Jacques Charmolue Character Analysis in The Hunchback of Notre Dame

Jacques Charmolue is a priest and a prosecutor for the court. He is a student of Claude Frollo, who teaches him alchemy, and he is responsible for finding evidence against those accused of witchcraft or sorcery. Charmolue helps build the case against Esmeralda when Frollo accuses her of witchcraft. He also suggests that Esmeralda should be tortured during her trial.

Jacques Charmolue Character Timeline in The Hunchback of Notre Dame

The timeline below shows where the character Jacques Charmolue appears in The Hunchback of Notre Dame. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

...he has just arrived. Frollo is startled—he expects a visit from a court official, Jacques Charmolue—and he is irritated when he sees it is Jehan instead. (full context)

...and Frollo grudgingly hands over a florin. With Jehan hidden from sight, Frollo calls Jacques Charmolue into the room. (full context)

Appearances, Alienation, and Hypocrisy Theme Icon

The Supernatural, Rationalism, and Knowledge Theme Icon

Jacques Charmolue enters the cell and greets Frollo courteously. Jehan recognizes the man as a magistrate. Frollo... (full context)

Justice, Punishment, and Freedom Theme Icon

Frollo asks Charmolue if he has searched the house and Jacques reveals a parchment that he found in... (full context)

Gothic Architecture, History, and Art Theme Icon

The pair begins to talk of alchemy and Charmolue suddenly asks Frollo when he wants him to bring Esmeralda in for questioning. The case... (full context)

Frollo no longer listens to Charmolue, however. Instead, he stares at the window of the cell, over which a spider’s web... (full context)

...light of knowledge before “fatality” crept up on him and snared him in its web. Charmolue begs that Frollo let go of his arm—Frollo is squeezing it very tightly—but Frollo seems... (full context)

Frollo comes back to himself and he and Charmolue make to leave the room. As they make for the door, Charmolue stops in alarm—he... (full context)

Once Frollo and Charmolue are gone, Jehan scrambles out from his hiding place and begins to poke around the... (full context)

...man beside him in the crowd points out that one of the judges is Jacques Charmolue. La Falourdel is among the witnesses and she stands up to testify. (full context)

Jacques Charmolue approaches Djali with Esmeralda’s tambourine and shakes it. Djali immediately begins to do tricks and... (full context)

...stalked by a demonic priest and that he is the one who stabbed Phoebus. Jacques Charmolue suggests quietly to the judge that Esmeralda should be tortured, and the judge agrees. Gringoire... (full context)

Jacques Charmolue escorts Esmeralda to the torture chamber, where Pierrat Torterue waits. When she sees the instruments... (full context)

Jacques Charmolue adds many terrible charges of demonology and witchcraft to Esmeralda’s confession. Esmeralda admits blindly to... (full context)

...hear Esmeralda’s sentence. They are relieved when she limps back to her chair and Jacques Charmolue announces her confession. Halfway through his speech, Charmolue points out furiously that Djali is mocking... (full context)

...to each other as a cage is driven through their midst on a cart. Jacques Charmolue rides in front of the cart and inside Esmeralda and Djali are tied up. Esmeralda... (full context)