The Phantom of the Opera - Week 3

[Gem , Moderator]

The Phantom of the Opera - Week 3
March 24 - March 30
Chapters: 13 - 20

Only one week left in this short read. There was a lot of action this week...

1) Christine refuses to go with Raoul earlier than the predetermined date. Why do you think she is adamant about keeping her word to the Ghost? Why doesn't she want to get out from under his thumb? Then Christine disappears. Why such theatrics from the Ghost?

2) M. Richard & M. Moncharmin are distracted by the money they believe has been stolen by Mother Giry. They question her and go to great lengths to reproduce the scenario she describes. They are amazed when the envelope is somehow taken from a pocket that is pinned closed. They don't believe in the ghost so they think she is a thief. If she has taken the money, it doesn't appear she is spending it. Why do you think they believe she is complicit?

3) The Persian is leading Raoul through the underground of the opera house to try to get across the lake to rescue Christine from Erik who they believe has taken her. Who is this Persian? Why is he helping Raoul? What does he have against Erik?

[Nancy]

After the ending of the previous section, with Raoul and Christine believing they saw Erik ominously posed at the top of the spire, I was prepared for more immediate creepiness. Instead, there was some relief in the comic efforts of the managers to figure out how their money had been stolen, their suspicions of each other, and their accusations of theft by Madam Giry. Still, the creep factor was there, with Erik outsmarting the managers at every turn, and Christine's sudden disappearance on the very night she was to elope with Raoul. We know little about Erik's background, so I continued to be puzzled by the fact that he is portrayed as both a ghost with supernatural powers and a living human being of some brilliance (although definitely malevolent brilliance). The appearance of the Persian is worrisome. Is he really there to help, or is it some sort of trap?