The most obscure character in The Phantom of the Opera, is the Paris Opera House. Working in duality, the opera house not only provides the setting, but it also shines a light on the hypocritical and social ills French society at the time. The opera house emphasizes the social status during a period known as the Belle Époque (The Beautiful Season), which the upper-class would come to call 'The Golden Age', during this period the standards of living was increased for the middle and upper-class.
The Belle Époque is supposed to be a period of joy and peace, however, if we look deeper into the novel we understand that that is not the case. Leroux claims that "None will ever be a true Parisian who has not learned to wear a mask of gaiety over his …show more content…
Erik resides far removed from the glitz and glamour of the upper layers of the house. Society never dared to look beyond that of the outward appearance of Erik (269) and learn the talents, skills and beauty underneath. So, society requires Erik to wears a mask. After all, masks where not only used by the actors, but by the upper classes as well for the Masked Balls that were given at the opera house (77-78). In essence, Erik becomes the monster that society think he is. Erik, through the mask, has gained the power and control that society has tried to remove from …show more content…
Erik is still unmoved with her promise and still believes that Raoul should be gotten rid of so that she could love only him and floods the room where he is (191). So, show her commitment, Christine gives Erik something that his own mother wouldn't do, she would kiss him "for the first time, herself, here, on the forehead." (198). So, moved by her compassion for him, even knowing that she does not love him, and his feelings for her, her willingness to sacrifice her own happiness, Erik makes the ultimate sacrifice in the name of love. He chooses to be completely alone, in order for Christine to have her happiness; he sets her, Raoul and the Persian go free. Three weeks later, with a broken heart, "Erik is Dead."
The Belle Époque is supposed to be a period of joy and peace, however, if we look deeper into the novel we understand that that is not the case. Leroux claims that "None will ever be a true Parisian who has not learned to wear a mask of gaiety over his …show more content…
Erik resides far removed from the glitz and glamour of the upper layers of the house. Society never dared to look beyond that of the outward appearance of Erik (269) and learn the talents, skills and beauty underneath. So, society requires Erik to wears a mask. After all, masks where not only used by the actors, but by the upper classes as well for the Masked Balls that were given at the opera house (77-78). In essence, Erik becomes the monster that society think he is. Erik, through the mask, has gained the power and control that society has tried to remove from …show more content…
Erik is still unmoved with her promise and still believes that Raoul should be gotten rid of so that she could love only him and floods the room where he is (191). So, show her commitment, Christine gives Erik something that his own mother wouldn't do, she would kiss him "for the first time, herself, here, on the forehead." (198). So, moved by her compassion for him, even knowing that she does not love him, and his feelings for her, her willingness to sacrifice her own happiness, Erik makes the ultimate sacrifice in the name of love. He chooses to be completely alone, in order for Christine to have her happiness; he sets her, Raoul and the Persian go free. Three weeks later, with a broken heart, "Erik is Dead."