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Summary
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
The narrator recounts the different stages of his investigation on the Phantom of the Opera. He asserts that this Phantom did exist, though he was not a fanciful ghost but, rather, a full human being. The narrator recalls consulting the archives of the National Academy of Music and realizing, after putting together various forms of evidence, that the ghost’s existence could explain three mysterious events: Christine Daaé’s kidnapping, Viscount Raoul de Chagny’s disappearance, and the death of Raoul’s elder brother, Count Philippe.
From the beginning of this story, it is clear that the narrator’s purpose is twofold: to solve the mystery of certain events, as in any detective investigation, and to determine whether supernatural forces are at play. Although the narrator concludes that this story revolves exclusively around human beings, the actual nature of the titular Phantom of the Opera remains ambiguous through the rest of the work, as he displays both human and extra-human characteristics.
Themes
Although the narrator often felt that his research was leading nowhere, he was finally rewarded when he was able to confirm that the Phantom truly existed. This happened when, after a conversation with M. Faure, the examining magistrate for the Raoul and Philippe de Chagny case, the narrator learned that mysterious witness known as “the Persian,” once claimed know the Phantom. The narrator was able to meet with the Persian, who gave him ample proof of the Phantom’s existence, such as letters written by Christine Daaé. The narrator was later able to confirm that this was indeed Daaé’s writing, and, after investigating the Persian’s past, concluded that he was an “honorable man,” worthy of trust.
Although his connection to the Phantom is only detailed much later in the novel, the Persian plays a crucial role in unveiling the Opera ghost’s identity and motives. However, both Raoul and the narrator’s trust in this mysterious character derives from nothing more than a subjective interpretation—the feeling that the Persian is a man worthy of trust, even though authorities have deemed him insane. This introduces an element of uncertainty and tension in the narrative, as the resolution of this entire story relies on the Persian’s credibility. Were one to choose not to believe the Persian, then the respective fates of the Phantom, Christine, and Raoul would remain subject to doubt.
Themes
Literary Devices
Friends and family members of Raoul and Philippe de Chagny encouraged the narrator to publish his results, even if this meant accepting that the Phantom of the Opera did exist. The final confirmation arrived one day when the narrator was walking around the Phantom’s underground domain. There, while digging to build additional storage for the Opera, workmen found a dead body, which the narrator confirmed to be the Phantom’s corpse. Although the press claimed that this body was that of a member of the Paris Commune, the narrator argues that those men’s bodies were not buried on this side of the building. He notes that he will return to the issue of the body later, but that he must now recount the chronological series of events that led to such mysteries.
The fact that people who care about Raoul and his brother want the narrator to publish his story suggests that no account has so far explained the mystery of the former’s disappearance and the latter’s death. This serves to give credibility to the narrator, suggesting that he has found a way to tie together all the mysterious occurrences at the Opera in a rational way. His mention of the Paris Commune, a historical event, gives a realistic tone to this story, thus suggesting that the Phantom’s existence should be seen as equally realistic and historical—not a fantasy created by deluded Opera-goers.
Themes
