phantom of the opera costume youth medium

A twisted infatuation more than authentic love. As extreme and horrifying Erik seems to be in his pursuit for love, endangering Raoul and the Persian in his torture chamber, going to great lengths to hold Christine captive to himself was a reflection of what many of us do in a modern context. Surely, one who has undergone such ridicules would likely battle with insecurity and an obsession for self-validity, to which the Phantom chooses to bestow upon Christine. This is, of course, supported by prior experience as a child who was bought into a circus, exhibited as a freak, while others mocked, jeered, and tormented his innocent soul, likening his face to a monstrosity. The Phantom chooses to wear a mask because he fears that those who see him without it would be scared off. Image by Leandro De Carvalho from Pixabay It is this obscured belief that they are individually unlovable and that they cannot possibly be loved without wearing such a mask: in our vain and conceited society, is it really a fallacy that good looks have value? Society itself carries a partial blame, unmistakably, as the social standards of physical beauty gathers the multitude to conform to this preconceived standard. It is likened to a layer of defence that adolescents draw up for themselves, cementing away their tender insides, their raw selves, encouraged by the notion that they would be unlovable otherwise. There is no denying the comfort that comes with hiding behind a mask.

The mask that the Phantom wears has become a dramatised trope over the years with which millions have resonated. Perhaps it is this that makes the image of the Phantom so enticing, so luring: no matter how disturbing or irrational we find the Phantom, whom we later learn is Erik, there exists a parallel that is drawn ever so subtly by Leroux between his venture into finding love and the rest of us. To be cared for, to be paid attention to, and to be adored, despite our flaws and imperfections, is a goal that many in the world pursue, but fail to do so authentically and lovingly.

The desire to be loved is no stranger even to the best of us. Captivating music aside, Leroux’s original book fictionalised a Phantom with whom a surprising great number of the world can relate.

Phantom of the opera costume youth medium