The Phantom of the Opera: Chapter 27 Summary & Analysis

After transcribing the Persian’s narrative, the narrator explains that Christine’s elevated sense of self-sacrifice saved both Raoul and the Persian’s lives. The narrator explains that he was able to meet with the Persian, who was gravely ill. The Persian became agitated while recounting his memories, overwhelmed by the trauma of what he experienced.

Daroga recalls waking up next to Raoul on a sofa in a small, well-decorated room. Erik whispered in Daroga’s ear when he awoke, telling him that this furniture was all he had left from his mother. Meanwhile, Christine remained silent, behaving obediently. Erik told Daroga that both Raoul and he were safe, and that he would soon take them outside to please his wife. Erik then gave Daroga a potion that made him fall asleep again.

When the Persian woke up once more, he found himself in his own apartment. He learned that Count Philippe was dead, having been found by the lake under the Opera. Daroga concluded that Count Philippe must have remembered Raoul’s stories about Erik and searched for him, dying in the lake in an attempt to save his brother.

Appalled by this series of events, the Persian contacted the authorities. However, the examining magistrate, M. Faure, believed Daroga to be mad. Daroga thus resolved to write down his memories, hoping that the press might be interested in it. Later, though, Daroga suddenly received a visit from Erik.

Although Erik looked extremely weak, Daroga immediately attacked him, accusing him of murdering Count Philippe. Erik replied that that was why he came—he wanted to tell Daroga that Count Philippe’s death was an accident, as Philippe was dead before the siren began to sing. Daroga called him a liar and interrogated him about Raoul and Christine’s fate, but Erik avoided the question and claimed to be dying of love. While Daroga asked him various questions about Christine, Erik simply said the she was not dead. He explained that she saved Daroga’s life, because she promised, with full sincerity, to live a happy wedded life with Erik instead of killing herself. Then, she begged for him to release Raoul and the Persian.

Erik initially locked Raoul up but an extraordinary event happened: Christine let Erik kiss her on the forehead without recoiling in horror. Since no one had ever done that for Erik—not even his own mother, who found him too hideous to contemplate—he was deeply moved. As both of them began to cry together, Erik removed his mask, once again noticing that Christine did not flee or react negatively. Instead, she said: “Poor, poor unhappy Erik!” and took his hand.

Erik then gave Christine the ring she had lost, which he had searched for himself. He told her that this was a wedding present for her and Raoul. Knowing that Christine loved Raoul, not him, Erik decided to let the two of them go. However, he made Christine swear that, once she heard of Erik’s death, she would bury him with the gold ring. Erik then goes silent, and the Persian feels reassured by Christine and Raoul’s fate. Erik then tells the Persian that he will deliver his possessions to him, including Christine’s papers, and that Christine and Raoul planned to marry in the North, where they would stay. Three weeks later, according to Erik’s wishes, Daroga posts an announcement in a newspaper saying that Erik was dead.