Why is Esmeralda so stupid?

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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

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

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

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

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.

Who is Uglier Quasimodo or Big Bird?

by

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)

Quasimodo Illustrtion Francois flameng

Illustration of Quasimodo

Big Bird of Sesame Street picture image

Big Bird of Sesame Street

 

 

 

 

 

The first one I noticed was the question of who is uglier Quasimodo or Big Bird? A very interesting question to be sure. The answer comes down to a simple matter of opinion but that is cop-out response so let’s go deeper and really answer this aged-old question. First thing, is which Quasimodo should we compare Big Bird against? Not all Quasimodo as created equal some are very ugly and deformed, some are cute, and some are handsome and just have low self-esteem. So to be fair let’s go to the source Victor Hugo’s Quasimodo. In the novel Quasimodo is decribed as having a horse-shoe mouth, a small left eye with bushy red eyebrow, a right eye that’s completely hidden by a monstrous wart, uneven broken teeth with gaps that project out like tusks, callous lips, and forked chin. He was also described ” a giant who had been broken and badly put together again.”  Big Bird is a  perpetually 6 year old 8-foot, 2-inch yellow bird.

 

Quasimodo Recusing Esmeralda picture image

Quasimodo Recusing Esmeralda

Big Bird of Sesame Street Picture image

Big Bird of Sesame Street

 

 

 

 

 

 

Now beauty maybe in the eyes of the beholder but there are certain truths that lie within aesthetics.  Symmetry is a big one.  Facial Symmetry denotes health and from an evolutionary stand point anything that denotes a healthy being is worthy of mating and thus becomes a sign of beauty. Quasimodo’s looks as described by Hugo is in total opposition to symmetry and that is why Quasimodo triumphs over Big Bird in the Ugly department, at least Hugo’s Quasimodo. Sorry Big Bird.

Quaismodo on the Offense L.H. Rudder 1884 picture image

Quaismodo on the Offense L.H. Rudder 1884

Big Bird of Sesame Street picture image

Big Bird of Sesame Street

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you search an odd question and find the Hunchblog (And I notice it) I’ll answer it or leave a comment with your weird/odd questions and I’ll answer them in a post. The weirder the better.