Iacob Oana-Mihaela1

Iacob Oana-Mihaela,

Cogeanu Oana

Introducera în metodologie

Limba si literatura engleza-germana

13.01.2021

The phantom of the Opera

By Gaston Leroux

I. INDRODUCTION:

-Background: information about the author and the book

- The thesis statement

II. BODY:

First topic:

-history behind the novel

-Summary of the book

Second Topic:

-The main themes: the difference between appearance and reality

Love vs jealousy

-Why are they important

Third topic: Characters

-their role, importance and development

-how they influenced the story

III. CONCLUSION:

-Summarize the main points of the essay

 Iacob Oana-Mihaela2

-My personal opinion

-Final statement

Gaston Leroux was a French journalist and writer of crime novels. He dedicates the

first part of his life to his career as a journalist, but after 1907 he abandoned journalism and

devoted himself to writing, in which he will gain recognition in 1910, along with the appearance

of his most famous novel, the Phantom of the Opera, whose success generated numerous screen-

taking as well as musicals.

In this novel, the author emphasized on the elements of love but also on the issues of

love between different social class people and both can be seen through the characters of

Christine Daae and Raoul de Chagny. The love story begins ever since the two of the were

children and Raoul had a crush on Christine. Four years later they meet again at the opera and

their love blooms as the time goes by.

The setting of The Phantom of the Opera came from an actual Paris opera house,

Palais Garnier, that Leroux had heard the rumors about from the time the opera house was

finished. After the building had just finished, a fire in the roof of the opera had melted through a

wire holding a counterweight for the chandelier, causing a crash that injured several and killed

one. Using this accident paired with rumors of a ghost in that same opera house, Leroux wrote

The Phantom of the Opera. The details about the Palais Garnier, and rumors surrounding it, are

closely linked in Leroux's writing.

The mysteries that Leroux uses in his novel about the Phantom are still mysteries.

However, he defended the rumors to be true, even on his death bed.

2
 Iacob Oana-Mihaela3

The Phantom of the Opera's origins came from Leroux's curiosity with the Phantom

being real. In the prologue, he tells the reader about the Phantom and the research that he did to

prove the truth of the ghost, quote: “The Opera ghost really existed. He was not, as was long

believed, a creature of the imagination of the artists, the superstition of the managers, or a

product of the absurd and impressionable brains of the young ladies of the ballet, their mothers,

the box-keepers, the cloak-room attendants or the concierge. Yes, he existed in flesh and blood,

although he assumed the complete appearance of a real phantom that is to say, of a spectral

shade”, end quote.

The story begins with the two owners of the Opera Populaire retiring and leaving it in

the hands of two new managers who are unfamiliar with the running of the Opera Ghost. In the

new production of “Hannibal”, the long leading soprano, Carlotta, is injured through a

mysterious “accident” by the Phantom and a young, beautiful girl, Christine Daae, is chosen to

take her place in the last minute and she did the part perfect. After the show Raul, the new

manager of the Opera, meets up with Christine and realized that they were close friends in

childhood and ask her for dinner. At first, Christine refuses to recognize Raoul, in fear that the

"Angel of Music" would return to heaven. However, they become engaged later.

The closeness between the two lovers angers the Phantom and he take Christine down

to his lair, which lies underground and force her to marry him. Raoul is led by a mysterious

Opera regular known as "The Persian“ into Erik’s (the Phantom name) secret lair deep but end

up and caught.

In the end Erik releases them and let them be together after seeing how much

Christine loves Raul, because that’s how much he loves her. He gives her a golden ring and

made her promise that she will visit him on his death day and return the ring

3
 Iacob Oana-Mihaela4

Unfortunately the Phantom of the Opera dies alone but Christine kept her promise

The novel has many themes like the natural vs supernatural, theme given by Erik

himself. Although we know that Erik isn’t a real phantom it also becomes clear that he is no

ordinary human being as we go deeper in the book being characterized by extraordinary singing

abilities and monstrous appearance. The love vs jealousy theme is given by Christine, caught in

the messy tangle of a love triangle, Christine sometimes demonstrates ambiguity in her choice of

lovers, though at other times she seems sincere. Regardless of how Christine acts, though, Erik

and Raoul respond by default with jealousy, which damages both men’s respective relationships

with their beloved.

All the characters have their own story and importance in making the book.

Christine Daaé, the protagonist of the novel is a talented, compassionate woman capable

of sacrificing herself for others. Her energy and compassion keep her from being seen as a

victim, as she remains true to her moral commitments and emotions even in the most difficult,

life-threatening situations.

Erik / The Phantom of the Opera is the tragic titular character of the novel. His brutal,

possessive attitude toward Christine ceases once he realizes that she is a loving, honest being

who feels sincere compassion for him. This realization encourages him to change his ways,

confirming his belief that he only needed to receive love instead of fear, hatred, and rejection to

become a better person. He dies of love at the end of the novel and is buried with the ring he had

given Christine.

Viscount Raoul de Chagny, Christine’s love interest and Erik’s rival. His insecurity can

make him behave in insensitive ways, as his focus on his rivalry with Erik keeps him from

4
 Iacob Oana-Mihaela5

trusting in Christine’s sincerity. However, Raoul reveals his nobility of spirit and his devotion to

Christine on various occasions and does not hesitate to put his life at risk for her when in need.

The Phantom of the Opera remains a timeless classic that strikes the inner heartstrings of

anyone that reads, watches or performs it. Whether you pity the Phantom, believe he is truly a

monster or that he is a man that has been wrongly abused by society the Phantom has a different

effect on us all.

In my opinion, the novel will forever remain in the history of literature as one of the most

enigmatic books with a tragic end. The characters, the action, the dialogue and the description

make this book hard to forget and you can't help but finish it once you start it.

In conclusion The Phantom of the Opera is an entertaining book to read, a classic of dark

romance with mystery, drama and a little bit of horror.

Bibliography :

Fantoma de la Opera - Gaston Leroux, 2016 editura Corint

The movie: https://vezionline.net/the-phantom-of-the-opera-fantoma-de-la-opera-

2004.html

Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Phantom_of_the_Opera

This article: https://www.enotes.com/homework-help/what-is-the-central-idea-or-theme-

of-the-phantom-771980

5
Iacob Oana-Mihaela6