How we cite our quotes: (Book.Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #7
Gnashing his teeth, he said, in a low tone, "Damnation! That is how one should look, then! One only has to be handsome on the outside!" (IX.IV.15)
Well, yes. If there is one thing we've learned so far in this novel, it's that appearances seem to matter more than personality. Now, folks, this is not the lesson that you should be taking home from this. Obviously, the characters are wrong and shallow to judge things in this way. But the point is, isn't it hard to just ignore appearances? Like, Esmeralda knows that Quasimodo is good, but honestly, she can barely stand to look at the guy. It may be that appearances are inescapable, as much as we try to tell ourselves otherwise.
Quote #8
One was in a bright, beautiful crystal vase, that was cracked. The water with which it was filled had run out, and the flowers were dried. The other was a pot of course, common stoneware, but it retained all its water, and the flowers in it were fresh and fragrant. I do not know whether it was done intentionally, but La Esmeralda took the faded nosegay and carried it all day in her bosom. (IX.IV.54)
Metaphors are great, aren't they? Unfortunately, this one is lost on Esmeralda. To spell it out for you viewers at home, the crystal vase might be beautiful, but it sucks at what it's supposed to do. The earthenware pot might be ugly, but it gets the job done. Esmeralda, however, goes for the dead flowers from the crystal vase. Essentially, we can see whom she prefers between Phœbus and Quasimodo.
Quote #9
"I tell you, I belong to my Phœbus, it is Phœbus I love, it is Phœbus who is handsome! As for you, priest, you are old, you are ugly! Go away!" (XI.I.67)
You might be inclined to think that Esmeralda is shallow for how she clings to a jerk like Phœbus, but really, this line packs a mean punch. The whole reason Frollo is obsessed with Esmeralda is because of her beauty (come on, it's not like he's obsessed with her winning personality). Think about that: beauty is the entire reason for everything he does. And so what better way to tell this guy off than to throw his logic straight back at him? If Frollo is going to love people based on their appearances, then so is Esmeralda. That may just be the way things are. And Frollo ain't no Phœbus.