Raoul/Christine (Phantom of the Opera)

[audaciously.livejournal.com]

Title: From Apollo's Lyre
Author: bohemianrose
Fandom: Phantom of the Opera
Pairing: Raoul/Christine
Spoilers: Leroux's novel, ALW's musical, the 2004 movie, etc.
Notes: This was written because I was sick of seeing people bash Raoul/Christine shippers. A huge thanks goes out to the girls over at the R.A.O.U.L yahoo group for sending me links and just for being wonderful people. This is for all of you!



From Apollo’s Lyre: The Love of Christine Daae and Raoul de Chagny

I. Introduction

I was very hesitant to write something on Christine and Raoul because the shippers in the Phantom of the Opera fandom – ah, excuse me, phandom – are very adamant in their hatred of Raoul. Part of this is due to the fact that his character has been treated horrendously by many authors, critics, and fans who seem to think of him as nothing more than a mindless fop.

Now, don’t get me wrong, I love Erik as much as the next girl, but I love him as the crazed psycho he is. In all reality, a relationship between him and Christine would not have worked, and for more reasons than one. Believe me, I do not even want to get into the Freudian kinks between them.

But, this essay isn’t about them. Yes, there will be a bit of background on Christine’s relationship with Erik, but merely because it played a large part in her life. This essay, however, is on the dynamic of Raoul and Christine and what makes their relationship tick – and it will try to bring out the merits of both characters, especially Raoul, for the non-believers.

I hope that I don’t come across as harsh, and if I do, I really don’t mean to. The Raoul/Christine shippers in this fandom get so much flack and it gets tiring to hear how idiotic our views are because we like a different pairing than the majority of the fans in the fandom. Ironically, most of the R/C fans I’ve talked to are great fans of Erik, whereas many of the Erik/Christine fans hate Raoul with a passion. So, let me state this right now: there will be no bashing of Erik in this essay. Whatever I say here is my honest opinion and adheres to canon facts, society of the time period, and the psychological analysis of the characters. Also, if you read this and happen not to agree with me, please don’t bash Raoul in the comments. If there’s one thing I hate more than anything else in this fandom, it’s the guiltless torture the poor boy goes through.

Also, the main source used in this essay will be the original novel by Gaston Leroux. Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musical will be referred to on occasion, but I prefer to keep him out of it, as he tends to destroy some of the characterization and details from the books, as well as the correct order of events in regard to the story. Susan Kay’s Phantom, while entirely wonderful for a background of Erik, is nothing more than published fanfiction and will hardly be mentioned. While the majority of fandom adores the book, I think that it does not do justice to Leroux’s portrayal of Christine and Raoul, and I would rather stick to canon facts at the moment.

Ok, I believe I gave you enough of an rant introduction, didn’t I? Sorry ‘bout that.

---

II. Christine Daae

“Her face was as fresh and as pink as a strawberry grown in the shade. Without a doubt, the young girl was flushed from having walked so quickly. Her breast, which contained the sincerest of hearts, rose and fell gently. Her eyes, clear mirrors of pale blue, the color of the lakes that dream quietly at the top of the world, those eyes, tranquilly reflected her guileless soul. Her fur coat was parted, revealing a slender waist and the harmonious lines of her graceful young body” (Leroux 107).



Christine Daae is the only child of a poor Swedish violinist. Her mother (a cripple) died when she was six years old, leaving Christine in the care of her father. Her early years were spent going from country to country with her father as he tried to earn a living through his music. Eventually a Professor Valerius took Christine and her father into his care, laying the setting for the majority of Christine’s childhood. Her father, despite his luck with Professor Valerius, spent much of his time alone in his room making up the most elaborate stories to tell Christine. He often told her the story of the Angel of Music, a guardian who would bestow his gift of music and song to good boys and girls.

Christine and her father had a strong relationship, for they were the world to each other. Christine clearly idolized her father and he in turn idolized her, wishing that she would never grow up, always keeping some semblance of innocence. Whatever he told her, she believed with all her heart. Sometime before he died, he promised to send her the Angel of Music, saying: “You my child, you will hear him one day! When I'm in Heaven, I'll send him to you. I promise!" (102). Christine obviously took this promise to heart.

After his death Christine and Mamma Valerius (the wife of the Professor) move to Paris where Christine’s story begins. She joins the corps de ballet at the Paris Opera House, beginning her theatrical training. Sometime after she joins the theatre, she is visited by a mysterious voice that comes through her dressing room mirror. The voice tells her that it is the Angel of Music, sent to her by her father.

Christine, innocently swayed by this “guide and guardian”, automatically believes that Erik is her Angel of Music. The loss of her father seems to be replaced by Erik, who has taken over her father’s role of idolization and comfort. At this point in time, Christine is almost delusional, going so far as to confuse fantasy with reality, for she believes that Erik is not a mortal man, but an angel of heaven. She is a naïve child who, at the most, would like nothing more than for her father to come back and protect her.

ALW’s Christine is portrayed as both a stronger and smarter character than Leroux’s version is. While the musical version of Christine may be the most familiar it is not actually the most accurate characterization. The original concept of Christine was for her to be a frightened and reckless girl who acts before she thinks. Christine has always believed the stories her father told her and her worship of her father and his tales has clouded her judgment. It is due to this innocence that Christine willingly believes Erik when he says he is her Angel and it is only when she sees Erik’s true nature that she learns that her diagnosis of him was wrong, thus shattering all of her illusions.

When it comes to the two men in her life, Christine is seen as having two different personalities. With Raoul, her childhood friend, she is able to be the innocent, dreamy girl she was as a child, while with Erik she turns into a flighty, dazed girl who is overly anxious to see what will unfurl next in her life. With both men, however, she is a deceptive minx, convincing both of them that they have her undying love. She does it with Erik and she does it with Raoul. This may be one of Christine’s biggest flaws – the fact that she is so easily able to manipulate Erik and Raoul’s emotions. Despite the fact that she can be a deceiving flirt, in the end Christine is nothing more than a scared, dreamy, and kind-hearted girl who would like to return to her happy land of fairy tales.

---

III. Raoul de Chagny

“The shyness of this sailor, I am almost tempted to say his innocence, was remarkable. He seemed to have only just come out from under the wing of a purely female influence. The fact is, having been pampered by his two sisters and his old aunt, he had thus far managed, as a result of that feminine upbringing, to maintain almost guileless manners and a charm that had so far remained entirely untarnished. At that time, he was little more than twenty-one years old and looked eighteen. He had a little blond moustache, handsome blue eyes and a girlish complexion” (Leroux 41).



Raoul de Chagny is essentially the clichéd knight in shining armor and the subsequent hero of the story. He was raised by his sisters and his aunt, and when he was of age, his elder brother Philippe sent him off to the Navy. He is a shy boy whose innocence almost equals Christine’s. Despite his shyness, he is brave, loyal, kind, and utterly in love with Christine.

Raoul was a friend of Christine’s from their childhood in Perros and their affection for each other started from the moment he rushed into the sea to retrieve her red scarf - much to the chagrin of his governess and to the delight of Christine. He and Christine would go around Perros asking the villagers to tell them stories and more often than not, Christine and Raoul would be found listening to the tales that Christine’s father wove.

Three years after their initial meeting, Raoul returns to Perros hoping to find Christine and her father. He begins to feel the stirrings of love in his heart and before he and Christine part ways again he says, “Mademoiselle, I shall never forget you” (71). Raoul leaves Perros slightly heartbroken, for he knows that he will never be able to wed Christine due to their different social standings.

When he happens upon Christine in Paris, at the Opera House, Raoul’s love is even stronger than before. Unfortunately for Raoul, society at the time frowned upon a Vicomte marrying a chorus girl, for it was not deemed a suitable match. Despite the mocking whispers and rumors directed at him because of his love for Christine, Raoul’s heart still belongs to Christine and he defies society’s rules and chases after her.

It is Raoul’s undying love for Christine that makes him the perfect hero. It is not his status, his looks, or his money that makes him so endearing. He would gladly give it all away if it meant he could be with Christine. He is, if anything, the opposite of the foppish nobleman that he is often accused of being. Raoul is more understanding towards Christine and her plight than any man in his right mind should be. Yes, some of his actions are rash, but his actions are founded on his love for Christine and his concern for her wellbeing.

Raoul’s character is often bashed by many critics and fans of PoTO. ALW’s portrayal of Raoul makes him more arrogant and demanding of Christine, which is the exact opposite of his original characterization in Leroux’s novel. In the novel, unlike the musical, not once does Raoul forbid Christine to see Erik. He merely expresses concern over her visiting him, and his concern is heightened after she reveals the events of the unmasking. He is also the one who tells Christine that he thinks “someone is making a game of her” by pretending to be the Angel of Music. His concern for her is evident and he goes to great lengths to try and convince Christine that her “angel” is dangerous and that she should leave – for her sake rather than his.

When it comes to Christine, Raoul is helpless. He is willing to give up everything to ensure Christine’s happiness and safety, just as any young man in love would do. While his character may seem slightly childish and worrisome at times, it must be remembered that Raoul is a shy, innocent boy who wants nothing more than to whisk Christine off to safety. His compassion towards Christine is his greatest attribute and it is his compassion and devotion to her that makes him so worthy of loving her and of receiving the happy ending.

---

IV. One Love, One Lifetime



In any fandom out there, it’d be difficult to find two characters who have the same sweet understanding that Raoul and Christine have. Their love is innocent and pure, much like the characters themselves. In a story of passion and fire, their story is the one solid point that never wavers. They have both proven their love for each other by willingly risking their life in order to save the other’s, no matter how much that love is tested. If that’s not true love, I don’t know what is.

When they were younger, they shared a common affection for each other that had gradually begun to grow into something more. However, their respective duties to their families kept them apart, prohibiting their love from forming further. Years later when they meet again in Paris, Raoul’s love for Christine is as strong as ever and it is confirmed by his reaction after he hears her sing. “Raoul suffered, for she was very beautiful and he was shy and dared not confess his love, even to himself. And then came the lightening-flash of the gala performance: the heavens torn asunder and an angel’s voice heard upon earth for the delight of mankind and the utter capture of his heart” (71-2).

Christine, at this point in time, had already met Erik, and her emotions for Raoul are described as being “affectionately distressed”. She does not know of Erik’s true nature yet – that he is a man and not an angel – and she is torn between her loyalty to her “angel” and her growing emotions for Raoul.

Soon after Raoul’s appearance in Paris, Christine appears in Faust, playing the part of Siebel. The performance is the fated scene of Carlotta’s croaking, as well as the chandelier crash. It is in all the commotion over Carlotta and the chandelier that Christine disappears to her dressing room, only to be whisked away by Erik. Notice, however, that the chandelier incident happens before Christine’s disappearance and not after, despite what ALW had them do in the musical.

In both the musical and the novel, Raoul is frantic with worry over Christine’s wellbeing. He confronts the managers, demanding answers to Christine’s whereabouts. The managers have no information to give him, so he finds Mamma Valerius, who tells Raoul that Christine is with her “good genius”. It is here that he learns more information about Erik – and of the hold that he has over Christine. Hearing this, Raoul comes to the conclusion that it is not an angel Christine is seeing, but a man to whom she has given her heart away to. Desolate, he returns home, only to find a letter from Christine telling him to go to the Opera House’s masked ball, dressed in a white domino.

The masquerade ball is yet another point in the story where ALW goes wrong. Christine and Raoul are not engaged at this point, as Raoul doesn’t even know the true story of Erik yet. The masquerade is where Christine confirms her love to an unbelieving Raoul, all the while trying to get Raoul out of view of Erik, who has appeared in his Red Death costume. In the novel, this scene makes one sympathize with Raoul, for Christine’s actions have left him confused. He is at a loss, thinking that Christine is playing him for a fool as she declares her love to him at the same time that she withholds information about Erik.

After this scene, Christine plays two roles. She has promised her love to both men and when in the presence of one she has to appear indifferent about the other. She is playing a dangerous game as she strings along the emotions of both men. She delves even deeper into her game when she declares that she and Raoul can have a secret engagement, known only to them. She knows that declaring their love publicly would bring Erik’s wrath upon both of them – especially Raoul.

After her declaration she and Raoul ascend to the roof of the Opera House and under the statue of Apollo she tells Raoul of her experience with Erik. Christine recounts, in detail, her journey to Erik’s house on the lake and her horror upon seeing Erik’s true form, finding that he was indeed a man and not an angel.

Raoul comforts her, as she worries frantically over what Erik would do if he found out about her relationship with Raoul. The two eventually make plans to run away together, leaving the memory of Paris behind, enabling them to start anew and live in peace. They kiss and confess their love, unaware that Erik has been watching them the whole time.

This scene shows the pure love and understanding between Raoul and Christine. He is there to comfort her and to draw her out of darkness and back into the light. In the musical, Raoul and Christine share one of the most beautiful love duets ever written, All I Ask of You in which he sings:


“No more talk of darkness,
Forget these wide-eyed fears.
I'm here, nothing can harm you -
My words will warm and calm you.
Let me be your freedom,
let daylight dry -your tears.
I'm here, with you, beside you,
To guard you and to guide you”

Christine replies, a couple of verses later:

“All I want is freedom,
A world with no more night;
And you always beside me
To hold me and to hide me”

Their love is declared on top of the Opera House and both know that the other will be there, no matter what may be thrown at them in the next couple of hours. They are both at the height of their love and the strong emotions of comfort and passion between them are what allow them to ready themselves for what’s to come. Raoul’s love provides Christine with the comfort she had been seeking since her father died. With him she is able to put her demons to rest and find peace and complete happiness. All they want is to be there for each other, saying: ”Anywhere you go let me go too/Love me - that's all I ask of you.” All they want is their happy ending.

However, they aren’t to receive their happy ending yet. Christine appears again in Faust, but this time as Marguerite. In the musical, this part is represented by the performance of Don Juan Triumphant in which Erik kills Piangi and appears onstage to sing The Point of No Return (which, ironically, is my favorite song in the musical despite my love for R/C), only to have Christine expose his face, causing him to disappear with her through a trap door in the stage. In the novel, the lights merely blackout for a second and when they reappear, Christine has disappeared, most likely pulled through a trap door by Erik.

She is, without a doubt, taken to Erik’s lair and Raoul panics in his search to try and find her. The Persian takes him down to Erik’s lair and they unfortunately end up in the torture chamber. Raoul, fearing for Christine’s safety, is almost mad in his desire to save Christine, saying at one point: “If you can do nothing for Christine, at least let me die for her” (261).

In both versions of the story, Raoul happens to end up at the mercy of Erik. In the musical, it is the Punjab lasso which restrains him and he cries out to Christine: ”Christine, forgive me, please forgive me /I did it all for you, and all for nothing…” In the novel, Raoul ends up in the torture-chamber and has to speak through the walls to Christine, urging her to find some way to escape.

Christine, knowing that both her and Raoul’s lives are at stake, is at her wits end after being kidnapped by Erik. “I tried to commit suicide,” she tells Raoul through the walls of the torture-chamber, her agony evident. “I had tried to kill myself by striking my forehead against the walls” (290). It is the thought of Raoul’s death at Erik’s hands that makes Christine steady herself in a desperate attempt to save him. Tormented, they are both willing to risk their own life in order to secure the other’s safety.

The pain between the two is evident, as Raoul worries about Erik’s treatment of Christine and as she worries about his impending death. Everything Christine has known and believed in has been shattered and she holds the fate of her lover in her hands. It is a moment that makes one hold their breath, waiting for Christine’s decision. In a moment of understanding towards Erik and of pure, sacrificial love for Raoul that Christine makes the choice to marry Erik in order to try and save Raoul’s life.

In the end, however, Erik lets them both go. It is Christine’s willingness to give herself up to save Raoul’s life that saves them both. The love between Christine and Raoul is sincere and though it may lack the passion and intensity of Christine’s relationship with Erik, the bond she has with Raoul is one that is unbreakable. While she may have felt sympathy, and some form of friendship towards Erik, it is Raoul who has both her heart and soul. Raoul gives her the understanding, comfort, and devotion that she needs and Christine gives Raoul the same devotion and happiness, proving that the love they have is real.

---

V. Why Ship Raoul/Christine?



Also known as, how can you claim to be a true “phan” if you even claim to like Raoul?

Personally, I ship Raoul/Christine because at the close of a story I am a sucker for the happy ending. Phantom of the Opera is a magnificently tragic show and it just wouldn’t have the same emotional effect if Christine had stayed with Erik. It’s meant to be a tragic story and Christine was meant to leave with Raoul.

Also, in the terms of societal standards of the day, Christine benefits more from living with Raoul than she would from living with Erik. An underground house on a lake is not the best place for a young girl to live, let alone raise a family. She is much better suited to live with a Vicomte who can provide for her and give her a better social standing.

But, the point of this ‘ship is not to compare who can provide what for Christine – it is about who she loves. She loves Raoul, plain and simple. It says so in Leroux’s novel, and as that was the original work, I will stick by that. No matter how much I love the musical or any other version, none of them capture the exact emotions and personalities of the characters – nor do they capture the exact extent of the relationships between characters, which obviously is a crucial part of the story.

I ship Raoul/Christine because they form a sweet, loving pair and because it is evident in the novel and the musical that they really do love each other. Their love goes through so much and in the end, their love is the same, if not stronger. Their relationship gets so much hatred from fans and I am still baffled as to why. I’ve noticed that in many fandoms, a lot of the ‘ships that end up "happily ever after" in canon are the ships that are usually despised. The closest example I can think of is the Marius/Cosette relationship in Hugo’s Les Miserables. Cosette gets the same treatment as Raoul does and all because she merely loved Marius. It must be something in the tragedy genre, huh? Hell, pair up Eponine and Erik and let them have a major angst fest – just leave the happy couples alone. Please.

But, truthfully, I love the “true love” ideal and that is probably the main reason I ship Raoul and Christine. Yes, I love all the characters and I would like to see Erik have a happy ending, but I don’t think Christine is his happy ending. Raoul loved Christine with all of his heart and proved it countless times. Christine chose Raoul in the end, because she was happy with him – not because he forced her away or stole her love from Erik. They are together because they are meant to be.

Even if you don’t like the pairing and hate Raoul with a passion (as so many unfortunately do), what reason do you have to bash his character? Why fault him for ending up with Christine? It was her choice and really, all he did was love her.

---

VI. Recs

There is a distinct lack of fanfiction for Raoul/Christine in the fandom, but I am trying to make do with what I’ve found. Please, if anyone has any stories I forgot, let me know and I’ll add them to the list.

Fics:
Do You Ever Think of Him, Christine? by sparklyscorpion. A fluffy one-shot conversation about Erik between Christine and Raoul.
Heart and Soul by orianna. Raoul reflects on what Christine gave him in life, as well as what she didn’t. Slight Erik/Christine, but it’s justified. This is a beautifully written fic and I highly suggest it.
Lost Things Found by lourdesmont. History revisits itself in the form of Raoul and Christine’s youngest child and only daughter. A delightful chaptered fic that has much Raoul/Christine love and original characters who are interesting and far from Mary Sue’s. Erik is present in the story and his role in the story is wonderful - this story is, by far, one of the best in the fandom.
Fairy Tales by Manon. Raoul and Christine differ on parenting. I’ve always enjoyed Manon’s writing (she’s excellent with characterizations) and this story, as short as it is, has always been one of my favorites.
Snow by Mage O’Dell. Fluff set way in the future and in the snow. A charming piece that will warm your insides.
Always, I Promise by Crystallized Rose. A short, sweet fic in which Christine has a nightmare and Raoul comforts her.
Fragments by Azelma. One-shot. In the aftermath of the incident at the opera house, Raoul and Christine try and move on with their lives. This is actually one of my stories (under my pen name and in my writing journal) and I figure there’s no harm in a little self promotion, right?

Fic Sites:
Meg’s (a.k.a. Shandethe Sanders) stories. Meg is the most amazing R/C fan I’ve talked to. She is so ardent in her love for the ‘ship and her stories are all brilliant. She’s also the founder of R.A.O.U.L – I highly suggest reading her stuff.
Project Vicomte - a collection of R/C fics for Project Vicomte. Project Victome’s aim is to portray Raoul as a good person and not a fop. Many great fics are archived here.
The Rescued Red Scarf - contains fic that is both Erik friendly and Raoul friendly. Not much is there yet, but what is there has a bit of everything.

Fanlistings:
All I Ask of You - the official R/C fanlisting
Freedom - fanlisting for Christine and Raoul’s duet, All I Ask of You

Websites:
PoTO Novel - the full text of Gaston Leroux’s novel.
Raoul Defense - various fans comments defending the R/C pairing.
The Society of R.A.O.U.L - The title stands for Rabid Admirers Of Underrated Lovers and it a site comprised to show love for Raoul's character.
Society of R.A.O.U.L yahoo group - same as the site, only it’s a yahoo group to talk about love of Raoul. The girl’s there are wonderful and definitely people you want to get to know!
Raoul’s Realm - a site dedicated to all things Raoul.
Erik V. Raoul A page from the Lair of the Opera Ghost on how Raoul was actually better for Christine.
_vicomte_love_ - LJ community for lovers of Raoul.

And just for laughs…. http://www.deviantart.com/view/15633607/



Overall, remember that you do not need to hate Raoul in order to love Erik. Hell, I love Erik to pieces, but I stand strong in my support of Raoul and Christine. Stand strong, fellow shippers. There shall be a day when we are recognized and not ridiculed!

To end this I am quoting The Persian by saying: “[Erik] filled Christine’s mind, through the terror with which he inspired her, but the dear child’s heart belonged wholly to the Vicomte Raoul de Chagny” (279).

Comments

[kenobi.livejournal.com]

I love Raoul and Christine in the book. In the musical? I want to beat him to death with a spoon. He just seems so patronizing.

Other than that, excellent essay. Reminds me why I like the book version of them. (And "All I ask of you" is one of my favorite songs ever)

(and nobody likes Cosette and Marius because Marius is a whiny stalker =P j/k)

[audaciously.livejournal.com]

Ha. Marius is such a dolt, but I love him anyway.

And yes, musical!Raoul is so much worse than book!Raoul. Stupid ALW. hmph.

[sir-hellsing.livejournal.com]

Wonderful essay!

While the majority of fandom adores the book, I think that it does not do justice to Leroux’s portrayal of Christine and Raoul, and I would rather stick to canon facts at the moment.

*winces* I hate that book, purple-prose fest.

[audaciously.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

The book is ok at some points, but I just can't love it like everyone else does. Gah.

[powercorrupts.livejournal.com]

I adore Erik with a passion bordering on rabid. But the nature of the two pairings is that they are foils to each other. ErikxChristine wouldn't seem so obsessive, nor RaoulxChristine so sweet without the other. I might ship ExC, but RxC is just so much more canon. Though, my respect for the pairing might come from years and years in other fandoms like Yami no Matsuei or Final Fantasy where the cuter, more canon pairings are backed by the rabid fans, and us fans of darker pairings are the vast minority. (Poto was such a culture shock in that way! xD I've always shipped the darker, more obsessive, love/hate pairings.)

RaoulxChristine is cute. It is cute like little lop-eared bunnies are cute. I do think of Raoul as being something of an annoying prettyboy, but he's innocent and well-meaning for the most part. One thing often neglected to be mentioned (by both sides), however, is Raoul's obsession with Erik in the end. I personally refer to it as the scene where you can see testosterone corroding his braincells, aka the cat-shooting scene of the book, or Notes II/We Have All Been Blind in the musical. He does have balls, one must admit. Though I still persist in considering him to be a fop. Not in a bad way, just... a foppish way. ^^;;

Christine's leading them on... I think it's because she's so confused. I think she doesn't understand her own feelings. A lot of girls nowadays do the same.

[powercorrupts.livejournal.com]

And I'm stupid - I meant to mention - I adore this essay. Very well said. RxC isn't my OTP, but you did a good job with this. And nice use of pictures, so many different versions represented. Guh. =x

[audaciously.livejournal.com]

Heh, thank you!

I do agree that R/C is cute and obviously not the most fiery and passionate relationship, but I think it works (for them at least) that they're cute.

And the cat-scene is one of my favorites, just because it amuses me to no end. Ha.

[weyrdchic.livejournal.com]

Excellent piece. Just my two cents on why there are Raoul haters, though, and I hope I don't sound like a jerk when I do this: Raoul isn't patronizing, manipulative, foppish, a bastard, or otherwise. I have nothing against his character in the least, and I think people do only because he breaks up Erik/Christine and that's their immature way to react to that. But he's BORING.

He's a sweet, innocent, understanding guy. He's a knight in shining armor. He's eternally supportive of his lady love. He has no flaws or complications. He's obviously the perfect choice for Christine in every respect. It's spelled out for you to the point that you don't want to care just out of sheer protest.

I'd never write fanfic for them because there's not really much you can do to expand on them, especially if you don't write straight fluff. I'd never think about them because everything gets signed, sealed, and delivered. It's a lot more fun to sit down and work out ways that Christine's sympathy for Erik could have blossomed into a lasting friendship, at the very least, or all the ways that Erik's life could have gone once the lovers left.

To reduce it to a sentence, I guess, Raoul doesn't seem REAL.

[cherusha.livejournal.com]

Hi, hope you don't mind me intruding. I definitely agree with you in that it's difficult to expand the RxC relationship into fanfic, and I can see how people would find Raoul "boring" especially standing next to Erik. Indeed, I too found him so at first.

But I would argue that it's not Raoul, but ERIK, who doesn't seem real. Raoul may be sweet and valiant and with a bit of a hero-complex, but Erik in comparison is this force-of-nature; this horridly disfigured, angelic-voiced, tortured, outcast, musical genius. So me, Raoul=the real. Erik=the fantasy.

I hope that made sense :)

[weyrdchic.livejournal.com]

I don't mind imput or rebuttal at all. :) But I don't think we mean the same thing by 'real' in this case. A lot of Phantom is very purple, very over-the-top, talking about geniuses and angels and hidden underground labyrinths. To talk about realism in that context doesn't really work. But I'll basically explain it this way...

I've known a lot of very creative people who are outcasts. I've seen very brilliant or charismatic figures also be a little bit (or more than a little bit) nutty. I know that jealousy can do some very creepy things to people and the role of an outcast can make ANY problem said outcast is having really intense. Erik, to me, says something about those kinds of people. The way he chooses to respond to life, as well as other characters' reactions to him, tells me something about human nature.

Christine has her flaws, but a combination of love and compassion leads her to mature and make sacrifices. She tells me something about the depths of sacrifice you make for love, and also about fear and compassion.

I have never known a perfect hero, or even a perfect person. Christine has the lessons about the height and depth of love covered. So Raoul tells me absolutely nothing about humanity, almost seems outside the humanity of the other two players, so he doesn't seem 'real'. He seems like a prop.

[cherusha.livejournal.com]

Ah, I see.

Re: prop. I blame this mainly on ALW's portrayal. In Leroux's version, Erik is very much the other guy in Christine and Raoul's story. But then ALW's goals were very much different than what Leroux had intended (I actually think I read somewhere that he disliked the Raoul character immensely).

Christine has her flaws, but a combination of love and compassion leads her to mature and make sacrifices. She tells me something about the depths of sacrifice you make for love, and also about fear and compassion.

I would definitely think that this applies to Raoul also. However misguided he seems to be, his actions always sprang from love of Christine. You see this especially in the dungeon scene where he's basically willing to sacrifice himself for Christine's freedom.

Actually, I have the biggest problem connecting emotionally to Christine because of the book. In the book she's very sweet and "innocent" but she does quite a good job manipulating Raoul (and to a lesser extent, even Erik) into doing what she wants.

One thing that has always interested me about these three characters is that they're all orphans at some point during their childhoods, and yet grew up so differently.

[cherusha.livejournal.com]

Great essay! Raoul has become my new favorite character. It just up and blindsided me, and I don't quite know how to deal with it (except for writing fic, of course ^_^). I'm quite fond of RxC too and don't understand why more people aren't into it. Excluding the phantom story, this pairing has all the markings of the quintessential Cinderella Story: classic romance.

And if Raoul's a fop then so is Erik. All that cape-swooshing and aesthetic white masks? Boy likes to make elaborate fashion statements :P

Thanks for the deviantART link. Hilarious! And that was so me at age 14, the first time I saw it on broadway. *facepalm*

Vive le Vicomte! Poor guy gets bashed way too often :(

[audaciously.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the deviantART link. Hilarious! And that was so me at age 14, the first time I saw it on broadway. *facepalm*

Ha. I think at one point or another every fan is like that, sadly enough. At least some of us grow out of it, heh.

And yes, poor Raoul gets bashed all too often. There definitely needs to be more R/C fic out there!

[poisonavery.livejournal.com]

Thank you. Thank you oh so very much. Raoul...he's just the world's best boyfriend (TM), and deserves all the love he can get. Seriously, thank you again.

[audaciously.livejournal.com]

Heh, no problem. Someone had to stand up for the poor boy! Glad you liked it! :)

[french-hoorn.livejournal.com]

Awesome. I love Raoul and I love your essay.

[audaciously.livejournal.com]

Thank you! ^_^

[broken--bird.livejournal.com]

aw, there we go. there we go.

thank you so much. [smiles] this is perfect. [waves the raoul/christine banner]

[audaciously.livejournal.com]

Perfect? Awww. ^_^

:waves R/C flag with you:

[althene.livejournal.com]

Not a particularly big R/C shipper, but I must say it was a very well-written essay. :)

[audaciously.livejournal.com]

Hee, thank you!

[caitiedidit.livejournal.com]

Not in the fandom nor do I find the source material particularly compelling. However, this was a good manifesto and well-argued. =)

It surprises me to hear Raoul is so maligned in the fandom. I can't believe there are so many people who would rather have seen Christine stay with Erik, who was verifiably psychotic and creepy as all get out. o.O Fandom brings The Weird.

[audaciously.livejournal.com]

Fandom brings The Weird.

That it does. As much as I love fandom, it scares me. o_0

[ex-sweeneyto598.livejournal.com]

*raises hand* I'll admit I'm a former Raoul basher. However, I thankfully reformed from my old ways after seeing this really bad fic on FFN.

Honestly these days E/C just isn't as good as it used to be. There's just to much stupidity in the fandom to ever find any good fics about them, and with R/C you can barely find anything at all. Sometimes I wish that movie hadn't come out, because it brought a load of fanbrats into the fandom. I'll admit though I was introduced into the fandom by the movie, but I now have found other versions that are so much better.

Also I'd like to point out that other E/C fans more often than not think that Susan Kay's book is canon. Erik and Christine never had a child together in Leroux canon (Sometimes I wonder if they ever read the book or not). Though Susan Kay did write a very well written book I think it's better that other's seperate it from canon.

I really do wish there were more R/C fic, because more often than not you guys seem to be more behaved then my side of the fandom. *shrugs* E/C is still my OTP, but I tend to enjoy it more myself than with other fans. Thanks for the good read. Nice essay.

~Kelli

[audaciously.livejournal.com]

I was one of those few who were hesitant for the movie to come out. As much as I like seeing a movie version of it, it brought so many stupid fangirls into the fandom. Of course, with them they brought tons and tons of unneeded wank. Though, the only fangirls that really annoy me are the ones in love with the movie because Gerry is hot. God, read the book, see the musical...the movie isn't the only thing!

Though Susan Kay did write a very well written book I think it's better that other's seperate it from canon.

Definitely. It's a good book, but for all intents and purposes, it's merely published fan fiction. :sigh: Oh fandom, the problems you cause.

[pathstotread.livejournal.com]

I've never read the book or seen the musical; I freely admit that my only exposure to POTO is the movie and the original Broadway cast recording. That said, I've never quite understood the E/C insanity or the Raoul-bashing in this fandom. After I saw the movie I went looking for R/C fic and was shocked at how little there was. All that to say, great essay, and I completely agree with your points. I'll have to put the book on my million pages long reading list.

[sinister-beauty.livejournal.com]

-cheers- HOORAY!

I am one of those few and far between shippers that actually love both pairings equally. Though after the recent film, definately leaning toards R/C, mainly because Patrick Wilson brought such new life into Raoul, who is normally played so very wooden. He just finally made me go, "Wow. I get it now. I really get it, why she chooses him."

Excellent essay. Very well done indeed.

[audaciously.livejournal.com]

I have a couple fandoms where I like two different pairings for a specific character (Buffy, for example). And even so, it's ridiuclous to hate one character just because you don't like that specific pairing. Really, now.

Patrick really did a magnificent job as Raoul. The one appraisal I'll give the movie is that they gave some more life to Raoul.

And thanks! ^_^

[inky-rose.livejournal.com]

Lol, I saw the movie before anything else (*slaps wrist*) and fell completely in love with Raoul.

[brit78.livejournal.com]

very nice work. I am proud of you

[audaciously.livejournal.com]

Heh, thanks!

[harryosbornluvr.livejournal.com]

I've read the book and seen the musical... ok, Raoul is DEFINITELY the better choice!!! If I could, I would send this essay to every computer in the world so everyone could read this... it's perfect! Every single word you said, I completely agree with! Now, Raoul/Christine is definitely my fav. pairing, and Raoul's my fav. character, but I love the Phantom too, I just don't think him and Christine should've ended up together, that's all. Yes, there was a lot of passion between them, but that's about it. With Raoul/Christine, it's true love. Your essay should be written into a book with only facts in it, because what you wrote shouldn't be opinion, it's facts! lol Raoul was the best choice, and thanks for writing this essay! I'll probably re-read it everyday. ;D Raoul/Christine forever! (But the Phantom's still cool! Ya see? I'm like you, that likes both Raoul and the Phantom, but we both think Raoul and Christine make a way better couple).

[audaciously.livejournal.com]

Your essay should be written into a book with only facts in it,

Well, thanks! Heh.


I love Erik to death, but like I've stated, I love him because he's an eccentric genius. Raoul is better for Christine on so many different levels. And he's a total doll - I just want to squeeze him! ^_^

[thereflections.livejournal.com]

Beautiful essay.

-waves Erik/Meg flag-

It's all good.

[phoenix212.livejournal.com]

WOW... this is a brilliant essay. I agree with aboslutely everything you've said, as I am a die-hard R/C shipper as well. Seriously, they are THE couple of the musical. :D Raoul is so much better for Christine than Erik; he suits her. I don't know, they just... fit. Like the pieces of a puzzle.

I must say that the stage musical is SO much better than the movie (the movie was terrible, IMO), but the book will always be my most favorite. :) Leroux did a great job of making it clear that Christine and Raoul LOVE each other, that they belong together, and that a possible romantic relationship between Erik and Christine would be totally unhealthy. *shudders*

ANYWAYS...

I really do wish there were more R/C fics and sites and artwork... but the fandom is complete infested with E/C fics, sits, etc. Not to mention hyper, giddy, rude E/C "phan" girls.

Again, great essay. It was a good, refreshing read. :)

R/C ROCKS!! :D

[audaciously.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I'm glad you liked it!

The book is definitely my favorite and probably always will be. ALW destroyed the relationship between Christine and Raoul. I've moved on a bit from the fandom, sadly, since I became way too annoyed with the E/C fangirls (especially after the movie). But, I agree that there need to be more R/C fics. :)

[shychloe.livejournal.com]

Thank you very much for this enjoyable read.

It was a great essay, I loved the songs, maybe the movie made Raoul seem different then he was in the novel. I always thought Raoul was sweet and cared for christine deeply, but I love how the songs portrayed Raoul's character wonderfully. I loved how Raoul and Christine got together in the end, it was a really great plot device. I love R/C because it's so innocent.

I saw POTO live on theatre, I really enjoyed it. I haven't read "Phantom" by Susan Kay but I did rent the novel by Leroux once, and I was absolutely in love with Raoul's character.

I'd love to write an R/C fic. ^-^

[audaciously.livejournal.com]

Thank you for reading!

I'm glad you thought it was a great essay. I love most of the characters in POTO and I hate (in any fandom) when character bashing happens. Raoul didn't do anything wrong! :(

I loved POTO on stage - it's so much better on stage than on film.

[angelicmousegrl.livejournal.com]

Yay! Thank you for showing me I am not alone in liking this ship! ^_^ I keep it kind of hidden because people are critical. Raoul is awesome, I love him and this pairing. You write an awesome fantastic essay here and I thank you for that. ^___^

[inky-rose.livejournal.com]

I love Raoul/Christine, and I can't see why everybody hates him! Erik needed a stronger person than Christine. To him, she was practically prey.

I'm not really a fan of Erik at all, but I don't bash him.

[jill-rg.livejournal.com]

You are not alone. I think Raoul has a very unjust reputation in the fandom, and I personally love his relationship with Christine in the novel. I love Erik as a character and pity him as much the book's narrator, but I know Christine could not and should not be with him. I got the opposite impression of Leroux's characterization of Christine (or should I say Lowell Bair's?) that you did, so I've always wished Raoul-haters would grow up like Christine and learn (like she does) that love founded on terror and manipulation and control is not as strong as love founded on friendship. I don't think Raoul's a knight-in-shining-armor in the novel (he wants to be, but he doesn't get the chance), but I like him anyway for his sincerity, sensitivity, courage, character development, and for helping to wake Christine up to the truth of her Angel of Music. After everything she goes through, Christine deserves a life of love and freedom with ehr childhood sweetheart. Erik deserves love, too, but even he realizes that he can't blackmail, trick, or force Christine into giving it to him - love doesn't work that way. We're supposed to pity Erik, not hate Christine and/or Raoul.

Besides, I've always shipped Erik with his accomplice Madame Giry ;)

[ember-reads.livejournal.com]

I have always loved Raoul, he is so ernest in his love for Christine. Erik is fascinating, but a little too crazy for me. This is very well written, thanks!

[igenlode.livejournal.com]

It has always puzzled me why teenage fans hate Leroux-Raoul so much, given his very adolescent emotions and reactions -- one would have thought they'd been through similar experiences of a wild crush, violent swings of jealousy, and complete inability to stay away from the beloved object :-)

It's worth noting that when Raoul proposes to take Christine away from the Opera, he is not asking her to elope with him: he explicitly promises to take her to some place of safety and return alone, since at this point she will not consent to marry him. All the elaborate arrangements that he makes are for her benefit, not his -- he has nothing to gain by rescuing her.
(It is only after they have been through the nightmare of Erik's lair together that she agrees to marry her lover after all, since none of the previous arguments still apply: he is no longer in danger from Erik's vengeance, and he has already lost fortune and family for her sake...)

In fact there is a fascinating 'deleted scene' in the original serialisation, in which Christine tells Raoul quite openly that she loves him and that it is for his sake that she cannot accept his hand in marriage: it's fascinating because it turns out to confirm all of the above without a shadow of doubt, but that this was always Leroux's intention is apparent from the surviving text of the novel.