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from many movies and literary works describes the importance
of love, and how there are no limits or barriers when
dealing with love. Many people cannot even help whether or
not they fall in love. There are many types of love and
they need not be between members of opposite sexes. In
Victor Hugo's novel, The Hunchback of Notre Dame,
Quasimodo's love for Esmerelda is not as strong as his
different sense of love for the Archdeacon, Claude Frollo.
Quasimodo loves each person in a different manner, but is
The hunchback feels, among other things, a love
described as Eros for the Mistress Esmerelda; whereas, for
the Archdeacon the love he feels is known as Philia. While
Quasimodo is drawn to Esmerelda by her inner beauty and
personal qualities, he admires the Archdeacon for his
powerful position in the social structure of the town.
Throughout the story, Quasimodo does his best to protect
Esmerelda. Contrarily, he is protected by the Archdeacon.
There are four types of love, only one of which involves a
man's physical love for a woman and vice versa. This type
of love is known as Eros. It is defined as a relationship
in which two parties are physically attracted to one
another. Esmerelda, the gypsy, is quite beautiful. She
dances in the midst of a crowd near a bonfire: "All eyes
were fixed on her, all mouths hung open. As she danced to
the rhythm of the tambourine which her round, delicate arms
held over her head, she seemed to be some sort of
supernatural creature(p.22). Quasimodo is taken by her
loveliness just like most other men. However, because he is
deformed and hideous, Quasimodo's physical attraction to the
Mistress is unrequited. Nevertheless, this attraction is
uncontrollable. Although he never acts upon his urges nor
openly displays his affection, the hunchback feels the type
of love called Eros for Esmerelda. Accordingly, he feels a
different kind of love for the Archdeacon: Philia. Just as
Eros as love stems from physical factors, Philia is a result
of external factors. The Archdeacon is a man of God. He is
considered the religious authority in Paris. Quasimodo
resides in the Notre Dame Cathedral. He takes a great
interest in God, and apparently shares this interest with
the Archdeacon. Quasimodo was taken in by Claude Frollo
when he was quite young. The two men grew quite close
together: "When the poor bellringer became deaf the two men
developed a mysterious language of signs and gestures which
was understood by them alone. Thus the Archdeacon was the
only person with whom Quasimodo maintained communication
Names mentioned in this term paper
Esmerelda, Quasimodo, Claude Frollo, Victor Hugo,
Organizations referenced in this paper
Catholic Church,
Keywords mentioned in this paper
Quasimodo, Archdeacon, Claude Frollo, hunchback, the hunchback, Eros, bell ringer, Eros love, Victor Hugo, a love, erotic love, priest, Philia, gestures, other men, gypsy, religious authority, physical attraction, hand gestures, inner beauty, father figure, true value, universal language, social structure, human being, sign language, unrequited, Catholic Church, molten, shows, Fools, ugliness, happy, loveliness, haughty, bellringer, imperious, decked, aversion, Phoebus, attackers, danced, kneeling, tambourine, Cyclops, utmost, bonfire, exalted, grotesque, versa,
