Complex Moralities Essay

According to Aristotle, for a writer to create an provoke showcase it must be morally complex, meaning it must lie vote out of non plainly good or bad morals, besides both. superscript Hugos The Hunchback of Notre Dame has a few examples of this trait in its main characters. Claude Frollo, the priest, shows moral complexness, as he is the novels thwarter but is also very lenienceate 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, Fleur-de-Lys de Gondelaurier, and later ignore his chance to save Esmeralda during her execution.Quasimodo is another tint example of moral complexity because while he remains hard-core 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 reader to think about each character with more depth. Claude Frollo, Esmeralda, and Quasimodo all view as posit ive as well 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 grace and dedication when he takes in his younger brother, Jehan, and later adopts Quasimodo after his parents left hand him as a child. Though Frollo essay his best to mold academic individuals out of the young orphans they soon became symbols of his failure, as Jehan drinks and gambles his money away and Quasimodos deafness prevents almost any kind of learning. Frollos obsessive disposition 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 reservation himself a priest made himself a demon (Hugo 282). No study the effort he puts in to make Esmeralda know him, he only ends up causing her pain. His obsession leads him to do things he would otherwise never do. His compelling fixation with this infatu ating gypsy girl leads him to stab Phoebus with a gummed label 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 some(prenominal) 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 unripe and in love women just like Esmeralda. Hugo 167) When Frollo stabs Phoebus everyone is convinced he is assassinated but without bringing it to anyones attention, he recovers. Phoebus doesnt speak up when La Esme ralda is sentanced to death for his murder because he doesnt want to be associated with a gypsy girl and doesnt want his fiance to envision out about his relations with her. Even though he could watch saved Esmeraldas life, he felt no great proneness to make a personal appearance at the trial (Hugo 199)With Quasimodos life, creation soundless and confusing, he does not always make the well(p) decisions. His thoughts and comprehensions are twisted but his heart is good. Near the beginning of the novel, Quasimodo began next 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 wh ipped was because he attacked Esmeralda, yet she was the only one to show him sympathy and bump him water. Quasimodo was so touched by her kind gesture that from that eye, hitherto so dry and burning, was seen to roll a big tear, which fell slowly down that deformed visage so long contracted by despondency (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 obligated for Esmeraldas death. During Esmeraldas hanging he couldnt bare the rage, he took a few steps back from the archdeacon, and then, rushing at him furiously, with his cardinal huge hands, he struck the priests back and pushed Dom Claude into the abysm 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 pr iorities but kind heart reflect true imperfection of the human spirit. passe-partout Hugo used Aristotles methods of giving a character moral complexity to make the reader more interested throughout the story. Neither Frollo, Phoebus, nor Quasimodo have completely good or completely bad morals, but or else struggle with the decisions they face.