thinking of the stage version of Notre Dame and how Frollo’s relationship to the cathedral shifts in exact lockstep with his treatment of Esmeralda
thinking of the deliberate parallel between Esmeralda (a young refugee), Mary mother of God (a young refugee), and the cathedral (named after Mary the refugee, now become the Refuge of Esmeralda)
thinking of how Esmeralda was sentenced to be burned for, among other reasons, “entering the country illegally”
thinking of the first century verse, Matthew 25:45
thinking of a quote from another pretty famous Hugo book, “to love another person is to see the face of God”
thinking of current news and how nothing ever changes but this is all the more reason we should fight for change and compassion and a world that is fairer