girl,it is also stated in the book that they were mostly after the gold.

The problem with Phoebus is that he is passive.He doesn't care for anyone on earth exept himself:in fact,himself isn't that important either.He is the typical"live as long as you live and get drunk while doing that".But in the end,it is probably Esmeralda's own pasivity that condems her.She could have found a way out,she could have made a compromise...But no,all she knows is how to faint...

[WyattGwyon]

While it may be true that Gringoire is better educated than the general populace at the time, I think his perception is debatable: One could see that Hugo makes him a bit of a pompus droll through his inability to stage a successful play in the opening, and although Esmeralda saves his life, all he does in return is complicate hers. Rather than being grateful to the girl for saving him, she is little more than a sexualized doll to him, one to be chased around her own rooms. When he cannot satisfy his desire with her, he becomes basically indifferent, and instigates the beggars' uprising which draws the king's attention and ultimately seals her fate.

I think you misjudge Gringoire here: He is fundamentally an opportunist and a coward but his heart is otherwise pure. He was devoted to Esmeralda in a brotherly way after she rejected him and the measure of his devotion was precisely his attempt to instigate her rescue. This was an unusual and notable action for such a go-with-the-flow type. Of course, he really failed her in the end, primarily because of his cowardice.