Book 4, Chapter 1, Kind Souls
The name of this chapter is clear sarcasm. It starts with the back story of Quasimodo on the founding bed at Notre Dame on Quasimodo Sunday. A few movies start with this chapter. It’s basically a bunch of old ladies staring in horror at little Quasimodo. Quasimodo is in a bag with only his head poking through the top and the Bishop of Paris‘ name on the bag. Which is a little silly to picture but sad too. These women are just mean. They call Quasimodo a monkey a monster, a demon etc. Fleur de Lys and her mother are introduced as well but with the names of the other women you might not think too much of it. At the end, Frollo takes Quasimodo and the women call him a wizard. It’s interesting to note that the book clearly says the year is 1467, 16 years before the start of the book proper. Fleur de Lys is six and Quasimodo is not a newborn baby. The book gives some indication that he was 4 years old when Frollo adopted him later on. It’s a great chapter as you get a sense that Quasimodo for his look has been treated with malcontent his whole life and these women are like nuns.
Book 4, Chapter 2, Claude Frollo
This chapter give us backstory on Frollo and what compelled him to adopted little Quasimodo. From this chapter we learn that Frollo is pretty nobility and has a meager holding. From a young age he was study to be in the clergy. Frollo was very passionate about studying and was giving honors at very young. The 1997 got his passion for learning right. However a plague took his parents and left him a baby brother. He was so moved with love for the child which is a feeling he never felt before. This love for little Jehan is what moved him take on Quasimodo, for if anything happen to him, Jehan would be at the mercy of the founding bed. Got say this is a really interesting chapter not only do we get Frollo’s backstory but because you see how passionate this guy is and how that passion got twisted and corrupted to lust. His is an all-consuming personality.
Book 4, Chapter 3, Immanis Pecoris Custos, Immanior Ipse
The title for this chapter means The Guardian of a monstrous herd, and himself more monstrous. This chapter is really fascinating as its goes deep into Quasimodo’s inner most workings and his relationship to Notre Dame. This is the chapter that creators of the Disney version site for the reason behind the gargoyles but it goes more into Quasimodo and the his devotion and passions for bells so mute point creators reference that one paragraph. I like how the book makes it clear that Quasimodo never had any desire to leave the church, it was everything to him and he was in turn the soul of Notre Dame. Also I really like the part about how Quasimodo’s twists and distorts information and how the malcontent to met with his whole life made him mischievous.
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