ORION answers “Is Erik (the phantom) a tragic hero? If...”

Leon asked this question about The Phantom of the Opera:

Is Erik (the phantom) a tragic hero? If so, why?

ORION I personally did not see Erik as a hero of any sorts. On one hand, you want to feel bad for Erik. Knowing that his appearance has led to a life of mis…moreI personally did not see Erik as a hero of any sorts. On one hand, you want to feel bad for Erik. Knowing that his appearance has led to a life of misery and mistreatment when all he wanted was love and humanity, you can't help but feel an inkling of sympathy. However, the thing to remember about his character is that he is extremely vindictive, manipulative, and abusive and he was no less towards Christine in the way he tried to force her to be with him. Unfortunately, his circumstances do not excuse his behavior nor justify them in any way. A lot of people would see this as a tragic romance when in reality it was the case that the Phantom using his powerful gift to sway the actions of a young talented singer regardless of her feelings or whether she asked for his influence or not. (less)

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The Phantom of the Opera

by Gaston Leroux

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