In many Disney Channel movies, it is common for a movie to be based on the main character being forced to follow their parent's dream. All throughout the movie, the daughter or son shows signs of having a dream different from their parents’. In the end, the main character has to divulge to their parents that they have different plans for their life. Although this is far fetched, Gaston Leroux had the similar issue. However, he actually went through with his father’s dream until his death.
As an aspiring author, Gaston Leroux was faced with many obstacles on his way to fame. In the year of 1868, Gaston was born in Paris, France and later resided with his parents in St. Valery-en-Caux in Normandy (“Gaston Leroux”). Early on in his adventurous …show more content…
In the this, the narrator tells of how they went about gathering their information. In a series of investigations and interviews, this unknown person was able to research the legend of the phantom and write about it thirty years after the actual occurrence. The novel itself begins with a whirlwind of rumors, dressing rooms, and children screaming to foreshadow the upcoming events of a “ghost” appearance (Leroux, add pg number) Eventually, the plot morphs into a tragic love story of a man with a deformed face who inevitably falls in love with the beautiful French opera singer, Christine Daae. At the time, everyone believes that the Phantom is just a ghost who haunts the opera house. Towards the end of the story we learn that the phantom, Erik, is a real person who is really not ghostly at all (Leroux 111). However, he sadly was cursed with a face so monstrous that even his mother could not look at him. After believing for so long that he could not love or be loved, Christine serves as light within his dark world. Overall, this story is ultimately a twisted love triangle. Not only is the phantom in love with Christine, but so is Count Chagny’s brother Raoul. Soon enough, Raoul discovers that Erik is in love with Christine as well and extreme tension is caused. Christine is put in a position where she is being torn between good and bad. She finds that she cannot allow herself to love Raoul because she is fearful of what Erik might do. She also …show more content…
The three main characters are Erik, Christine, and Raoul de Chagny. As stated before, Erik is the phantom that everyone fears. In reality, he is just a sad, lonely soul. When he was young, his mother provided him with a mask to hide his deformities. He is a performer, magician, musician, and a ventriloquist. He lives underground in a hidden house on a lake. This house is under the opera, making it very easy for him to pose as a ghost. He abuses his role as the phantom by asking for money and a private box. After fearing he would never find love, he is awestruck by Christine and soon falls madly in love with her. Christine Daae grew up around the opera, learning to play the violin and sing. Christine is a sweet, beautiful, loving girl who catches the eye of both Erik and Raoul. At a young age, Raoul and Christine have crushes on eachother. After seeing Christine perform years after they met, he remembers her and is immediately infatuated. Raoul ultimately wants to live happily ever after with Christine. His bravery and confidence almost gets him killed but in the end the phantom saves his life. Characterization is one area where Leroux is lacking. He could have added more facts and stories about each of the characters so the reader could better understand their personalities. This would have been beneficial but it did not take away from the story