What is esmerelda?

Esmeralda is a fictional character from Victor Hugo's 1831 novel The Hunchback of Notre-Dame (Notre-Dame de Paris). She is a young Romani woman known for her captivating beauty and kindness.

• Appearance and Character: Esmeralda is described as exceptionally beautiful, with dark hair, piercing eyes, and a graceful demeanor. She possesses a kind heart and is empathetic towards the marginalized and oppressed, such as fellow Romani people, the physically disabled like Quasimodo, and the poor.
• Early Life: She was kidnapped by Roma as a baby and replaced with a deformed child (Quasimodo). Her biological mother, a recluse known as Sister Gudule, spends years mourning her lost daughter, whom she named Agnès.
• Occupation: Esmeralda earns her living as a street performer, dancing and entertaining crowds with her trained goat, Djali. Her performances often attract the attention of various characters in the novel.
• Key Relationships:
  • Quasimodo: He is deeply devoted to Esmeralda, seeing her as the only person who has ever shown him kindness.
  • Frollo: The archdeacon of Notre-Dame, Claude Frollo, becomes obsessed with her, leading to tragic consequences. His lust for her consumes him.
  • Phoebus: A handsome captain of the King's Archers, he captures Esmeralda's romantic interest. However, his intentions are less than honorable.
• Plot Significance: Esmeralda's beauty and goodness become a catalyst for the events of the novel. She is the object of desire and obsession for several characters, leading to conflicts, betrayals, and ultimately, her tragic death. She is wrongly accused of attempting to murder Phoebus and is sentenced to hang.
• Tragic Fate: Despite Quasimodo's heroic efforts to save her, Esmeralda is ultimately betrayed and executed. Her death highlights the themes of injustice, prejudice, and the destructive nature of obsession prevalent in the novel.