Showing posts with label Hugo Victor. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Hugo Victor. Show all posts
Tuesday, December 27, 2118
Thursday, January 24, 2019
The Hunchback of Notre Dame By Victor Hugo
The story is set in Paris in 1482 during the reign of Louis XI. The gypsy Esmeralda (born as Agnes) captures the hearts of many men, including those of Captain Phoebus and Pierre Gringoire, but especially Quasimodo and his guardian Archdeacon Claude Frollo. Frollo is torn between his obsessive lust for Esmeralda and the rules of Notre Dame Cathedral. He orders Quasimodo to kidnap her, but Quasimodo is captured by Phoebus and his guards, who save Esmeralda. Gringoire, who attempted to help Esmeralda but was knocked out by Quasimodo, is about to be hanged by beggars when Esmeralda saves him by agreeing to marry him for four years.
The following day, Quasimodo is sentenced to be flogged and turned on the pillory for two hours, followed by another hour's public exposure. He calls for water. Esmeralda, seeing his thirst, approaches the public stocks and offers him a drink of water. It saves him, and she captures his heart. |
Frollo later informs Gringoire that the Court of Parlement has voted to remove Esmeralda's right to the sanctuary so she can no longer seek shelter in the Cathedral and will be taken away to be killed. Clopin, the leader of the Gypsies, hears the news from Gringoire and rallies the citizens of Paris to charge the cathedral and rescue Esmeralda.
When Quasimodo sees the Gypsies, he assumes they are there to hurt Esmeralda, so he drives them off. Likewise, he thinks the King's men want to rescue her, and tries to help them find her. She is rescued by Frollo and Gringoire. But after yet another failed attempt to win her love, Frollo betrays Esmeralda by handing her to the troops and watches while she is being hanged. When Frollo laughs during Esmeralda's hanging, Quasimodo pushes him from the height of Notre Dame to his death. Quasimodo goes to the cemetery, hugs Esmeralda's body, and dies of starvation with her. Years later they are discovered and, while trying to separate them, Quasimodo's bones turn to dust.
Saturday, August 18, 2018
Les Misérables By Victor Hugo
Victor
Hugo's Les Misérables is a novel which tells the story of ex-convict
Jean Valjean, his struggles and eventual redemption. It's hailed by many
critics as not just Victor Hugo's finest work but also one of the best
French novels of all time.
Like most epic novels written in the 19th century, the storyline of Les
Misérables spans through several decades beginning in the early 1800s
and culminating in the 1832 June Rebellion in Paris. The events related
to the lives of the central characters in the novel are also tied to the
great historical events of the time from the French Revolution to the
June Rebellion.
In the novel, Jean Valjean a man from a poor family was convicted of
stealing a loaf of bread to feed his sister's family. He eventually
escaped from prison and was able to begin a new life with the help of
Bishop Myriel. A police inspector named Javert was assigned to guard the
group of prisoners which includes Jean Valjean. Javert became obsessed
in arresting and bringing Jean Valjean back to prison after his escape.
Aside from the main storyline, the romance between Marius and Cosette is
also very interesting. Cosette was an adopted daughter of Jean Valjean
while Marius was a law student who was estranged from his rich family.
The two immediately fell in love with each other after they met by
chance at the promenade in the Luxembourg Gardens.
Victor Hugo also discusses other pressing issues in 19th century France
in the book like anti monarchism, injustice in French society, the life
of the urban poor in Paris and so on. This book isn't just about the
story of its main characters like Jean Valjean, Javert, Cosette, Marius
Pontmercy and others, it's about justice, morality and the other
important things in life.
For those who liked the movie version of Les Misérables which stars Hugh
Jackman, Rusell Crowe and Anne Hathaway, I'm sure they'll also like
reading this book which is its original version.
Victor Hugo's Les Misérables is a novel which tells the story of
ex-convict Jean Valjean, his struggles and eventual redemption. It's
hailed by many critics as not just Victor Hugo's finest work but also
one of the best French novels of all time.
Like most epic novels written in the 19th century, the storyline of Les
Misérables spans through several decades beginning in the early 1800s
and culminating in the 1832 June Rebellion in Paris. The events related
to the lives of the central characters in the novel are also tied to the
great historical events of the time from the French Revolution to the
June Rebellion.
In the novel, Jean Valjean a man from a poor family was convicted of
stealing a loaf of bread to feed his sister's family. He eventually
escaped from prison and was able to begin a new life with the help of
Bishop Myriel. A police inspector named Javert was assigned to guard the
group of prisoners which includes Jean Valjean. Javert became obsessed
in arresting and bringing Jean Valjean back to prison after his escape.
Aside from the main storyline, the romance between Marius and Cosette is
also very interesting. Cosette was an adopted daughter of Jean Valjean
while Marius was a law student who was estranged from his rich family.
The two immediately fell in love with each other after they met by
chance at the promenade in the Luxembourg Gardens.
Victor Hugo also discusses other pressing issues in 19th century France
in the book like anti monarchism, injustice in French society, the life
of the urban poor in Paris and so on. This book isn't just about the
story of its main characters like Jean Valjean, Javert, Cosette, Marius
Pontmercy and others, it's about justice, morality and the other
important things in life.
For those who liked the movie version of Les Misérables which stars Hugh
Jackman, Rusell Crowe and Anne Hathaway, I'm sure they'll also like
reading this book which is its original version.
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