The Hunchback

In 1480 Paris, Dom Claude Frollo discovers an abandoned, deformed baby on the steps of Notre Dame and takes him in. He names the child Quasimodo and raises him within the cathedral walls, treating him as his own son. Frollo believes Quasimodo's fate is a sign from God and watches over him with strict care.

Twenty-five years later, during the Feast of Fools in Paris, Quasimodo is named the King of Fools by Clopin. Esmeralda dances and captivates both Frollo and Gringoire, stirring desire and envy. Frollo warns Quasimodo not to step outside Notre Dame again.

Frollo secretly pays two guards to kidnap Esmeralda, hoping to bend her to his will. The attempt is thwarted when Gringoire and Quasimodo intervene to protect her, and Quasimodo is briefly apprehended. The incident plants seeds of conflict around Esmeralda and Quasimodo.

Gringoire is nearly hanged by Roma for trespassing on the Court of Miracles, but Esmeralda promises to marry him if they rescue him. The plan succeeds, and a bond forms between Esmeralda and Gringoire, though Quasimodo remains loyal to Esmeralda. The event also intensifies Frollo's obsession.

Angered by Quasimodo's disobedience, Frollo arranges for him to be whipped in public for attacking Esmeralda, though he is innocent. Esmeralda pleads with King Louis XII to stop the torture, but the king dismisses her pleas. The crowd's cruelty humiliates Quasimodo and deepens his bond with Esmeralda.

Quasimodo endures an hour of fruit-throwing as the crowd taunts him, begging for water. Esmeralda finally gives him a drink, an act that deepens his affection for her. He returns to Notre Dame, where Frollo's cold consolation reveals their growing tension.

As Esmeralda and Gringoire's sham marriage grows into real love, they navigate Paris's divisions. Frollo's jealousy simmers as he contends with his own dangerous obsession. Esmeralda remains wary of Frollo's power while growing closer to Gringoire.

Frollo disguises himself and reveals the depths of his feelings to Esmeralda. She reads his palm and senses impending danger, which she interprets as death. Terrified, she flees, dropping her knife.

Esmeralda is put on trial for murder and sentenced after the metal boot torture. Frollo offers to spare her if she yields to him, but she refuses. Quasimodo saves Esmeralda from hanging and declares sanctuary at Notre Dame.

Captain Phoebus and his guards assault Notre Dame, but Quasimodo defends the sanctuary by hurling objects at the invaders. The crowd supports Quasimodo and Esmeralda, recognizing his devotion. The cathedral becomes a fortress and symbol of sanctuary.

During a Gypsy rebellion, Quasimodo forces Frollo to confess his crimes to the crowd from the cathedral balcony. The revelation shatters Frollo's grip on power and enrages the crowd against him. The public confession marks the downfall of Frollo's tyranny.

Quasimodo intervenes as Frollo tries to stab Esmeralda again, forcing him to the edge of the parapet. Frollo falls to his death as Quasimodo clings to the ledge, severely wounded. The crowd watches the dramatic fall and the tarnished tyrant's end.

Quasimodo dies after the struggle, his life fading as Esmeralda and Gringoire ring the bells in tribute. He dies peacefully, having found family and purpose within the cathedral. Esmeralda grieves the loss of her friend and protector.