Reading Response 2

     During the second quarter of The Hunchback of Notre Dame by Victor Hugo, the characters were developed. Hugo doesn't just skim the edge of the characters, but takes off layers and layers to reveal the characters personality and thoughts.
     Quasimodo is described in this section to be an avid Notre Dame lover. "It is scarcely necessary to say how familiar he had made himself with the whole cathedral in so long and so intimate a cohabitation. There was no depth that Quasimodo had not fathomed, no height that he had not scaled." (Hugo 128). As I described in my previous reading response, Hugo was also a person who had completely immersed himself in the Notre Dame. While researching for my links list, I noticed that Hugo may have taken the idea for Quasimodo from a real life person known as Le Bossu (Nikkhah, The Telegraph). While reading I came up with a possible reason for why Quasimodo is written in this way. Hugo could have possibly discovered this Le Bossu person through pictures and documents and then applied his feelings through the character. Essentially, Hugo is writing his viewpoint and opinion of the Notre Dame through Quasimodo, which I found very intriguing.
     The character of Claude Frollo is also developed in this section. He is the foster parent to Quasimodo. Hugo shows to the reader that Claude is a character with a soft spot for caring for others. "He approached the unfortunate little creature, so hated and so threatened. Its distress, its deformity, its destitution, the thought of his young brother, the idea which suddenly flashed across his mind, that if he were to die his poor little Jehan too might perhaps be mercilessly thrown upon the same spot, assailed his heart all at once: it melted with pity, and he carried away the boy" (Hugo 126). The rumour throughout Paris is that Claude is a mad man. "..."Sister," whispered she, "did I not tell you that yon young clerk, Monsieur Claude Frollo, is a sorcerer?" (Hugo 122). It is revealed to the reader first that others see Claude as a sorcerer. I immediately felt scared for what would happen to the poor little boy, later revealed as Quasimodo. But then a few pages later I discovered that Claude devotes himself fully to caring for his brother and son. I think Hugo decided to give two viewpoints on Claude because it keeps the reader guessing. Why would the others think that Claude is a sorcerer? What is their proof? Hugo developed a very versatile and complex character during this section.
     In the third quarter, I hope to discover possible themes that have so far emerged in my novel. Again I hope that the themes are as developed and thought out as the characters and setting were.