Every now and again I get hits from people searching odd questions. So I’m going to start answering your searched questions. I’m going to answer these questions with the all the academic-ness/pedantic-ness I can muster (it’s more fun that way)
Today’s Question: Why is Esmeralda so stupid?
This isn’t actually a “stupid” question like the Big Bird Question but let’s answer it.
19th Century Illustration of Esmeralda with Dj
So to answer this question we have decided which Esmeralda is the question referring to. I doubt it’s Disney’s as she is considered to be “Street smart”, my guess this question is refering to the book.
Painting of Esmeralda and Djali by Wiertz
Is Esmeralda stupid in the book? Well she is and she isn’t, first let’s explain why she is not stupid. Esmeralda is smart enough to know that dancing in front of Notre Dame is profitable. She also knew enough that doing things like fortuning telling would get her into trouble so she never did it. She also is smart enough to know that people are amused by novel tricks and teaches a few to her goat Djali. I’m not sure how easy it to train a Goat to do tricks but if it’s not smart than it’s talented. She also taught Djali how to spell “Phoebus” which means she need to know how to read at least somewhat and in the 15th the literacy rate was significantly lower. So she at least a smart performer and had some practicality even if these trick are her undoing.
Painting of Esmeralda and Sachette by Nicolas-Eustache Maurin
Now here is the real question, are her actions that are considered stupid actually naivety? The answer is yes, she is “worldly” as she traveled around Europe but she was sheltered by her group. As result she is very naive. She truly believed Phoebus’ lies because she never dealt with men and she believed it at the end when she mistakingly reveled herself to the soldiers that were sent to arrest her, that Phoebus would help. Arguably this is her stupidest move as it results in not just her death, but her mother’s, Frollo’s and Quasimodo’s deaths as well.
Painting of Esmeralda and Djali by Wilhelm Marstrand
So while Esmeralda isn’t exactly the brightest bulb in the package she’s not exactly “so stupid” just a bit of a “Dum Dum”. Her stupidity is the result of being young and immature. Can you really say you did nothing stupid at 16?
If you search an odd question and find the Hunchblog (and I notice it) I’ll answer it or better yet leave a comment with your weird/odd questions and I’ll answer them in a post. The weirder the better. Normal questions are welcome too.
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I have a question. Why do you think it is that some people always pick on the 1939 movie for not being the most faithful to the book but look the other way for the Disney movie.( And the majority of flack that one gets is about the gargoyles, and with good reason). In other words do you think the excuse of “It’s a Disney movie what do you expect” is fair Thanks!
-Hunchblog user Bellringer of Notre Dame
I know I’ll get flack for this, but Esmeralda is my favorite character in the book…I read the novel for the first time when I was about 16 and back then I though she was just some dumb chick. But as I got older, I saw that she was just really naive and placed all of her hopes onto one ideal. How many of us haven’t done that? She’s not really stupid, just careless/reckless and naive.
The question I have often wondered is: in musicals why is there no song for the character of Jehan? Or, if there is what musical is it from and where can I find it?
I also have the funny question of who would win in a cat fight, Fleur-De-Lys or Esmeralda?
Thank you for the answer. I actually think the same way. It is amazing that this naive and innocent girl was the reason for such dreadful events. As if it were two different persons.