Who Phoebus de Châteaupers is
When he hears her cries during an attempted kidnapping, he intervenes and drives off her attackers. For Esmeralda, this rescue makes him the hero she hopes he will be.
What Phoebus de Châteaupers wants
Phoebus welcomes Esmeralda's admiration, but he thinks of her as a pleasant conquest rather than a lasting partner. He cares more about pleasure and his own position than about the future she imagines with him. His willingness to flirt does not mean that he shares her hopes for love.
Phoebus de Châteaupers and the others in the story
Phoebus is engaged to Fleur-de-Lys, a respectable young woman, and has no wish to give that up. Esmeralda, meanwhile, believes that love with him can bring her a safe and happy life. The distance between their expectations makes his charm very different from the devotion she sees.
His role also sharpens Hugo's contrast between an attractive face and a person's character. Where Esmeralda sees a prince, the story shows a man who is shallow and careless.
Вопросы
Who is Phoebus de Châteaupers?
Phoebus de Châteaupers commands a squad of the king's archers and becomes the object of Esmeralda's affection.
Does Phoebus love Esmeralda?
Phoebus seeks pleasure rather than the committed love Esmeralda hopes for. He enjoys her attention without sharing her concern for their future.
Who is Phoebus engaged to?
He is engaged to Fleur-de-Lys and does not want to abandon that engagement.
