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Chapter 18
Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in The Phantom of the Opera, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
The Natural vs. the Supernatural
Love vs. Jealousy
Violence, Revenge, and Redemption
Beauty vs. Ugliness
Summary
Analysis
When Inspector Mifroid enters the directors’ office, he asks whether they have seen Christine Daaé. Utterly confused—since Moncharmin now knows that neither Richard nor he took the money—Moncharmin finds himself unable to reply. Richard asks why Mifroid is asking this and, when he discovers that Christine has disappeared, is overcome by anguish.
The directors’ anguish and fear suggests that they finally understand that forces they cannot explain are at play. However, although Mifroid’s intervention forces them to confront reality, Mifroid himself will prove unable to solve the mystery of Christine’s disappearance.
Themes
In the meantime, Raoul intervenes, saying that Christine has been abducted by an angel, the Angel of Music. Richard adds that the Phantom has also stolen money from them. As Raoul describes Erik’s actions in the churchyard at Perros, the Inspector wonders if everyone at the Opera has gone crazy. After a fellow detective enters and whispers something to Inspector Mifroid, the Inspector begins to interrogate Raoul about his plans to run away with Christine. He says that Count Philippe has left the Opera, heading toward Brussels, and must be the one who abducted Christine, to keep Raoul from marrying her. When Raoul says that he will chase his brother, Inspector Mifroid is satisfied by Raoul’s idea. However, once in the hallway, Raoul is stopped by a tall, imposing man: the Persian.
Inspector Mifroid’s shock at hearing so many people refer to a ghost represents the natural reaction of an outsider, who has not followed closely the strange events taking place at the Opera. However, his skepticism will prove crippling, since it will keep him from understanding the complexity of the situation and discovering the truth by trusting that some unknown, powerful actor must be involved. Raoul’s decision to follow Philippe is paradoxical, since he was by Philippe’s side during Christine’s performance, but highlights his despair, and his willingness to follow any clue in order to save Christine.
Themes
