Complex Moralities Essay

According to Aristotle, for a writer to create an interesting example it moldiness be morally complex, meaning it must inhabit of non only good or severely morals, just now both. schoolmaster Hugos The Hunchback of Notre hiss has a few examples of this trait in its master(prenominal) components. Claude F envelopo, the priest, shows moral complexness, as he is the novels antagonist only when is in like homoner very pity in his feelings toward Esmeralda. Phoebus, who is a nobleman, a soldier, and the captain of the poufs archers, is also one to cheat on his groom-to-be, Fleur-de-Lys de Gondelaurier, and later ignore his chance to give up Esmeralda during her execution.Quasimodo is another quality example of moral complexity because while he remains loyal to Esmeralda in every way that he can, he also doesnt hesitate in pushing Frollo morose the ledge and withdrawing dozens of Truands. Moral complexity allows a reader to think about each character with more depth. Cla ude Frollo, Esmeralda, and Quasimodo all nominate positive as well as negative aspects to their personalities, which creates what Aristotle would consider to be interesting characters for this reason.In the germ of the novel, Frollo shows his compassion and committal when he takes in his new(a)er brother, Jehan, and later adopts Quasimodo afterwards his p atomic number 18nts left him as a child. Though Frollo try his best 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 deafness prevents almost any miscellany 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 make himself a priest made himself a demon (Hugo 282). No matter the effort he puts in to open Esmeralda spang him, he only ends up do her pain. His obsession leads him to do things he wou ld otherwise neer do. His compelling fixation with this infatuating gypsy girl leads him to injure Phoebus with a dagger that only Esmeralda sees descend upon Pheobus, and progress 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 wee her. As he spoke to the lost gypsy girl he confessed his apparent love in one breath without making one integrity blunder, suggesting that he had strung together the same hold words to many gullible and in love women just like Esmeralda. Hugo 167) When Frollo stabs Phoebus everyone is convinced he is suddenly but without bringing it to anyones attention, he recovers. Phoebus doesnt speak 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. plane though he could have saved Esmeraldas life, he felt no great disposition to make a personal appearance at the trial (Hugo 199)With Quasimodos life, being soundless and puzzling, he does not always make the right decisions. His thoughts and comprehensions are twisted but his heart is good. Near the beginning of the novel, Quasimodo began following Esmeralda and attacked her late at night. He was act 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 ir onic because the reason that he was being whipped was because he attacked Esmeralda, yet she was the only one to show him almsgiving and give 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 put down that deformed visage so long promise 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 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 twain huge hands, he struck the priests back and pushed Dom Claude into the abyss over which he had been magnetic inclination (Hugo 300). Though his morals may not have been commendable, his heart and ntentions are genuine. Frollos bad decisions and confusing feelings, Phoebuss corru pt loyalty but luxurious stature, and Quasimodos twisted priorities but kind heart reflect true imperfection of the human spirit. Victor 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 all told good or completely bad morals, but instead struggle with the decisions they face.