Close Reading of The Hunchback of Notre-Dame Passage

            Less is more. This commonplace phrase describes many different aspects of life: cooking, fashion and even cosmetic treatments. However, one of its main origins was through its use in literature. Victor Hugo’s The Hunchback of Notre-Dame is one example of a piece reflecting this common ideal. Throughout this passage, Hugo uses purposeful fragments, formalistic language and a copious amount of expressive punctuation to describe the emotion and inner thoughts of his characters.

This passage represents a portion of the dramatic monologue that Frollo is delivering. He is addressing Jacques during his speech, but Frollo is more speaking to himself than to his companion. He is revealing elements of his character such as his strong belief in Fate and his unwillingness to participate in free will, which would otherwise not be directly divulged to the reader without the use of a dramatic monologue. In addition, Hugo utilizes the use of a stream of consciousness. The speaker’s lack of ending punctuation in a quote such as this: “You did not see the subtle spider’s web, spread by destiny between the light and you; you flew into it, wretched fool, and now you struggle, with crushed head and torn wings, between the iron antennae of Fate!“ (273) shows his non-stop thought process. Frollo is attempting to justify his actions towards La Esmerelda while working through his though process and basing his actions on the spider and the fly.

The use emotion and descriptive detail can cause even the smallest of occurrences to become memorable. For example, “You flew toward knowledge, toward the lights, toward the sun; you only wanted to reach the pure air, the broad light of eternal truth. But rushing toward the dazzling window which opens into another world, a world of brightness, intelligence, and knowledge-blind fly! . . . You did not see the subtle spider’s web” (272). Hugo is describing the sun and air as knowledge and truth and using formal language to describe something so miniscule as a fly becoming caught in a spider’s web. This elevated language suggests determination and is eventually what leads Frollo into using fate as an excuse to trap La Esmerelda. Eventually, he will draw her into his web of destruction because that is the way he thinks Fate intends it to be.

Believing in fate causes a person to simply accept what has come to them therefore, saying little to change their circumstance. In the quote, “Poor dancer! Poor fated fly! Master Jacques, leave it alone-it’s fate! Alas, Claude, you are the spider! Claude, you are also the fly! . . . Master Jacques! Let the spider alone!” (273), Frollo speaks in short bursts filled with emotion to emphasize his want and his need to ensnare La Esmerelda. Hugo’s use of short fragments with copious punctuation affirms Frollo’s strong belief in fate and his future plans. Short fragments in dialogue also contribute to how a character is perceived. In this case, Frollo shows his eager determination and his inability to stay calm when contemplating his desires.

The Hunchback of Notre-Dame is considered a piece from the Romantic era. This era is depicted as a literary, artistic and intellectual movement that was a reaction to the Industrial Revolution. The quote above not only describes Frollo’s views on fate, but it uses formal language and expressive punctuation to address Hugo’s commentary on society. The Industrial Revolution, which spurred on Romanticism were two movements that provided an escape from reality and an opportunity to take one’s future into one’s own hands. However, Hugo is explaining how “wise men come from afar to dash their heads against you” (274) and try to change their life without the effects of fate.

             Although less isn’t always more, it most definitely is when it comes to literature. Through the use of purposeful fragments, formalistic language and a copious amount of expressive punctuation, the emotion and inner thoughts of characters can be more simply and purely articulated.