THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA

“THE PANTHOM OF THE OPERA” REVIEW
by Massimiliano

The author of this novel is the French Gaston Leroux born in Paris the sixth May 1868.

In this opera he tells the story of a lonely unlucky creature called Erik the phantom of the Opera who lived in the cellar of the Opera. Here lives and works Christina Daae, too, a young and talented singer secretly loved by Erik. Christine has never seen him but she considers him his angel of  music sent by his father when he died many years before, when she was a child. Erik taught her to sing without appearing to her, in fact he talks to her with a system of secret passages and games of mirrors and riflections.

Christine has an admirer,  the viscount of Chagny that she had met long before when they were children. Now Raul is in love with her but she is devoted to her angel of music.

Erik is jealous because of this love, so he kidnaps Christine and Raul who tries to save her. Although she is terrified by Erik's appearance, whose face is loathsome and scary, Christine accepts his proposal to stay with him forever.

Touched by the unexpected choice Erik frees her.

Christine and Raul live together  while the Opera House is burning  for a fire caused by Erik. He leaves the place where he lived all his life without leaving his traces.

The novel is a romantic and gothic story with its gloomy characters and dark atmosphere. The happy ending leaves the reader unsatisfied because of the fate reserved to Erik, the characters who captures our human sympathy.

I think Christine is a not brilliant heroine to the modern reader’s eyes, she looks fretful and weak.

The time of narration is full of action and accurate description of places and people. I really like it and I want to see the film, as well, that is as interesting as the novel.