The Phoenix of the Opera
by Sadie Montgomery
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Book Summary Information
Author: Sadie MontgomeryEdition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2007-03-06
ISBN: 0595429661
Number of pages: 224
Publisher: iUniverse, Inc.
Book Reviews of The Phoenix of the Opera
Book Review: "Phoenix of the Opera" unmasks many human truths
Summary: 5 Stars
Every once in a while a book comes along that reminds me why we as human beings crave stories. I love "beach reads" as much as the next person, but I also long for something that's more than entertainment. When I picked up "The Phoenix of the Opera," I was expecting a pleasant diversion; I was not expecting a lyrical and striking tale that, for me at least, resonates with the depth of a spiritual bildungsroman.
The Phantom, who is transformed by the novel's climactic and daring ending into the rising phoenix, is at once unique in his grotesque disfigurement and also a kind of Everyman. Well, at least, an extreme Everyman. The polarities that exist in all of us are heightened in his character. The most obvious duality, of course, is physical. The Phantom is horribly maimed on one side of his face, but otherwise, he is a compellingly attractive man in the full bloom of youth. There other schisms permeating his life which, while not physical, are also inescapable. He is a musical virtuoso with a nuanced sensitivity who is capable of murder. He is obsessed with the unattainable and lovely Christine Daae, with whom he shared an orphaned childhood; he is pursued with the same single-minded, foolhardy intensity by the daughter of his protector, Meg Giry.
Even his name is fraught with complexity. He refers to himself using the dashing, larger-than-life sobriquet, "Opera Ghost." But the name that survives from his childhood is the quotidian, "Erik."
Central to the tension in "Phantom," balancing on the fulcrum of Erik's character, are the forces set into motion by the Phantom's need for justice and his desire for love. Within the context of a crude and intolerant society, he longs to be fully seen and accepted. But he also cannot allow himself this kind of vulnerability, given the cruelty he has suffered, abandoned early by his parents to play the role of circus freak, beaten by his keeper, and, after his rescue, doomed and exiled from humanity because of his frightening appearance.
A subordinate but important dichotomy, the juxtaposition of being seen and not-seen, comes across in the motif of the Phantom's mask, which he wears to hide his deformity. During those times when Erik's mask is off, we not only see his raw nakedness but we also "see" into other character's hearts, which are revealed by their reaction. At the end of the book, the Phantom's crimes catch up to him and the gendarmes strip him of this nicety. Once again, he is displayed in a cage for public titillation. Finally, for Erik, redemption comes not from the 19th century French courts but through the brave actions of the other characters who are able to see and accept him.
But -- and here's why I loved this book -- Erik is never reduced to becoming merely a one dimensional super hero or a pitiable Frankenstein. His first person narrative is woven into the story in italicized stream of consciousness passages and at times, we get glimpses into his pain through shifts in first person character perspectives given in prose. We also trust in his deeper humanity because we know that the good-hearted women, Christine and Meg, are roused to loving him, each in her own way. The two pivotal points in the Phantom's relationships that I found most touching were his connection with the Mother Superior of St. Isodore's church, who provides shelter and spiritual counsel to him, and the reconciliation with Roaul, Christine's husband and Erik's avowed rival, which occurs at the end of the book.
The novel is tied to Gothic and Romantic literature through the use of quotes from Edgar Allen Poe, Lord Byron, and William Blake, which open some of the chapters. I liked the depth and scope these allusions give to the book, reminding us that the interplay of exile and redemption is deeply embedded in each one of us and rendered through poetry and stories like this one that touch our souls and make us human.
Summary of The Phoenix of the Opera
The Phantom of the Opera had released the love of his life, Christine Daaé, from his possession and retreated to his subterranean lair?to die. Young Meg Giry remained fascinated with her friend?s captor, whom she would not permit to destroy himself. Through Meg?s care the Phantom returns to life and makes his courageous savior his protégeé. But can the Phantom, hunted by Parisian authorities and Christine?s husband, the dashing Count de Chagny, escape his criminal past? Can he forget his first beloved or will he continue to haunt Christine, as she does him? Will Meg, who hungers for his love, be able to heal his heart and make him her own? The Phoenix of the Opera explores the limits of redemption and the power of love, taking us into the tortured souls of its protagonists. It is a grand tale of despair, obsession, rekindled passion, and the power of love.
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