Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in The Phantom of the Opera, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
The Natural vs. the Supernatural
Love vs. Jealousy
Violence, Revenge, and Redemption
Beauty vs. Ugliness
Summary
Analysis
The Persian then notes that the hexagonal room in which they are trapped is a hall of mirrors that Erik invented during his time in Persia. A single object, such as a branch, is capable of creating infinite variations—in this case, an entire forest. This causes the Persian and Erik to gradually suffer from extreme heat, as though they were in the middle of an African forest.
The Persian’s explanations about the torture room do not necessarily explain all of Erik’s devices, such as the extreme heat and lighting. However, it highlights Erik’s engineering skills—which, instead of using for benign purposes, he uses to cause harm to others.
Themes
Used to Erik’s tricks, the Persian knows that he must retain his sanity, so as not to fall prey to the illusion. Noticing marks on the wall, he concludes that someone must have already undergone this ordeal, and assumes that it must have been Joseph Buquet. The Persian tries to reassure Raoul, so that he might stay calm and search for a solution, but Raoul is disturbed by everything they have witnessed and begins to behave crazily, yelling at Erik and pointing his pistol. In the meantime, the Persian tries to convince him that they are in a room and runs his fingers against the mirrors, searching for a weak spot that might be one of Erik’s typical traps. He knows that he must act rapidly because the heat could soon overwhelm their faculties and, perhaps, kill them.
Despite his lucidity about the dangers of Erik’s tricks, throughout the next few hours the Persian himself often slips from rationality to irrationality, forgetting that he is inside a room, feeling as though he is actually immersed in a dangerous forest. As is typical of his character, Raoul proves more vulnerable to psychological weakness. Although he has remained steadfast throughout his search for Christine, his rash, impetuous, angry behavior keeps him from maintaining the calm attitude necessary to escape the room unscathed.
Themes
Over time, Raoul and the Persian attempt to battle the heat, although they begin to suffer from thirst and, suddenly, hear a lion roar near their ear. After a while, they find themselves by a desert of sand and stone. Exhausted, the Persian lies down by Raoul, who seems to have lost all will to live. Realizing that Erik must be in the next room, imitating wild animals’ cries, the Persian tries to speak to him by yelling, but fails to arouse a response.
This episode highlights the mix of lucidity and confusion that the Persian has to suffer, as he tries to remain levelheaded while experiencing the psychological effects of Erik’s cunning construction. The Persian’s failure to instill compassion in Erik suggests that Erik is in a state in which he can no longer feel empathy for anyone.
Themes
Suddenly, the two men notice an oasis in the distance. Although the Persian knows that this is an illusion, he finds it irresistible. They then begin to hear rain but, their throats completely dry, despair at not being relieved from thirst. The Persian now understands why the iron tree can seem so alluring to a captive. Raoul himself seems inclined to use his weapon to put an end to his suffering. However, still looking around the room, the Persian finds a nail on the floor by the Punjab cord. Pushing on it, he is relieved to find that it is a trap door.
The worst torture in the torture is not violence or the threat of external violence, but the psychological suffering it causes, inspiring its victims to kill themselves instead of living in these conditions any longer. This highlights, once again, not only Erik’s violent nature, but his propensity for cruelty and psychological torture. This reveals that violence, to him, serves as a form of protection, but also an amusing way to assert his intelligence.
Themes
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The Persian then feels cold air from underneath and wonders if there might be water below. He and Raoul walk down a staircase leading to a cellar, where they find a series of barrels. The Persian struggles to open one but, when Raoul set his hand underneath to receive liquid, they are both shocked to discover that the barrels contain gunpowder.
Despite being momentarily free from Erik’s grasp, the two characters are forced to suffer even more, as their hope to quench their thirst is soon disappointed. The discovery of gunpowder suggests that Erik’s violent ambitions extend well beyond his torture room.
Themes
