Character Analysis: The Phantom

Erik, better known as The Phantom, was born deformed who haunts an opera house in Paris.
Although he is feared for his physical appearance; his supernatural powers and evil acts are also a factor
for why the people fear him. However, his past experiences and sufferings can shift the audience’s outlook
from fearing or disgusting him to sympathy.

The Phantom is commonly known for wearing a white mask to cover his deformed face, but it also
represents his mysterious persona. He was attracted by Christine’s singing, an opera singer in the opera
house, and since then he had an unhealthy obsession towards her that led him to capture the opera singer
and does not intend to let her escape for he knows that she will never truthfully love him back. We could
learn from the character that there are always more to everything. He just does not act evil for the sake
of being evil, but there are past or present experiences that they have went through that we do not know.
However, taking revenge should not also be an option especially if you are involving people who should
not even be involved. Lastly, “a victory won through dishonest means is no victory at all” (Code Geass)
relating this to The Phantom, he manipulated Christine by letting her decide whether she will choose
staying with Erik forever to keep Raoul alive or getting freed from The Phantom killing but her childhood
friend whom she fell in love with. However, he realized that he is just deceiving Christine and forcing her
to love him just for the sake of keeping Raoul alive which is meaningless for Christine’s feeling for The
Phantom is not authentic.

Despite of Erik’s suffering, it was no excuse in taking revenge to those who are not even supposed
to be involved. However, we should also realize that there are always more to the story and that we should
not judge a book by its cover.