The Phantom Of The Opera Essay

Not so poor Erik “With that sob attached to the man I suspected when saying goodbye to him. Poor Erik! Poor Erik!” (Leroux 150) The Phantom of the Opera, a horror novel written by Gaston Leroux explores a forbidden love triangle between a young Swedish opera singer, a French viscount, and a mysterious man known only as “the opera ghost.” The opera ghost, whose name is later reveled to be Erik, is both the protagonist and antagonist of the book. He is reviled among normal society, even though his genius is without compare, therefore, society has turned him into a monster in order to protect himself. He also loves Christine, whom he has trained to sing his music at the opera. Due to unfortunate circumstances she cannot reciprocate his love and forces him into showing her the monster he is. If Erik had learned to love his work and his music rather than the singer he would have been able to find a much happier ending. …show more content…
This is the first description the reader has of the ghost who has apparently been terrorizing the Opera Garnier. During the first chapter of the novel it is told to the reader the horrible things this monster has done to the performers and administration of this Paris Opera House. These deeds include blackmailing the owners for 20,000 francs a month, killing a stage hand, and reserving one theater box for his use under the threat that “a disaster beyond imagination will occur” if it is rented out. Eventually we are introduced to Christine Daaé, a young ballet dancer turned prima donna one faithful night. After her crowing performance her old childhood friend, Raoul viscount de Chagny, listens at her door as she argues with her teacher. When he bursts into the room it is empty without Christine or the voice he