Complex Moralities Essay

According to Aristotle, for a writer to create an interesting character it must be mor all(prenominal)y complex, meaning it must consist of non only nigh or bad morals, plainly both. Victor Hugos The Hunch tooshie of Notre Dame has a few examples of this trait in its main characters. Claude Frollo, the priest, shows moral complexity, as he is the novels antagonist but is also very compassionate in his feelings toward Esmeralda. Phoebus, who is a nobleman, a soldier, and the captain of the Kings archers, is also one to cheat on his fiance, iris de Gondelaurier, and later ignore his chance to save Esmeralda during her execution.Quasimodo is another quality example of moral complexity because fleck he remains patriotic to Esmeralda in every way that he can, he also doesnt hesitate in pushing Frollo off the ledge and murdering dozens of Truands. Moral complexity allows a ref to think about each character with more depth. Claude Frollo, Esmeralda, and Quasimodo all have positive as easily as negative aspects to their personalities, which creates what Aristotle would consider to be interesting characters for this reason.In the beginning of the novel, Frollo shows his compassion and dedication when he takes in his younger brother, Jehan, and later adopts Quasimodo after his parents left him as a child. Though Frollo tried his outdo to mold scholarly individuals out of the young orphans they soon became symbols of his failure, as Jehan drinks and gambles his money away and Quasimodos hearing loss prevents almost any kind of learning. Frollos obsessive longing for La Esmeralda causes her to be hanged and Quasimodo to be tortured.It seems that everything he tries to do ends negatively, and that by making himself a priest made himself a demon (Hugo 282). No enumerate the effort he puts in to gather Esmeralda heat him, he only ends up causing her pain. His regression leads him to do things he would otherwise never do. His compelling fixation with this infatuat ing itinerant young woman leads him to stab Phoebus with a dagger that only Esmeralda sees descend upon Pheobus, and raise again dripping (Hugo 165). Frollos compassion and partially good intentions conflict with his actions and get him into predicaments.These characteristics of his contradict themselves, making him a morally complex character. Phoebus, who is supposed to be a gentleman, is not much more than a womanizer, however, he saves La Esmeralda from Quasimodo the night he attacks her. Phoebus does not love her, but leads her to think otherwise and tries to seduce her. As he spoke to the lost gypsy girl he confessed his apparent love in one breath without making one single blunder, suggesting that he had strung together the same exact words to many gullible and in love women ripe wish well Esmeralda. Hugo 167) When Frollo stabs Phoebus everyone is convinced he is dead but without bringing it to anyones attention, he recovers. Phoebus doesnt announce up when La Esmeralda is sentanced to death for his murder because he doesnt want to be associated with a gypsy girl and doesnt want his fiance to find out about his relations with her. Even though he could have saved Esmeraldas life, he felt no great desire to make a personal appearance at the trial (Hugo 199)With Quasimodos life, being soundless and confusing, he does not always make the right decisions. His thoughts and comprehensions are twisted but his disembodied spirit is good. Near the beginning of the novel, Quasimodo began following Esmeralda and attacked her late at night. He was tried for it and was sentenced to being publicly whipped which later helped him realize that Esmeralda wasnt like everybody else who made fun of him for his appearance, but she helped him and tried to understand him.For example after he was whipped for an hour all he asked for was water. Everyone listening to him laughed at him but Esmeralda gave him water. This is ironic because the reason that he was being whipped was because he attacked Esmeralda, withal she was the only one to show him sympathy and give him water. Quasimodo was so touched by her kind communicate that from that eye, hitherto so dry and burning, was seen to roll a big tear, which fell slowly down that distorted visage so long contracted by despair (Hugo 322).From then on Quasimodo became very loyal to Esmeralda. Though this is true, he turns on Frollo, the man who raised him and took him in when he had no one, because he is responsible for(p) for Esmeraldas death. During Esmeraldas hanging he couldnt bare the rage, he took a few go back from the archdeacon, and then, rushing at him furiously, with his two huge hands, he struck the priests back and pushed Dom Claude into the abyss over which he had been leaning (Hugo 300). Though his morals may not have been commendable, his heart and ntentions are genuine. Frollos bad decisions and confusing feelings, Phoebuss corrupt loyalty but heroic stature, and Quasimodos twisted pri orities but kind heart reflect true imperfection of the human spirit. Victor Hugo utilize Aristotles methods of giving a character moral complexity to make the reader more arouse throughout the story. Neither Frollo, Phoebus, nor Quasimodo have completely good or completely bad morals, but or else struggle with the decisions they face.