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A review by melcanread
The Phantom of the Opera by Gaston Leroux
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Gaston Leroux's history in journalism really came into play during the creation of this novel. So many of the happenings at the Palais Garnier were incorporated and presented as though they were all the work of a different monster who had lived in the cavernous underbelly of the opera house. This is very much a work of historical fiction that blurs the lines of fantasy and reality.
The Phantom of the Opera, to me, is a social commentary on how society holds beauty in a high regard and forces those deemed ugly to fight for scraps of human decency at the table. It shows how thos with physical differences or disabilities are demonised and abused because the able-bodied and beautiful simply need the ego boost or the entertainment.
In his 1987 musical, Andrew Lloyd Webber, I believe, gave Raoul and Christine a brand new lease of life, and even brand new personalities. Raoul was the most insufferable man I have ever had the misfortune of reading about. His crimes include, but are not limited to: harassing elderly women in their sick bed, invading Christine's privacy on numerous occasions, gaslighting, infantalising, disregarding consent, petulance, immaturity, possessiveness, nosiness, eavesdropping, being a general asshole/man baby. Even Leroux himself referred to Raoul as childish multiple times. And Christine wasn't great either. Both she and Raoul were adult versions of their childhood selves and honestly, it was so annoying to read at times. Not a single person in this novel knew how to have proper adult conversations.
Christine's treatment of Erik, I believe, was nothing short of cruel. While Erik's methods were "unconventional", you also have to remember that he spent the first decade of his life in a cage at a freak show. So of course, he's going to navigate the world in a different way to the rest of society. At one point, Christine would acknowledge the fact that Erik respected her and would allow her to come and go as she pleased, but she still treated him poorly as did the rest of the world. The only time he ever showed "mistreatment" towards her was when she disrespected his boundaries, and then as a preventative measure to stop her from literally killing herself. Even Raoul questioned her treatment of him asking if she would have loved Erik if he were beautiful. Which we all know the answer to.
This novel was equal parts, fantasy and realism, which is a part of historical fiction I absolutely adore and is often something I look for when I pick up a historical piece. Leroux truly is an exception of the rule that men can't write.
There is still so much more I could say but I'm rapidly running out of space and my pasta is getting cold. But I thoroughly enjoyed this novel, and I can't wait to read it again. But also, what was the shadow in the mezzanine levels that was worse than Erik? I can't stand the fact that we never got a proper answer. Damn you, Leroux!
The Phantom of the Opera, to me, is a social commentary on how society holds beauty in a high regard and forces those deemed ugly to fight for scraps of human decency at the table. It shows how thos with physical differences or disabilities are demonised and abused because the able-bodied and beautiful simply need the ego boost or the entertainment.
In his 1987 musical, Andrew Lloyd Webber, I believe, gave Raoul and Christine a brand new lease of life, and even brand new personalities. Raoul was the most insufferable man I have ever had the misfortune of reading about. His crimes include, but are not limited to: harassing elderly women in their sick bed, invading Christine's privacy on numerous occasions, gaslighting, infantalising, disregarding consent, petulance, immaturity, possessiveness, nosiness, eavesdropping, being a general asshole/man baby. Even Leroux himself referred to Raoul as childish multiple times. And Christine wasn't great either. Both she and Raoul were adult versions of their childhood selves and honestly, it was so annoying to read at times. Not a single person in this novel knew how to have proper adult conversations.
Christine's treatment of Erik, I believe, was nothing short of cruel. While Erik's methods were "unconventional", you also have to remember that he spent the first decade of his life in a cage at a freak show. So of course, he's going to navigate the world in a different way to the rest of society. At one point, Christine would acknowledge the fact that Erik respected her and would allow her to come and go as she pleased, but she still treated him poorly as did the rest of the world. The only time he ever showed "mistreatment" towards her was when she disrespected his boundaries, and then as a preventative measure to stop her from literally killing herself. Even Raoul questioned her treatment of him asking if she would have loved Erik if he were beautiful. Which we all know the answer to.
This novel was equal parts, fantasy and realism, which is a part of historical fiction I absolutely adore and is often something I look for when I pick up a historical piece. Leroux truly is an exception of the rule that men can't write.
There is still so much more I could say but I'm rapidly running out of space and my pasta is getting cold. But I thoroughly enjoyed this novel, and I can't wait to read it again. But also, what was the shadow in the mezzanine levels that was worse than Erik? I can't stand the fact that we never got a proper answer. Damn you, Leroux!