The character Quasimodo, from Victor Hugo’s novel Notre-Dame de Paris, exhibits a constellation of physical differences that would be classified as disabilities. Primarily, he suffers from kyphosis, a severe curvature of the spine resulting in a pronounced hump. This skeletal deformity significantly impacts his posture and movement. Additional characteristics attributed to him include a facial disfigurement, potentially a large facial tumor or birthmark, and impaired hearing, possibly deafness in one ear. These conditions, taken together, constitute significant physical challenges.
The presentation of these conditions serves a dual purpose within the narrative. On a literal level, they isolate Quasimodo from the wider population of Paris, making him an outcast due to societal biases against physical differences. Symbolically, they highlight themes of outward appearance versus inner worth, and challenge the reader to confront prejudices. The historical context of the novel, set in 15th-century France, further underscores the lack of medical understanding and the prevailing stigma surrounding physical impairments at the time. This context allows the author to explore the social and emotional ramifications of such differences in a particularly poignant manner.
