Love or Pity ? New Phantom question

[alxscrz2]

Posted: 7/15/07 at 6:09am

Does anyone besides me think that christine did not love the phantom ? That she only cared about him but mostly pitied him. And can u please answer why you think she didn't love him.
- Thanks

[Weez]

Posted: 7/15/07 at 7:04am

I'll bite. I only have chores to do today. I'm not a massive Phan and haven't been since I was about ten, so my memory is a little fuzzy, but here's my take.

I don't think Christine loved *or* pitied the Phantom. She was at first intrigued by him, then intoxicated, then frightened. She may have thought she was in love but one-way feelings of intense fascination and attraction are not the same as love at all. She may have pitied him toward the end, but I honestly don't ever recall seeing a Christine display enough acting ability to get anything acros other than "I'm a bit sad everything went pear-shaped, I'm relieved to be running off with the hunky Raoul".

One day I'll read the book and I may come up with further opinions then, but that's how I feel for now.

[TechEverlasting]

Posted: 7/15/07 at 8:44am

My comments are based on the show, I haven't read the book and only saw the movie once.

Christine was initially in awe of the Phantom. She though he was a supernatural being, the "angel of music". As she gets to know who the Phantom really is her feelings change to a combination of fear and pity.

Christine is a very young woman, experiencing love with Raoul for the first time. I don't think she's a complex enough person to love two men at the same time. What makes the show interesting is that all along the Phantom truly, deeply loves Christine while she initially doesn't even consider the possiblity of loving him back.

The scene at the end where Christine kisses the Phantom can be very moving. She finally acknowledges him as another human being, but she then dashes off with Raoul as quicky as possible, coming back only to drop off the ring.

[SeanMartin]

Posted: 7/15/07 at 8:54am

Christine.

The Phantom.

Can you say "co-dependent"?