Symbolic Criticism of Phantom of the Opera

In the movie The Phantom of the Opera, you can see symbolism practically everywhere. It is a huge part of the movie, in my opinion. They are either very eye catching. Some were barely visible. One symbolic quote is, “Masquerade! Every face a different shade. Masquerade. Look around, there's another mask behind you!” Throughout the movie, mirrors have been used as a symbolic piece. When you look into the mirror, you see yourself through your own eyes. What we perceive in that reflection can either be reality or a distortion. It can be what we desire. It is also a reflection of what we are inside. When you look into a mirror, what do you see? Do you see a positive person? Do you only see imperfections? In the movie, Christine is in her dressing room when the voice calls out. “Look at your face in the mirror. I am there inside!” When Christine gazes into the mirror, she finds that the Phantom’s reflection is there as well. The Phantom has become a part of Christine, and is in her mind. After finding the Phantom’s reflection, Christine slips into a trance and follows him through the mirror.
Colors are a great use of symbolism as well. The color red symbolizes love, passion, and desire. It can also symbolize anger, blood lust, vengeance, and fire. In the movie, Costumes like Christine’s cape in the musical number “All I Ask” and the Phantom’s costume at the Masquerade Ball are red. The red rose stands for the love and passion, as well as beauty and perfection. The color black represents evil, death, emptiness, sorrow, loss, and the unknown. The Phantom is very much like blackness, and mostly wears black throughout the movie. White shows the presence of all colors, purity, life, love, and innocence. It is often heavenly. Christine is similar to the color white, and wears it in some scenes.
One very good symbolic piece is the mask. There was even a musical number, Masquerade, representing the mask. The mask is used to cover the distortion on the Phantom’s