The Phantom of the Opera: Erik vs. Raoul My Opinion

So, this is basically a defending post like the one of Cosette and Eponine, but this time it's about if you ship Christine and Erik, or Raoul and Christine. And bonus, to get me in the mood of writing this, I'm listening to the 25th Anniversary at The Royal Albert Hall, at this very moment. I am going to tell you about my opinion. But first, let's look over the characters. 

Hadley Fraser as Raoul in
The Phantom of the Opera
25th Anniversary at
The Royal Albert Hall
*I Do Not Own Picture

So I'll start with the Vicomte Raoul de Chagny. He's known Christine Daae since they were little, rushing into the ocean to rescue young Christine's scarf, and more. They evidently lost contact, and now, Christine at this time is sixteen, they meet again. In the book The Phantom of the Opera, he hears Christine speak, but is shocked to hear a male voice reply to her "The Angels wept tonight." He truly loves Christine, but Christine seems the opposite. She's more tied up in listening to her Angel of Music. That should cover Raoul's story. I'm trying to make this short and to the point. And I have read the book. 

Ramin Karimloo as Erik in
The Phantom of the Opera
25th Anniversary at
The Royal Albert Hall
*I Do Not Own Picture

Now we move to Erik, otherwise known to newest fans (like me, which I call him both) the Phantom. He is a musical genius with a deformed face, described by Gaston Leroux, as "a rotting corpse". (Correct me if I'm wrong, because right now I'm feeling rather brain-dead). He lives way under the Paris Opera House, alone, and secluded hiding from the world. He hears Christine, but does not reveal himself to her, as he helps her with her vocals, basically becoming her vocal coach, as we would call it nowadays. He also, and has been swindling money from the old managers of the opera house, and the new managers, Monsieur Firmin and Andre. He breaks a chandelier, kills many people, takes away Carlotta's voice, basically to say he's a murdering psycho. And another thing: IT'S ALL FOR CHRISTINE!!!!! Just Christine!!!!!

Sierra Boggess as Christine Daae in
The Phantom of the Opera
25th Anniversary at
The Royal Albert Hall
*I Do Not Own Picture

Now that we know about the two of them, I'll get to my opinion. I ship Erik/Christine. I know, right now people are thinking "This girl is crazy!" "She wants Christine to marry a murderer over a handsome rich Vicomte!" "This girl must have not read the book!" And many more, I'm sure. But the thing is, to answer some of the statements up there, I have read the book, and yeah I might be crazy for saying that. But here's my reason: 

The Phantom of the Opera
Book cover
Written by Gaston Leroux
*I Do Not Own Picture

Raoul, I love the guy to pieces, but I love Erik more. Raoul hasn't had to suffer through hideousness, rejection by his own parents, and by anyone who sees his face and/or meets him. He's got wealth, a bit of fame (Come on he's a VICOMTE, how could he not?), good looks, and for some bonus points, he's known Christine Daae way longer than Erik. He is very courteous to her, doesn't kill anyone, and basically a good man. But Erik, way different story. Hideousness from the day he was born and rejected by his parents. I mean, Gaston never says Raoul's parents were afraid and rejected by his parents, does it? He's lived a terrible life, running way from home at a young age, becoming a live freakshow, almost getting killed, himself, and yeah. Not such a sweet life. Raoul could give Christine a perfect life. Full of wealth, fame, and anything she wanted, including love. Erik, on the other hand, could give her a beautiful life, as well. Maybe he doesn't have everything that Raoul could give her, but he loves her very deeply. He KILLED for her. I'm not justifying that that is all right. It is wrong, even if it is for the person you love. But the thing is, she was never in danger, so it shouldn't be justified just because he's in love. Raoul showed how much he love Christine, by going after her with the Persian and suffering through Erik's torture chamber. He went through all that for her. Christine shows love to both, saving Raoul's life, and agreeing to be Erik's "living wife", after she had once tried to commit suicide.  But what gets me, is Erik could have not kept the end of the bargain and let the Vicomte and the Persian die, but he didn't. He saved them. But that's only one. I've got another reason up my sleeve. I'm going to put this in bold letters so, hopefully, people will get my point. HE LET HER GO!!!!!!!! That proves how much he loved her. "Go marry the boy whenever you wish. I know you love him." Erik's quote as he let her go. Sure, Raoul tried saving her, but Erik proved his true love by letting her go. "But Raoul tried to save her! That's more heroic than letting her go!" You may say. I understand, we all have different opinions. But this is mine. The thing is, Erik knew if he was ever going to be loved by a woman, it had to be forced. No woman would fall for a deformed creep, just sayin'. He couldn't just stroll up to a woman, and say, "Hey, you're very pretty and I love your voice. I love you, now marry me, and we will live a beautiful life, 'kay?" Even if the woman would have said yes, what would she do when she saw Erik's face? His heart would be shattered once again. Christine was the woman he loved, and he wanted her for himself. This is was Erik always wanted. "I want to have a nice, quiet flat, with ordinary doors and windows and a wife inside it, like anybody else! A wife whom I could love and take out on Sundays and keep amused on week-days." How could that happen with no woman? If Christine would have said yes, and agreed, A. He wouldn't have to kill anyone anymore. He would get the woman he loved and that would be it. B. He would finally be happy for once in his life. He wouldn't have to hide because he was rejected by the world. And C. He wouldn't be as psycho as he was before he capture Christine. He foolishly killed for her, not knowing it would all go to waste (No, I am not justifying the killing part, because it is still wrong). Maybe it's because I pity Erik for his terrible life, maybe that's why like him more. Even from the beginning of finding out about this beautifully written book and the shows, I've always wanted Christine to go with Erik. That's just me. Whenever I watch the ending of the 25th Anniversary at The Royal Albert Hall, I always wish for a different ending that says Christine would stay with Erik. The only reason I only ship Raoul 1/16th of a percent is that in the novel they both seemed severely childish. (After all, Christine is only sixteen in the book) If only Christine wouldn't think of Erik as a psycho genus. I ship Erik and Christine, plain and simple. This article is my reason, and I will stick to it for the rest of my life. 



What Do You Think About This Article, Which Pair Do You Ship, And Why? Both Couples Are Accepted!