the Phantom of the Opera?

Question

Whether its the book that you have read, the stage show or one of the countless film adaptions why do people always seem to like the Phantom over the other characters? after all isnt he a murderer?

wes s there was no need for that

Answer 1

Because people can relate to Erik (The Phantom). I mean, how many people can relate to Raoul? He has his whole life laid out on a platter before him by his brother Phillipe (Or would have, until said brother died).
And yes, Erik was a murderer. And yes, murder is bad-- sinful.
I am a Christian, and therefore believe that hatred is a sin too. I don't know what religion you follow, if any, but I sometimes think of it this way: If hatred is a sin (Equivalent to murder, according to the Bible), then how many people looked Erik's way with hatred? Were they not killing him in a more subtle, more 'safe' way?
Whether you are religious or not, one most also admit that Erik was lacking a bit in the sanity department. Wouldn't we all be after this? His mother despised him, he (depending on your version) lived many years of his life as a well respected architect, only to have his employer attempt to take his life. He spent many years as a sideshow for some sadistic gypsies, and then was forced to live underground, alone, all because of his face.
Also, some of the people that he killed, were probably a little too close to finding him. In the book, Joseph Buquet goes LOOKING for him, and winds up in the torture chamber, where he hangs himself. Erik felt the desperate need to "Hide his face so the world could never find him". He likely commited several murders in the name of self-defense.
He was actually taught to kill in Persia, where he was forced to amuse the sadistic "Little Sultana" by being put into a room with a criminal with many weapons. He was given one rope, and the sultana watched to see who would die first. Erik learned to kill out of necessity.
But, I guess the best explanation really comes from gaston leroux himself.
"The reader knows and guesses the rest. It is all in keeping with this incredible and yet veracious story. Poor, unhappy Erik! Shall we pity him? Shall we curse him? He asked only to be 'some one,' like everybody else. But he was too ugly! And he had to hide his genius OR USE IT TO PLAY TRICKS WITH, when, with an ordinary face, he would have been one of the most distinguished of mankind! He had a heart that could have held the empire of the world; and, in the end, he had to content himself with a cellar. Ah, yes, we must needs pity the Opera ghost."

Answer 2

I believe that people's emotions are caught in the fact the the Phantom is pitiful. People tend to look at his sorrowful life more than his act of murdering people. Moreover, the sensational representation of the Phantom by media made him more likely to be loved by the audience/readers.

Answer 3

People can relate to the emotion of unrequited love experienced by The Phantom towards Christine. Unrequited love, as you probably know, is love that is not reciprocated, even though reciprocation is usually deeply desired. This can lead to feelings such as depression, anxiety, and mood swings such as swift changes between depression and euphoria. The Phantom represents our dark side-this emotion that's evoked by unrequited love.

Based on the novel The Phantom of the Opera by Gaston Leroux, it focuses on a beautiful singer Christine Daaé as she is seduced by a mysterious disfigured musical genius known as "The Phantom of the Opera". When we experience unrequited love, that's how it unfolds-the object of affection is held in such high esteem of being exceptionally beautiful/handsome and once rejected by the "idol of our hearts", the reactionary feeling that's evoked by that rejection is that we aren't good enough-i.e. beautiful enough, wealthy enough, and popular enough, etc.

The Phantom lives beneath the Paris Opera and terrorizes those who work there, demanding Christine be the star of the theatre's productions. When the young singer rebuffs the Phantom's advances and her lover Raoul intervenes, the Phantom sets no limits in his quest for revenge and Christine's love. Based on the novel The Phantom of the Opera by Gaston Leroux, it focuses on a beautiful singer Christine Daaé as she is seduced by a mysterious disfigured musical genius known as "The Phantom of the Opera". The Phantom lives beneath the Paris Opera and terrorizes those who work there, demanding Christine be the star of the theatre's productions. When the young singer rebuffs the Phantom's advances and her lover Raoul intervenes, the Phantom sets no limits in his quest for revenge and Christine's love.

Answer 4

The phantom has an aura of mystery around him. You know that he is a murderer and has a shadow of darkness and fear around him. A lot of people find that very "attractive" in a character. It draws people into them and makes them give him pity.

Answer 5

It is a tragedy… most people feel for the Phantom. He is disfigured and has led a very difficult life. He falls in love with a woman that he thinks loves him, come to find out that she will never love him in that way do to her fear of him, and falling for another man. It is the typical human aspect of wanting something we can not have, most people relate to that from one time in there life or another. So out of there relation to the situation and the recollection of that pain from their experience, they end up liking the character.

Answer 6

I think we can identify with the Phantom. The "mask" he wears covers a deformity. While most of us don't have a physical deformity, we do have hidden ugliness that we don't want the world to see. I think everyone identifies with him when he reveals himself to Christine and she is horrified. That is the fear we all have....that we reveal our hidden self to someone and they turn away from us.

Answer 7

he is the murderer however he is also in ways the hero. if u think about it, he is the one who always is cast aside because of his looks. when u think about it if his mother hadn't abandoned him as a child then he might have actually been a little more caring. Christine was really the one person who cared for him and when she turned on him he finnally snapped all the way.