Esmeralda, a gypsy, is tragically portrayed in The Hunchback of Notre-Dame as a woman whose beauty and capacity to arouse love ultimately bring about her demise. This work illustrates the selfishness and cruelty of man, as well as the restorative power of real love. It is set in mediaeval Paris among the atmosphere of congested streets, chaotic masses, unrestrained passions, and above all, the great cathedral of Notre-Dame.