The Phantom of the Opera Character Analysis

Christine Daaé

The protagonist of the novel, Swedish soprano Christine Daaé is a talented, compassionate woman capable of sacrificing herself for others. While growing up in Brittany in the company of her father, her friend Viscount… read analysis of Christine Daaé

Erik / The Phantom of the Opera / The Ghost / The Voice

Known as “P. of the Opera,” “the ghost,” “the Voice” and “the Master of the Traps,” Erik is the antagonist of the novel and a tragic, violent, and ultimately mysterious figure. Although the narrator asserts… read analysis of Erik / The Phantom of the Opera / The Ghost / The Voice

Viscount Raoul de Chagny

Christine’s love interest and Erik’s rival. A member of one of the noblest families in France, Raoul is a surprisingly innocent and passionate young man, willing to prioritize his emotions over his social… read analysis of Viscount Raoul de Chagny

Daroga of Mazenderan / The Persian

The Persian is a mysterious character who appears various times in the novel before being given a clear identity. At the beginning of the novel, it seems as though the Persian might be one of… read analysis of Daroga of Mazenderan / The Persian

Count Philippe de Chagny

Count Philippe proves a deeply responsible, conscientious adult through the commitment he demonstrates to raise his younger brother, Raoul, and introducing him to the world of high society. A well-educated, noble man, Philippe, who… read analysis of Count Philippe de Chagny

Christine’s Father

Often referred to in the novel simply as “Daaé,” Christine’s father, an extraordinarily talented musician, plays in fairs and ceremonies throughout his home country of Sweden, where he is admired as the best “fiddler”… read analysis of Christine’s Father

Mme Valerius

Professor Valerius’s wife, benefactress of the Daaé family, plays an important part in Christine’s upbringing. A kind, caring woman and a lover of music, she treats Christine like her own daughter and encourages… read analysis of Mme Valerius

Firmin Richard

One of the new directors of the Paris Opera House, after Debienne and Poligny, Richard differentiates himself from his partner, Moncharmin, through his extensive knowledge of music as well as through his irritable… read analysis of Firmin Richard

Armand Moncharmin

Moncharmin is one of the new directors of the Paris Opera House, after Debienne and Poligny. Unlike his colleague Richard, Moncharmin is a charismatic, patient man who knows nothing about music. He writes… read analysis of Armand Moncharmin

Mme Giry

Little Meg’s mother is an honest, yet credulous box attendant at the Opera House. Although she is the only person to have direct interactions with the Phantom of the Opera, her frank, unselfconscious… read analysis of Mme Giry

Carlotta

The leading soprano at the Paris Opera House has a beautiful, yet emotionless voice, which both the narrator and the Phantom criticize harshly for its lack of feeling. It is Carlotta’s absence one evening, because… read analysis of Carlotta

M. Poligny

One of the former directors of the Paris Opera House with his partner, Debienne, M. Poligny is a superstitious, libertine man who is forced to accept the Phantom’s existence and abide by his… read analysis of M. Poligny

M. Debienne

Although little is said about former Opera director M. Debienne, he shows the same fear and respect as his partner, Poligny, for the Phantom of the Opera. He encourages the new directors, Richard… read analysis of M. Debienne

Inspector Mifroid

Inspector Mifroid is the first person to arrive on the scene after Christine’s disappearance. Mistrustful of staff members’ descriptions of the Phantom, Mifroid becomes convinced that Viscount Raoul and directors Richard and Moncharmin… read analysis of Inspector Mifroid

M. Faure

Like Inspector Mifroid, the incompetent, unimaginative examining magistrate for the de Chagny case is unable to reach satisfying conclusions about the mysterious events that took place at the Opera. Faure’s inability to believe that… read analysis of M. Faure

Mercier

The administrator Mercier is often shocked by the events taking place at the Opera, as he is one of the first people to discover Joseph Buquet hanging beneath the stage and to hear that Mauclair… read analysis of Mercier

M. Rémy

Firmin Richard’s secretary. Rémy generally demonstrates skepticism toward the possibility of the Phantom’s existence, laughing along with directors Richard and Moncharmin at Mme Giry’s description of her interactions with the Phantom. However… read analysis of M. Rémy

Gabriel

Unlike his colleagues Mercier and Rémy, the chorus-master is superstitious and open to the possibility of supernatural events such as the Phantom’s existence. Believing that the Persian has the “Evil Eye,” Gabriel hurts… read analysis of Gabriel

Joseph Buquet

The chief machinist Joseph Buquet is the Phantom’s first fatal victim. Although not much is known about Buquet’s life, it is likely that, after describing the Phantom’s appearance in detail, he discovered Erik’s secret… read analysis of Joseph Buquet

Baroness de Castelot-Barbezav / Little Meg Giry

Mme Giry’s daughter eventually becomes the prima ballerina in the Opera’s corps de ballet. She tells other ballerinas a secret: that her mother, the box attendant, interacts with the Opera ghost on a… read analysis of Baroness de Castelot-Barbezav / Little Meg Giry

Professor Valerius

Professor Valerius discovers Christine’s father’s exceptional musical talent and takes him with his to the Swedish city of Gothenburgh, then to Paris. This kind, thoughtful man, who cares about Christine and her father’s happiness… read analysis of Professor Valerius

Papin

Papin, a fireman who makes rounds around the theater to prevent any catastrophe, is once terrified by a floating head of fire that he believes to be the Phantom. Some people believe that Papin… read analysis of Papin

Lachenal

The Paris Opera House’s chief groom tells directors Richard and Moncharmin that César, one of the Opera’s twelve horses, has been stolen. He accuses members of his staff of incompetence, but, when he mentions that… read analysis of Lachenal

Mauclair

The Opera’s chief gas-man, in charge of the building’s electricity, is found unconscious, due to the effect of a narcotic, on two occasions: on the night of Carlotta’s croaking and on the night of… read analysis of Mauclair

Minor Characters

Sorelli

A beautiful, yet unintelligent ballerina, Sorelli is Count Philippe’s lover. Though she tries to appear severe and rational, she is intensely superstitious, and is terrified by the young ballerinas’ claims that they have seen the Phantom.

Cécile “Little” Jammes

One of the young ballerinas mentioned at the beginning of the novel, Little Jammes claims to have seen the Phantom, a skeletal figure, and is utterly terrified.