The Hunchback Analysis Essay Victor Hugo is known for his great work in romantic literature. In one of his best-known works, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, the theme of love is prevalent. Love can be both a wonderful thing and something that can cause painful heartbreak. In The Hunchback of Notre Dame, love is portrayed as both. Phoebus de Chateaupers, the captain of the king's archers, is one of the characters who brings out the theme of love, but not always in the right way. He tends to use his good looks and charm to make women fall madly in love with him, but unfortunately he rarely reciprocates her love. Phoebus's perception of how a woman should be treated is one of his flaws that prevails in The Hunchback of Notre Dame. One of the women Phoebus disrespected in this book is his fiancée, Fleur-de-Lys de Gondelaurier. Despite the fact that they would soon be married, it always seemed like a task for Phoebus to show some sort of compassion for his fiancé. For example, at the couple's engagement party, which is supposed to be a very happy and love-filled event, Phoebus didn't worry too much about being romantic. “Discomfort and boredom were written plainly across all his features” (105). He was very rude and disrespectful to Fleur-de-Lys and her mother when Phoebus didn't at least pretend to have fun during the event. Also, throughout the book Phoebus has cheated on Fleur-de-Lys once, that we know of, but by the way he acts, the reader is forced to believe that there have been multiple times when Phoebus hasn't been to her loyal. The only woman we know Phoebus has cheated on Fleur-de-Lys with is La Esmeralda. “The captain, encouraged by her kindness, took hold of her waist without any resistance on her part, then began to undo her blouse” (149). One can only hope that the blouse Phoebus is untying is his girlfriend's, but unfortunately this is not the case. It's La Esmeralda's blouse. Despite Fleur-de-Lys's efforts to be a loving boyfriend, Phoebus was very disrespectful towards her. Along with his future wife, Phoebus also disrespected La Esmeralda. After the incident at the Gondelaurier mansion when La Esmeralda's goat uttered "Phoebus" with the blocks around its neck, Phoebus realized that La Esmeralda was infatuated with him. "Fleur-de-Lys approached and trembled.