Hunchback

Igor

hrf012

2002

Movies and TV

The Hunchback, most famously known as Quasimodo, is a fictional character primarily associated with Victor Hugo's 1831 novel, Notre-Dame de Paris (often translated as The Hunchback of Notre Dame). He is a physically deformed bell-ringer of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris.

Abandoned as an infant, Quasimodo is taken in by Claude Frollo, the Archdeacon of Notre Dame. Frollo raises him within the cathedral walls, shielding him from the outside world but also subtly controlling him. Quasimodo's deafness, likely caused by the constant ringing of the cathedral bells, further isolates him.

Numerous film and television adaptations of Hugo's novel have cemented the Hunchback's place in popular culture. These adaptations often portray him as having a kinder, more heroic nature than the novel, frequently emphasizing his physical strength and his ultimately selfless actions.

Key themes associated with the Hunchback include physical appearance versus inner beauty, societal prejudice, and the struggle for acceptance. Different adaptations often alter or simplify the storyline, sometimes offering a more optimistic ending than Hugo's original tragic narrative.