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<\/figure>\n\n\n\nThe Hunchback in Literature Throughout the Years<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Many believe that Quasimodo<\/strong>, the hunchbacked bell ringer from Victor Hugo’s<\/strong> classic novel, was based on a real person. While there may be some truth, Hugo’s take on the hunchback was mainly based on folklore and popular legend. <\/p>\n\n\n\n While many know the Disney version of the story’s events, Hugo’s story is much more dark and tragic<\/a>. Quasimodo is born with a deformity and abandoned by his mother in the novel. He is found and raised by Claude Frollo<\/strong>, the archdeacon of Notre Dame. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Frollo keeps Quasimodo locked away in the bell tower, hiding him from the outside world.\u00a0Quasimodo is eventually discovered by a group of gypsies, who crown him the “King of Fools” and parade him around town. Esmeralda<\/strong>, a kind-hearted gypsy girl, later rescues him. <\/p>\n\n\n\n However, Frollo becomes obsessed with Esmeralda and ultimately drives her to death. In Hugo’s story, Frollo frames Esmerelda for attempted murder, and she is sentenced to be hanged. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Quasimodo still pushes Frollo from the roof, but it’s due to him laughing at Esmerelda’s hanging. In his grief, the hunchback visits Esmerelda’s grave but never leaves her and ultimately starves to death. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Unfortunately, while there have been many literary and cinematic adaptations of the hunchback story, none are accurate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n After the French Revolution<\/strong>, the Cathedral of Notre Dame fell into disrepair. Many statues and gargoyles adorning the cathedral’s exterior were destroyed or stolen during this time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In the 1820s, stone carvers renovated the Notre Dame in Paris. Among them was a British sculptor named Henry Sibson<\/strong>, who later wrote a handwritten autobiography, including a detailed account of the cathedral’s renovation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sibson references an issue with the contractor that hired him. In his words, they had a falling out and he was forced to find another job at the government studios.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Upon doing this, Sibson met another carver named Mons. Trajan<\/a>, who he referred to as “worthy and amiable a man that has ever existed.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n It’s clear that Trajan made an impression on him, but that’s not important here. According to Sibson, Trajan worked under a government sculptor who they rarely saw because he didn’t like to mix with the carvers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sibson could not comment on the sculptor’s real name, only that he was humpbacked and that the only nickname he would hear was the Le Bossu,<\/em> French for “the hunchback.” <\/p>\n\n\n\n Furthermore, he writes that M. Le Bossu<\/strong> was more than happy to tell Mons. Trajan to be sure to hire the little Englishman. The team went to Dreux<\/strong>, a city outside of Paris to work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n By itself, this memoir’s account doesn’t seem all that reliable. But when you compare it to other reports, a pattern begins to emerge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.historydefined.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/1_eAV6aCnG9P9ZxOX-1FlvVg.jpeg\")
The Real Hunchback of Notre Dame<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Further Research Reveals the Likely Truth<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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