Victor Hugo wrote this piece, with Notre Dame itself meant as the central character. In the original novel, whole chapters are devoted to the church, its history and architecture.
Esmeralda is a dancing Gypsy, who captures the attentions of many possible suitors in Paris.
Quasimodo is a deformed foundling, raised by Archdeacon Frollo of Notre Dame. Quadimodo attempts but fails to kidnap Esmeralda on his master's behalf.
Esmeralda also attracts the attentions of a poor playwright: Pierre Gringoire, and a soldier: Phoebus. Esmeralda is rather taken with Phoebus, but agrees to marry Gringoire at one point to save his life.
A chapter is devoted to Frollo, and another to Quasimodo, how their lives became intertwined, that Quasimodo loves Frollo, that Frollo is an educated and cultured if mentally unstable man.
Quasimodo is tried, sentenced and publicly humiliated for attempting to kidnap Esmeralda. She accidentally meets Phoebus in the street and they meet to make love (her heart is in it, but he just wants some easy totty, he doesn't love her). Frollo emerges from the shadows to stab Phoebus. Esmeralda is accused of attempted murder and put on trial.
Frollo visits Esmeralda in prison and she rebuffs his advances; at no point does Phoebus do anything to save Esmeralda. When Esmeralda is found guilty and about to be hung, Quasimodo rescues her and takes her back to the church (Sanctuary, the law cannot chase her there).
Esmeralda is repulsed by Quasimodo's appearance, if also grateful that he rescued her. Quasimodo fails to get Phoebus to visit her. Frollo fights with Quasimodo for Esmeralda.
There's an seige made on the Cathedral to try to get Esmeralda back, with Quasimodo flinging down stones and timbers on the attrackers. Esmeralda escapes with the poet (Gringoire). Frollo is in hot pursuit, flinging Esmeralda into a jail cell with a bitter old woman who blames Gypsies for stealing her own daughter.
The bitter old lady raises the alarm for Esmeralda to be hanged. Suddenly, the old lady and Esmeralda realise that they are mother and daughter. But it's too late, Esmeralda is seized and hung until death.
Frollo laughs at Esmeralda's hanging, in a rage Quasimodo pushes Frollo over a precipice to his death. Then Quasimodo sneaks into Esmeralda's tomb to be interred with her (his bones are discovered later).
Esmeralda is a dancing Gypsy, who captures the attentions of many possible suitors in Paris.
Quasimodo is a deformed foundling, raised by Archdeacon Frollo of Notre Dame. Quadimodo attempts but fails to kidnap Esmeralda on his master's behalf.
Esmeralda also attracts the attentions of a poor playwright: Pierre Gringoire, and a soldier: Phoebus. Esmeralda is rather taken with Phoebus, but agrees to marry Gringoire at one point to save his life.
A chapter is devoted to Frollo, and another to Quasimodo, how their lives became intertwined, that Quasimodo loves Frollo, that Frollo is an educated and cultured if mentally unstable man.
Quasimodo is tried, sentenced and publicly humiliated for attempting to kidnap Esmeralda. She accidentally meets Phoebus in the street and they meet to make love (her heart is in it, but he just wants some easy totty, he doesn't love her). Frollo emerges from the shadows to stab Phoebus. Esmeralda is accused of attempted murder and put on trial.
Frollo visits Esmeralda in prison and she rebuffs his advances; at no point does Phoebus do anything to save Esmeralda. When Esmeralda is found guilty and about to be hung, Quasimodo rescues her and takes her back to the church (Sanctuary, the law cannot chase her there).
Esmeralda is repulsed by Quasimodo's appearance, if also grateful that he rescued her. Quasimodo fails to get Phoebus to visit her. Frollo fights with Quasimodo for Esmeralda.
There's an seige made on the Cathedral to try to get Esmeralda back, with Quasimodo flinging down stones and timbers on the attrackers. Esmeralda escapes with the poet (Gringoire). Frollo is in hot pursuit, flinging Esmeralda into a jail cell with a bitter old woman who blames Gypsies for stealing her own daughter.
The bitter old lady raises the alarm for Esmeralda to be hanged. Suddenly, the old lady and Esmeralda realise that they are mother and daughter. But it's too late, Esmeralda is seized and hung until death.
Frollo laughs at Esmeralda's hanging, in a rage Quasimodo pushes Frollo over a precipice to his death. Then Quasimodo sneaks into Esmeralda's tomb to be interred with her (his bones are discovered later).