Themes

Architecture: Above the many subliming themes of The Hunchback of Notre-Dame, the one that stands out is the significance of architecture which was declining during Hugo’s era. In fact, the French title of the novel is Notre Dame de Paris, emphasizing not the hunchback, or the tragedy, but the essence of the cathedral itself. It is the symbol and gothic heart of the city. Besides its external facade of upholding divinity and wisdom, it is also the maternal spirit which houses disparity, and commotion in return. From the moment it was built it held no true quality, always changing at the sway of its people. Although it was made in the name of God, Notre-Dame stands inexplicably mixed between the religious and secular, but not one or the other. This metaphor reflects upon the erratic state of the French Society.

Romanticism: This literary movement during Hugo’s period, which strayed away from the strict values of the Enlightenment, asserted the vigour of imagination and emotion before reason and order. Romanticism looms primarily in the nature of the characters and how their impulsive acts are materialized from the individual human will. In the midst of chaos, regardless of where they stand, priorities boil down to gain the love they believe they deserve.

Social Justice: Last but certainly not least, is how each character’s social standing was of such high value in that society, to the point of inadvertently predetermining the fate of their life. Simply based off the clothes they wore or the way they spoke and really all sorts of superficial aspects, they were classified to be of a certain ranking. Each position in the community had specific obligations and restrictions set out that they were expected to respect, but it was completely unjust. Hugo however, dives into the bare truth to reveal that even then, contradicting personifications were in constant manifestation. For example, a corrupted priest, a good-for-nothing scholar, a cowardly philosopher and a beast with a heart.