Preview

Phantom of the Opera - Obsession; the Mask of Love Essay Example

Powerful Essays
Open Document
Open Document
2563 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Phantom of the Opera - Obsession; the Mask of Love Essay Example
Obsession; the Mask of Love
In examining the libretto The Phantom of the Opera, the interactions and attitudes of the characters, and the language used, I will show how the Phantom’s obsession over Christine, although at times destructive, leads to his change from an evil and selfish villain, to a remorseful and compassionate hero. To understand the psyche of the Phantom, one must first have a brief overview of the play.

In 1984 Andrew Lloyd Webber, transformed the original The Phantom of the Opera novel (written in 1911 by Gaston Leroux) into a dialogic, emotional masterpiece. The prologue starts at the end of the story, in an auction in the Paris Opera House, in 1905. Raoul, the Vicomte de Chagny is buying a papier-mâché music box, which Christine, his love and Fiancée of his youth had described to him. The auction then transforms back in time twenty-four years and recounts the story of the Phantom of the Opera. A seeming ghost, this disfigured man lived in the dungeons of the opera house. Although he was a musical genius, a scholar, a composer and an architect, his deformities forced him to live in the shadows. The protagonist, Christine, a young ballerina, whose late father had recounted her stories of this angel of music, is taught to sing, by the Phantom.

Through music the Phantom wins the admiration of Christine. Trusted as her guardian angel, he tutors her at night, through two-way mirrors in her room. As the play progresses, with the help of the Phantom, Christine secures a leading role in an opera, and becomes a huge success. In hearing Christine, Raoul recognizes his childhood friend and pursues her. Christine’s singing lessons come with strict rules, and in breaking them by seeing Raoul, the Phantom’s demeanour turns from firm to deadly.

Act two is six months later, where at a masqued party, it is revealed to us that Christine and Raoul are secretly engaged to be married, which enrages the Phantom. He shows up at the masquerade, and

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    On November 19th I attended an opera by the Auburn University’s Department of Music Opera Workshop. The opera was titled “The Art of Deception” and consisted of 6 marvelous pieces, numerous with sub-pieces that summed it up as a whole. The opera’s intent was to deceive you as well as create wondering in your imagination, with numerous illusions and mysteries portrayed in the performance itself.…

    • 585 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Wars also involve loyalties and betrayals, and their chaos on a grand scale underscores the chaos in the lives of the characters in the opera and the play. (Sue Sherman : English for Year 12)…

    • 623 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    I think the major factor that is causing complexity between the two star-crossed lovers is the bitterness that is contained within the two families. The bitterness in between the two families is causing both Romeo and Juliet stress in knowing that they will not be together due to strong conditions. The bitterness is briefly described in the prologue as," From ancient grudge break to new mutiny".…

    • 209 Words
    • 1 Page
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The question of what is real and what is an illusion is constantly explored through Cosi. Through the concept of theatre, Nowra expresses the theme of reality, which is entrenched in the illusion of the rehearsals and performance of the opera, creating characters and “real” themes such as love and fidelity that occur in the life of “normal” people, to invite an audience to participate in the realization of this illusionistic approach to life. The patients of the institution, together with Lewis engage in the cooperative construction of the imaginary world of “Cosi Fan Tutte”, alluding to the idea that although they are in the midst of building an illusory world which they may become too caught up in at times, the patients, as well as Lewis are aware that their real world consisting of living in the mental institution, is still existent. The play endorses the idea that imagination can be empowering, which is made evident by Ruth who expresses that she “can live with illusion as long as [she] knows it’s illusion”, revealing that at times the awareness of what is reality and it’s contrast with illusion can be liberating, and feels that the only way this can be dealt with is through the realization and ability to…

    • 839 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Throughout the novel Maestro, the key to Keller’s teaching and Paul’s learning revolves around Keller’s ideology to “never trust the beautiful...” Keller trusted and indulged in beauty in his past and it ultimately lead his family to Hitler and their horrific death. Keller doesn’t want Paul to play beautiful music because it reminds him of his traumatic past and makes Paul’s music a forgery. Keller wants Paul to play real, passionate music that is his own and not just focus on the beauty in the music. Paul throughout the novel learns never to trust the beautiful as we see him continuously choose the beautiful over Keller who is obviously in need. As Paul grows and matures throughout the novel, he learns to no longer choose the beautiful.…

    • 928 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Deception was a common theme among the two plays, and it was used to mask the sorrows one has had to experience in life. Often, one falls into the hands of deception not only to deceive others, but mainly to deceive themselves from the truth they cannot bear to face. It is important to accept the mistakes and forgive, in order to…

    • 1338 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    In Shakespeare’s “Othello,” Othello is highly respected and looked up to but later is influenced by the antagonist, Iago, resulting in a jealous insecurity ultimately leading to his murdering of his own wife and the plotting of murdering of his ex-lieutenant, Cassio. The reader first notices Othello’s shift in character…

    • 749 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Later, chapter 3 will be based on an analysis of gradual behavioral changes in Othello, with regards to Act 3, Act 4 and Act 5. Moreover, this chapter will disclose the impact of Iago’s insinuations in manipulating Othello’s mental state, which will be observed by analyzing Othello’s rage, and his work sheet for revenge on infidelity of Desdemona.…

    • 392 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    In a brief overview “The Phantom of the Opera” entails a distorted musical genius, the phantom, which haunts an opera house in Paris hiding away in his secreted lair under the opera house. After many unexplainable events happen the lead actress refuses to perform and Christine takes her place and is a knock-out. After seeing this beautiful young actress with an amazing voice he continually comes to Christine and helps her with her singing. On the same night as her lead…

    • 531 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    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.…

    • 737 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Jealousy is one of the main universal themes explored in both ‘Othello’ – a classical play wriitten four centuries ago, and ‘O’ – a modern film adaptation of the play made in 2000. Despite the differences in contexts between the two texts, the composers were able to present universal themes such as race and gender through the use of literary techniques appropriate to audiences of the time.…

    • 991 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    In this play, jealousy is a dangerous, cruel quality. It is the reason for the downfall of Iago, Roderigo and Othello…

    • 864 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    In this essay I will explain how Andrew Davies’ film, Othello, 2001 released in 2001, is a successful transformation of William Shakespeare’s tragic play, Othello first performed in 1604. The play follows the events of the General Othello while outlining his love for his wife Desdemona and watches it turn into jealousy, since Iago deceives him into believing she is having an affair with Michael Cassio. Iago’s lies lead Othello to suffocate his innocent wife because of his jealous rage. Then after realising he mistake commits suicide. Similarly, Davies film follows the manipulative Ben Jago’s plans to make the police Commissioner, John…

    • 1109 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    A new year has come and the Phantom has not been in contact with the managers. This leads them to believe that he has left them alone for good. This thought is destroyed when the phantom show up at the masquerade they threw for the new year. He confronts the managers with his New opera he wrote, and commands them to obey his orders, and reminds them that there are worse thing than a shattered chandelier.…

    • 76 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Othello Identity Essay

    • 1186 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Parker’s filmic interpretation of Othello attributes power to the appearance and identity. While a large proportion of Shakespeare’s poetics have been left out, Parker maintains the vast majority of the play’s timeless themes placing particular emphasis on the importance of appearances and identity. Parker’s film contracts Othello’s decline of the inevitable consequences of the protagonist’s oxymoronic identity within a society who judges based on aesthetics. These are portrayed as threats to Othello’s power and lead to a disintegration of his upright power.…

    • 1186 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays