Fantôme de l’Opéra delves deep into the recesses of the deranged yet genius mind of Erik, the Opera Ghost. Created by French novelist Gaston Leroux, Leroux writes about a tortured man known as the Opera Ghost or the Phantom who falls in love and becomes obsessed with a young chorus girl after tutoring her in singing. When felt challenged for her affection by a childhood friend, the Phantom begins killing anybody who he believes will keep her from him. Captivated by Leroux’s story, filmmaker Carl Laemmle creates the Americanized, silent film The Phantom of the Opera. Due to the success of the film, composer Andrew Lloyd Webber creates the score for the current longest running musical in Broadway history. Shortly thereafter, Warner Brothers production company and director Joel Schumacher creates another film which becomes the most well recognizable adaptation of the story. There are various forms of monsters, both figuratively and literally. Most monsters originate from real situations. A few examples would be how Dracula is a …show more content…
In reality, masks are oftentimes used in celebrations like at Carnival or Mardi Gras in order to add more excitement and merriment to the actual event. However, in literature, masks are used metaphorically for hiding the true nature of a person. According to Gaston Leroux, “[n]one will ever be a true Parisian who has not learned to wear a mask of gaiety over his sorrows and one of sadness, boredom, or indifference over his inward joy (Leroux 29).” Leroux is talking about how the citizens of Paris all wear masks in order to get on with their lives. To wear a mask is to be a part of society, whether it is with sincerity or not. In The Phantom of the Opera film and novel, every character, including so-called innocent Christine, all wear masks to conceal their sorrows and true feelings towards themselves and each other. The sole purpose in doing so helps keep up a facade in hopes of being accepted by those