Book Review of The Hunchback of Notre Dame Essay

There are many books that were published in the year of 1831. However, none of them have grown to be so popular and loved as the book â€Å"The Hunchback of Notre Dame.† This renowned book has many qualities, as it does flaws. It also has a variety of characters, such as the lovable Quasimodo. This novel is internationally loved because of its magnificent content. The novel â€Å"Hunchback of Notre Dame† is recognized for its great qualities. One of the great qualities of this story is that it is very realistic, and has a genuine feel. The punishments, the crimes, and the accusations were practical and easy to accept. While Quasimodo is getting punished in Chapter 7, the punishment he endures was an actual punishment in the 1830’s. This story also has authentic characters, like Esmeralda and Phoebus. Phoebus is a player, and leaves Esmeralda, a girl head-over-heels for him, to die. The personality of these characters and their relationship is not impossible, and there are many people like them. This novel is also whimsical. The story is totally unpredictable, and very fast-paced. At the end of the novel, the reader is uncertain which way the story will go, and if it will end happily. This quality keeps the reader curious and wanting to read more. This story has many great qualities, but there are many shortcomings as well. First off, the situations the characters are put in aren’t very realistic. For example, when Esmeralda is about to be hanged, Quasimodo swings from a gallery to the church in Chapter 14. This is a weak point and takes away from the authenticity of the story. Another drawback is that the beginning is not exciting enough to maintain the reader’s interest. At the beginning, the novel is very dull, and there isn’t any action. The reader becomes uninterested, and no longer wants to continue the book. The last weakness is that this book is targeted towards a small audience. It is violent and unsuitable for kids, boring for many teenagers, and is mostly for an audience who likes and appreciates classics. This classic also has many characters. However, a memorable character is Quasimodo. He is an admirable character, because he represents the lesson â€Å"Beauty is from within†. Although he is heavily disfigured and mutated, he is caring and gentle to everyone around him. Quasimodo is also very thoughtful. When he takes care of her and she asks to see Phoebus, he puts her wants over his. Finally, Quasimodo is a favourite character among many, because he sets her free. He lets Esmeralda be with Gringoire, and this shows how much he loves her. All-in-all, The Hunchback of Notre Dame was an amazing book. It has many qualities, some shortcomings, and memorable characters. This may be an old book, but there are many morals to be learned.