Reading Response 3

     This third quarter was by far the hardest to put down. There was less description and more action which I really enjoyed. I discovered two majors themes while reading this section.
     The first theme I discovered was "love." Throughout this section, characters do crazy things for love. Claude attempts to kill Phoebus because he loves La Esmeralda. "She saw the dagger descend upon the Captain, and rise again...The Captain was carried away bathed in his blood. The priest was gone" (Hugo 232). La Esmeralda agrees to an unrightful death sentence, ""Lastly, you declare and confess that, instigated by, and with the assistance of the devil and the goblin-monk, you did, on the night of the 29th of March last, kill and slay a captain, named Phoebus de Châteaupers?" ...(La Esmeralda) "Yes ."" (Hugo 245), because she loves the captain. I think Hugo chose this theme because so many readers can relate to it. Everyone is loved or loves someone in their lifetime whether it is family, friends or a complete stranger. In this novel, Hugo shows the viewpoint of a lover and someone who is loved.
     The second theme I discovered was "jealousy." Since La Esmeralda is in love with Phoebus, but Claude loves La Esmeralda, this makes him jealous of Phoebus. The thought of Phoebus and La Esmeralda together makes Claude's blood boil. "And when he strove to picture himself the felicity which he might have found upon earth if she had not been a Bohemian, and if he had not been a priest, if Phoebus had not existed, and if she had not loved him..." (Hugo 281). Claude Frollo is also jealous of Quasimodo, his foster-son. Quasimodo has a close relationship with La Esmeralda whereas Claude is hated by her. "The priest, with a violent kick, overthrew Quasimodo, and rushed quivering with rage to the vaulted staircase" (Hugo 308-309). The fact that Claude is jealous of Quasimodo is also explicitly stated at the very end of the chapter. "The priest, on his part, groped his way back to his cell. The thing was conclusive. Dom Claude was jealous of Quasimodo! With pensive look he repeated the fatal phrase, "Nobody shall have her!"" (Hugo 309). I think Hugo chose this theme because, again a lot of people can relate to it. Everyone has felt jealousy at some point, whether you are jealous of an older sibling or of a friend.
     Both themes I discovered had to do with relationships. They are about how humans can feel toward other humans and how they can react based on these feelings. Both of these themes are relatable, which makes this novel very appealing to the average reader. I find it very interesting how certain themes can still be relatable even though they were written well over one hundred years ago.
     While reading the final quarter of this novel, I hope that the loose ends are tied up and I hope to explore the major events that caused the conclusions. So far this process has been a great learning experience for me and I hope that the novel ends on a good note.