Hunchback of Notre Dame Reflection

            Watching the Hunchback of Notre Dame for the first time in around ten years, I picked up on more things than my younger more naïve self. I knew that Frollo was the main antagonist, but I never realized to what extent he dehumanized Quasimodo. He taught Quasi from birth that he was an abomination and that no normal human would ever love him. He forced Quasi to be dependent upon him because without him he told Quasi that he would have nothing. The extent of Frollo’s hold on Quasi was from birth and I can only imagine the kinds of psychological abuse Quasimodo had to endure for the years he was locked in that bell tower.

            Another thing I failed to notice as a kid was how Esmerelda was a catalyst of change. She was very caring and understanding, but what put her front and center was her beauty. The movie made every male lead character want to be with her in some facet because of her beauty. Frollo wanted Esmerelda so badly that if she refused he would kill her. From their first encounter Phoebus was enchanted by her dance and Quasi was enchanted by her kind words. This brings forth the question of whether or not the movie would lead to the same ending if Esmerelda was not a Beautiful woman but an average one.