The Phantom of the Opera: Why I'm Not a Phantom Fan

You got to hand it to Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber. The man knows how to take a great story and turn it into a spectacle. This is especially true with his famous production The Phantom of the Opera which premiered in 1986 at the West End and starred his then wife, Sarah Brightman in the role of Christine Daae. Phantom has now gone on to be the longest running Broadway show in history. 

The Phantom of the Opera has every element for a successful production. Amazing songs, beautiful costumes, elaborate sets and a solid storyline. So, what's my complaint on the show? It's tricky because while the show itself is incredible, but I cannot stand the Phantom or the whole love triangle in general. Yes, it's the whole storyline; yes, the love triangle is the cornerstone of the story and the base plotline. However, from a moral perspective, Erik the Phantom is maniacal, toxic and narcissistic. A murderer who uses his intelligence and genius to control and manipulate everyone around him.

Unfortunately, that's another base of the story. The poor misunderstood phantom who the world hates and despises because of his disfigurement. Sad to say, if Erik is misunderstood than he has no one to blame but himself. For years he dwelt underneath the opera stage writing his plays and probably taking pleasure in being the notorious 'opera ghost.' That was his choice to do so; nobody forced him into hiding. At any point in time, he could have come out of the shadows and join the rest of society and I'm sure people would eventually overlook his disfigurement. But no. Erik contented himself with being the victim and the villain. 

So now we get to Christine Daae and the love triangle. Christine is the ultimate heroine of the story. Beautiful, talented, kind and innocent. All of these elements Erik sees and twists them all together to manipulate a lonely young girl. He teaches her to sing while creating a fantasy that she will be by his side in near future. And as Christine is an orphan and tends to be emotionally cut off from other people, she's the perfect choice. Erik will stop at nothing to make sure his 'angel' is seen and heard; even it means almost killing Carlotta.

When Christine is reunited with her childhood friend, Raoul, then Erik sees a real threat to his plan. Raoul's presence in Christine's life sets the Phantom off and innocent people are made to pay the price. While Raoul may not be the brightest button from time to time, he seems to possess a good heart and a desire to take care of Christine. Raoul is nobility and to take a serious interest in a young woman from the theater may not seemed an appropriate decision. He's willing to overlook that. 

For some reason there's a debate of which man Christine should end up with when the only reasonable solution is Raoul. Erik and his mental instability could not possibly share a life with Christine. She would not be able to measure up to the fantasy that he created. The Phantom is not a character to be pitied. While he faced horrible abuse and rejection as a child, he overcame all that was put on him and rose to become a genius. But as Raoul said in the 2004 film, "Genius has clearly become madness."

If genius is madness and if madness leads to murder, why do we pity the madman? 

Why do we want the heroine to choose him? 

Why do his sad beginnings justify the person he becomes?

The Phantom's seclusion from the world is his own undoing. He sees a vulnerable young woman, that he can manipulate and possess her and not give her any say in the matter. What is so romantic about that? I wrote a post about this very issue almost ten years ago and my conclusion to the love triangle is that Christine was probably better off without either man. There's is nothing about Erik could possibly suggest security and love. And while Raoul tended to treat Christine like a child, he did have a heart that was still in the right place. 

Erik the phantom is not romantic. There's nothing good and genuine about a man who kills and manipulates to get what he wants. There is nothing decent or loving about making a woman a pawn in your game of revenge. There's nothing noble or honorable about choosing to hide in the shadows and blaming the world for your loneliness and seclusion. The only good thing Erik ever did was let Christine go and live her own life.

We Love Musicals Kick-Off Tag + Giveaway

Hamlette's We Love Musicals Week is here!

Thorin: Courage, Loyalty, a Willing Heart

 

The enemies cannot destroy the king who has at his service the respect and friendship of the wise men who can find fault, disagree, and correct him.
- Thiruvalluvar

 

Thorin Oakenshield is many things in the lore of Middle Earth. The uncrowned king of Erabor, the fearless leader of the Company of Dwaves, the strict (but loving) uncle to Fili and Kili, a hope for his lost people, a frequent pain to his growing list of enemies and an undying legend to generations of dwarves that followed after him. And like most Middle-Earth royalty, Thorin comes with his own complicated family history.  

His grandfather's greed and love of gold led to the destruction of Erabor as well as igniting animosity with the elves of Mirkwood. After losing both his father and grandfather in one battle, Thorin is seen as the new King of Erabor. However, there is no Erabor and no crown. Just Thorin and his wandering people whose numbers are getting fewer and fewer as the years pass. 60 years after the destruction from Smaug the dragon, Thorin finally gets an opportunity to return to Erabor to reclaim him home and his crown.

With the help of Gandalf the Grey, 12 loyal companions (including his nephews, Fili and Kili) and one annoying Hobbit, Thorin and his Company trek through Middle Earth to reclaim Erabor and bring their people home. They just have to get rid of giant sleeping dragon in the gold chamber. And....well anyone who is reading this knows the rest of story. And if you don't then go find out.

  

As far as bookverse Thorin is compared to movieverse Thorin, they are different in several ways. Book Thorin looks like an elderly dwarf. He has a warm demeanor and a wicked sense of humor. Movie Thorin is young and handsome, has a prickly personality and has no humor about him at all. And yet both versions work so well. Thorin in and of himself is a 4 foot something of stubbornness, loyalty, arrogance and courage. He is quick and to the point and wastes no time in voicing his opinion. He despises laziness and ill treatment of others and sees betrayal in any form as an unforgivable sin. Thorin bows to no one no matter how powerful they may be.

Having lost his home, most of his family, guide a wandering people as well as act as a father figure to his nephews it's no wonder he commands such a formidable presence. And he knows it all to well. The only person outside of his people he learns to have a modicum of respect for is Gandalf. In truth he loves his nephews very much but must be stern (to the point of harshness at times) to mold them into the next leaders for their people. The kindness and hospitality of Lord Elrond may have had him thankful if only for a short period of time . Yet, it is the companionship of Bilbo Baggins that brings about the biggest change in Thorin.

To witness such courage in the face of adversity in one so small and insignificant humbles Thorin;  his once cold heart that despised the outside world begins to warm. To publicly admit that he was wrong and allow himself to be vulnerable and open may have seemed so foreign and out of place.

 

 

 

Yet old habits die hard. Elves and men continue to enrage Thorin to such a point that he is willing to abandon his wounded nephew to gain power and glory. And once power is gained, it consumes Thorin to the point of madness. Were it not for the council of his closest friends, Thorin himself would have been lost forever, his people slaughtered and the dwarves of Erabor lost in history. 

And that is the true goodness in Thorin. While he may be hesitant to ask for advice, he is willing to stop and listen. He respects the council of Balin and Dwalin. He heeds the sad truth from his nephew whose discovers compassion for others outside his own race. In spite of Bilbo's betrayal (and Bilbo did betray him), Thorin finally understands that there is a whole world beyond the Dwarves and aren't their lives just as valuable? Even more than all the gold in the mountain? A gold crown and gilded chair bring great beauty but they are worthless in an empty throne room.

There is no ill intent to Thorin's desire to seize back Erabor. He wants to go back home. It's possible that he may have delayed marriage and children until that long awaited moment. Yet Thorin sacrificed that moment and those possible dreams to fight for-not only his people-but for all the peoples of Middle Earth. Courage, loyalty, a willing heart; one can ask for no more than that in a leader, a king and a legend.

 

 

 

Tolkien Party 2024 - Kick-off Tag + Giveaway prizes

The Tolkien Blog Party 2024 has arrived!

We Love Siblings Stories Week - Kick Off Tag + Giveaway

Rachel's annual February blog party has arrived with the theme of siblings relating to fiction! 

We Love Sibling Stories Week

Rachel's annual February blog party at Hamlette's Soliloquy is going to feature siblings!

I'm going to post about Bernardo and Maria Vasquez from  

West Side Story.

 

 

A Fool For Good - A Study on Peregrin "Pippin" Took

If we are completely honest The Lord of The Rings is about the Hobbits. The story starts and ends with them and most of the story is from their POVs. Even though they are regarded as simple creatures, there is a great deal of depth and understanding that the four (five counting Bilbo) possess. There's Bilbo's character arc from a country bumpkin to a famed adventurer, Frodo's sacrifice, Sam's bravery and Merry's cleverness. 

And then there's Pippin, the youngest of the group (still a child by Hobbit standards), the clumsy, awkward one, who lives in everyone's shadow, who's always saying the wrong thing, doing the wrong thing, never really knowing his place; and certainly getting into enough trouble to earn him him his nickname, "Fool of a Took," by Gandalf. What does this confused and often misunderstood character bring to the story?

A Tolkien Blog Party 2023 - Kick off Tag and Giveaway

 

A Tolkien Blog Party has officially arrived!!!

A Tolkien Blog Party Announcement!

  

Rachel from The Edge of The Precipice has announced her annual 

Tolkien Blog Party!  

This blog party is so much fun and she has the best giveaways! Hop on over to her site for more information!

A Tale of Two Gilberts

These pictures are an apt representations of how these two actors portrayed the same character

Despite my play on Dickens famous quote from A Tale of Two Cities, this is not on opinion piece on which portrayal of Gilbert is better, because they were both excellent! I have oftentimes referred to Gilbert Blythe as the quintessential fictional boyfriend. What girl didn't read the books and find themselves falling in love with the handsome country boy with a heart of gold? And while Gilbert Blythe has been immortalized on screen for almost 100 years, two exceptional portrayals have brought the character absolute justice.

We Love L. M. Montgomery Week!

 

Rachel's We 💓 L. M. Montgomery Week has arrived! 

The Classics Children's Literature Party - April 2023

Blog party season is upon us. 

Carissa at Musings of an Introvert is hosting The Classics Children's Literature Party in April which gives anyone ample opportunity to find a topic to write about. For some reason my heart is saying Peter Rabbit as my topic...

We Love L. M. Mongomery Week!

 

 

Every year, Rachel from Hamlette's Soliloquy hosts a February blog party that ranges from pirates, to detectives, to romantic couples, etc. This year it's L. M. Montgomery and the cerebration of her writing. Click on the link above to learn more about the party! 

I know it's going to be a great deal of fun!

No Ship to Bear Me Hence - Tolkien's Widowed Fathers

 One connection I noticed in The Lord of The Rings and The Hobbit trilogies were the widowed fathers Lord Elrond, King Thranduil and Bard. Not only did they have to raise their children alone, but they were also leaders with people who looked up to them. The loss of their wives may not be spoken at time, but it is certainly felt with their interactions with others. Whether it's their own children or understanding strangers.

Tolkien Blog Party 2022: Giveaway + Tag

The party has arrived!

Announcing The Tolkien Blog Party (10 years)

It's that time of year again (and the highlight of my blogging year)....

Lovely Blog Party: Would You Rather...

Would you rather wear a ball gown for a formal first date, or would you prefer an active first date?

- Ballgown for a formal first date!

Would you rather have to matchmake for someone, or have someone matchmake for you?

- Hmmm...I'm not particularly fond of matchmaking in any sense, but maybe try and matchmake someone.

Would you rather be serenaded or be the one that has to do the serenading?

- Neither! Both are absolute cringe!

Would you rather receive flowers and chocolates or chocolates and a teddy bear as tokens of affection?

- Flowers and chocolates always.

Would you rather wear a veil or a flower crown on your wedding day?

- Flower crown

Would you rather receive a romantic poem or have to write and gift a romantic poem?

- That's about as bad as the serenading (have you picked up that I'm not particularly romantic?!). I guess receive one.

Would you rather cook a meal for your date, or have your date cook for you?

- I can't cook so here's to hoping that my date can at least boil water!

Would you rather watch a chick-flick or an action film as your date-night movie?

- Unless it's Ever After, then action movie all the way.

Would you rather dance in the rain, or stargaze together?

- Dancing in the rain! 

Lovely Blog Party 2022

Cordy's annual Lovely Blog Party is back!

I'm not sure what I'm going to be writing about, but I have an entire month to think on it 💕

 

Father & Son - Thranduil & Legolas

Fathers and Sons. The ever enduring tale of traditional versus contemporary. Of remembering to hold on, but also learning to let go. No two characters get that right in the Middle-Earth saga like King Thranduil of Mirkwood and his youngest son, Prince Legolas. In some ways they're very similar, but in most ways they're polar opposites. Thranduil is seen as a cold hearted and broken king who cares nothing for the world. Unlike his son who boldly faces any danger and enemy to protect the world. Both have loss a great deal and both deal with their losses very differently. They love deeply and passionately. They show great pride in their noble legacy and disdain for the evils that infiltrate Middle-Earth. Their differences bring out the best and the worst in each other. A father who loves his son, but he must let him go. A son honors his father by fighting for the redemption of his people and his family. 

A Tolkien Blog Party 2021 - Giveaway and Tag

Now, this has definitely been the year for blog parties on my site and all of them have been excellent! However, I'm not lying when I say that I've been waiting all year for this blog party! I've finally read all of The Lord of The Rings books and I plan on reading The Silmarillion, Unfinished Tales and The Children of Hurin next year.  As always Rachel has provided the party with some great giveaway prizes.