What's the significance of "raising your hands to the level of your eyes" in Phantom?
What's the significance of "raising your hands to the level of your eyes" in Phantom?
fiyero8132
Broadway Star Joined: 4/27/05
#0What's the significance of "raising your hands to the level of your eyes" in Phantom?
Posted: 6/18/05 at 12:07pmCan someone explain? I've been playing through the score and I came across those lyrics and I was just like...huh?
#1re: What's the significance of 'raising your hands to the level of your eyes' in Phantom?
Posted: 6/18/05 at 12:08pmIf your hand is at the level of your eyes, next to your head, the Phantom can't strangle you with his noose.
apdarcey
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/10/04
#2re: What's the significance of 'raising your hands to the level of your eyes' in Phantom?
Posted: 6/18/05 at 12:09pmbecause you're not supposed to look directly at the phantom.
#3re: What's the significance of 'raising your hands to the level of your eyes' in Phantom?
Posted: 6/18/05 at 12:10pmbecause he tries to kill you by suffocating you with a noose(spelling...) and if you have your hand there you can catch it.
#4re: What's the significance of 'raising your hands to the level of your eyes' in Phantom?
Posted: 6/18/05 at 12:10pmHA, how morbid. gotta love that.
-Anyone want to turn anarchist with me?"Bless you and all who know you, oh wise and penguined one." ~YouWantItWhen????
#5re: What's the significance of 'raising your hands to the level of your eyes' in Phantom?
Posted: 6/18/05 at 12:12pmoh, forced lyrics, gotta love em
you may know what you need but to get what you want better see that you keep what you have
#6re: What's the significance of 'raising your hands to the level of your eyes' in Phantom?
Posted: 6/18/05 at 12:15pmIt's weird because we just had a topic about this exact subject. I'm not blaming you I just think it's a little random!
BSoBW2: I punched Sondheim in the face after I saw Wicked and said, "Why couldn't you write like that!?"
broadwayman
Stand-by Joined: 1/10/04
#7re: What's the significance of 'raising your hands to the level of your eye
Posted: 6/18/05 at 12:20pmactually, the lyrics answer it. I dont think it has anything to do with the noose... In the lyrics Madame Giry says, "He will burn you with the heat of his eyes" Meaning keep your hands at the leve of your eyes so he can't burn your eyes... At least thats what it makes you believe from the lyrics... I may be wrong.... but thats what i think..
DefyGravity23
Stand-by Joined: 3/28/05
#8re: What's the significance of 'raising your hands to the level of your eye
Posted: 6/18/05 at 12:52pm
It could be the burning eyes thing... but its the noose thing too. In the movie, (and I'm guessing it's the same on broadway) the phantom puts the noose around Raul and then says again "put your hand at the level of your eyes" kinda mocking Raul because he had forgotten, and it was too late.
If you have your hand there, even if the noose goes around your neck you'll have a space between your arm and the neck so you can't suffocate.
#9re: What's the significance of 'raising your hands to the level of your eye
Posted: 6/18/05 at 1:03pm
Yes, it has nothing to do with burning.
It's about suffocating - remember what happens to Raul...and when the Phantom throws the rope around his neck he (the phantom) repeats that line, "keep your hands at the level of your eyes."
And of course, the foreshadowing of Bouquet's death. In the movie, Mme. Giry throws the rop around his neck (while Bouquet is warning the dancers) and he blocks it with his arms.
Sant
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/12/04
#10re: What's the significance of 'raising your hands to the level of your eye
Posted: 6/18/05 at 1:14pm
"Keep your hand at the level of your eyes" refers to the Punjab Lasso, the noose - not to "burn with his eyes". It is explained in the show's ACT II after The Point Of No Return as Mme Giry shows Raoul the way to the Phantom's lair.
MME GIRY: Monsieur le Vicomte, I know where they are.
RAOUL: But can I trust you?
MME G: You must! But remember, keep your hand at the level of your eyes!
RAOUL: But why?
MME G: Why? The Punjab Lasso, monsieur! First Bouquet, now Piangi!
MEG: Like this, monsieur (shows him). I'll come with you!
MME G: No, Meg! No, you stay here. Monsieur, hurry or we shall be too late!
Both Bouquet and Piangi were strangled.
#11re: What's the significance of 'raising your hands to the level of your eye
Posted: 6/18/05 at 1:56pm
In the show it is about the noose, so he won't be killed.
In the book, Raoul is holding a gun and he must keep the gun at the level at his eyes at all time, as the man he was with kept saying (Keep your hands at the level of your eyes), his name escapes me at the moment. Because if he put the gun down, he would be killed, if it is up and ready at all times he can defend himself. That is the original meaning.
Sant
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/12/04
#12re: What's the significance of 'raising your hands to the level of your eye
Posted: 6/18/05 at 2:44pm
"his name escapes me at the moment."
The Persian.
#13re: What's the significance of 'raising your hands to the level of your eye
Posted: 6/18/05 at 3:16pm
in the show it's in relation to the punjab lasso. it has nothing to do with that line about the eyes because as we all know the phantom is just a man and he can't really burn anyone with the heat of his eyes...
in the movie giry and bouquet even demonstrate the move and how to stop the rope from suffocating you...
stonewall2
Broadway Star Joined: 9/12/04
#14re: What's the significance of 'raising your hands to the level of your eye
Posted: 6/18/05 at 3:19pmNot being mean, but the "search" feature on this site will provide answers to many questions, without having to wait for others to post!
"I'm mad, you're mad. we're all mad"...
The Cheshire Cat
#15re: What's the significance of 'raising your hands to the level of your eye
Posted: 6/18/05 at 10:21pmExcept in the book, the gun is unloaded, which Raoul thinks is silly. So the Persian tells him to just hold his hand there with his index finger pointing out as if it's a gun. Later, he explains about the lasso. If Raoul's hand is in front of his face, then if the Phantom tries to strangle him, Raoul will be able to get out of the rope.
Nothing matters but knowing nothing matters. ~ Wicked
Everything in life is only for now. ~ Avenue Q
There is no future, there is no past. I live this moment as my last. ~ Rent
"He's a tramp, but I love him."
Everything in life is only for now. ~ Avenue Q
There is no future, there is no past. I live this moment as my last. ~ Rent
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