P.3
12/1/10
Some of the most debated Phantom of the Opera topics on the Web are as follows. Raoul or Erik (the Phantom), who is superior to the other and who did Christine Daae truly love? Would The Phantom have given her a normal life the way that Raoul could? Who should Christine have ended up with? Although popular opinion tends to be in favor of Raoul, Erik is the right choice. Of course, the goal in answering the first question is to explore the ways of how each man loved the beautiful, young and enchanting songstress, Christine Daae. Raoul de Chagney, the youthful Baron of France, expresses his love for Daae in a romantic, emotionally controlling technique. It is said that the two were childhood sweethearts, but that they had not seen each other since their early teens. Even so, …show more content…
It is evident that Raoul would provide Christine a more opportunistic life. He could give her the love she needed, adorn her in beautiful dresses and jewels, supply her with queen-like living situations, and bestow upon her many children. Nevertheless, it is not fair to state that The Phantom, notoriously reclusive, would not try to give Christine the same opportunities. In the last scene of the musical, Erik sings to Christine with intense emotion-at one point practically crying the words: "Say you'll share with me one love, one lifetime. Lead me, save me from my solitude. Say you want me with you here, beside you. Anywhere you go, let me go too! Christine, that's all I ask of you." The ending of the song implies that The Phantom believes Christine could save him, that he would have Christine lead him into the light of a normal life. She was his hope, his will and his courage. Overall, both men could have given Daae a conventional