Neo-classicism

NEO CLASSICISM

• Neoclassicism is a revival of the styles and spirit of classic antiquity inspired directly from the classical period, which coincided and reflected the developments in philosophy and other areas of the Age of Enlightenment, and was initially a reaction against the excesses of the preceding Rococo style. While the movement is often described as the opposed counterpart of Romanticism, this is a great over-simplification that tends not to be sustainable when specific artists or works are considered, the case of the supposed main champion of late Neoclassicism, Ingres, demonstrating this especially well
• Literature during this ere are sophisticated, meaning that there is a beauty in it.

THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME - Victor Hugo



The story begins on Epiphany (6 January), 1482, the day of the Feast of Fools in Paris, France. Quasimodo, a deformed hunchback who is the bell-ringer of Notre Dame, is introduced by his crowning as the Pope of Fools.
Esmeralda, a beautiful Gypsy with a kind and generous heart, captures the hearts of many men, including those of Captain Phoebus and Pierre Gringoire, a poor street poet, but especially those of Quasimodo and his adoptive father, Claude Frollo, the Archdeacon of Notre Dame. Frollo is torn between his obsessive love and the rules of the church. He orders Quasimodo to kidnap her, but the hunchback is suddenly captured by Phoebus and his guards who save Esmeralda.
Quasimodo is sentenced to be flogged and turned on the pillory for one hour, followed by another hour's public exposure. He calls for water. Esmeralda, seeing his thirst, offers him a drink. It saves him, and she captures his heart.
Esmeralda is later charged with the attempted murder of Phoebus, whom Frollo actually attempted to kill in jealousy after seeing him about to have sex with Esmeralda, and is tortured and sentenced to death by hanging. As she is being led to the gallows, Quasimodo swings down by the bell rope of Notre Dame and carries her off to the cathedral under the law of sanctuary.
Frollo later informs Pierre Gringoire that the Court of Parliament has voted to remove Esmeralda's right to sanctuary so she can no longer seek shelter in the church and will be taken from the church and killed. Clopin, a street performer, hears the news from Gringoire and rallies the Truands (criminals of Paris) to charge the cathedral and rescue Esmeralda.
When Quasimodo sees the Truands, he assumes they are there to hurt Esmeralda, so he drives them off. Likewise, he thinks the King's men want to rescue her, and tries to help them find her. She is rescued by Frollo and her phony husband Gringoire. But after yet another failed attempt to win her love, Frollo betrays Esmeralda by handing her to the troops and watches while she is being hanged.

When Frollo laughs during Esmeralda's hanging, Quasimodo pushes him from the heights of Notre Dame to his death. Quasimodo then goes to the vaults under the huge Gibbet of Montfaucon, and lies next to Esmeralda's corpse, where it had been unceremoniously thrown after the execution. He stays at Montfaucon, and eventually dies of starvation. About eighteen months later, the tomb is opened, and the skeletons are found. As someone tries to separate them, Quasimodo's bones turn to dust.

CRITICISM:

Why Neo Classicism? Victor Hugo describes the importance of architecture and how it is an indication of society's values and ideals. It is also obvious that Hugo is already recognizing the cultural similarities between the ancient and modern times.
In this novel, we can really appreciate the beauty within it. It is shown from the very beginning of the story.
We can also notice that there are so many values that the story gives us. First the movie tells us that physical appearance of a person is not enough fro judging him what is within him. This shows Quasimodo a bell ringer in the tower of the Notre Dame. The people always say that because of his ugliness he is also evil that is very contradictory what really he is because as the story goes on Quasimodo is indeed a very good an a very loving person. Esmerelda on the other hand is also judge by the people as an evil because she is a gypsy where in fact that like Quasimodo she is loving and kind.
Frollo, despite of his being a monk, practice dark magic and trap Esmeralda by giving her a choice whether she will be hanged or she will say she loves Frollo. In short he is very evil.
And many other characters that show how their appearances is very different from their inner thoughts and characters.
Notre Dame was the first work fictional novel that encompasses the whole life.