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Characters
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 Raoul de Chagny (whom she has loved since they were children) and Mme Valerius, Christine develops her talents as a singer from an early age. However, her literary childhood leaves her with a distorted view of reality as a magical place. As a result, she proves overly naïve in trusting that her father’s promise to send her the Angel of Music after his death has proven true when the “Phantom” Erik comes to visit her. If her innocence can thus allow others to deceive her, it also constitutes one of her greatest strengths, as she is an honest, straightforward person. Indeed, despite her fiancé Raoul’s accusations of dishonesty, she proves unusually candid and kind in her statements, often taking great care not to hurt other people’s feelings. Her moral virtue gives her strength in difficult moments, as she proves courageous enough to sacrifice her own happiness in order to help others, for example delaying her escape with Raoul to protect Erik’s feelings and later agreeing to marry Erik, despite the repulsion he inspires in her, to save Raoul’s life. Her energy and compassion keep her from being seen as a victim, as she remains true to her moral commitments and emotions even in the most difficult, life-threatening situations.
Christine Daaé Quotes in The Phantom of the Opera
The The Phantom of the Opera quotes below are all either spoken by Christine Daaé or refer to Christine Daaé. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
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Chapter 6 Quotes
Some claimed that it was a mark of immeasurable pride; others spoke of her saint-like modesty. Yet, as a rule, artists are rarely so modest; in truth I am rather tempted to ascribe her actions to sheer dread. Yes, I believe that Christine Daaé was frightened by what had just happened to her, and was as taken aback by it as everybody else around her. […] To suggest that Christine was taken aback or even frightened by her triumph is in fact an understatement: having reread the letter, I would say that she was terrified. Yes, yes, terrified. “I am no longer myself when I sing,” she wrote.
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The Angel was never seen but could be heard by those who were meant to hear. This often happened when you least expected it, when you were sad and down-hearted. Then your ears would suddenly hear celestial harmonies, a divine voice, which you would remember for ever. Those who had been visited by the Angel were stirred. They experienced a thrill unknown to other mortals and henceforth could not touch an instrument or open their mouths to sing without producing sounds that put all other musicians to shame. The people who knew nothing about the angelic visitation called them geniuses.
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“As I would not let go of the cloak, the shadow turned round and beneath the hood I saw a terrifying skull, whose staring eyes burned with the fire of Hell. I thought I was face to face with Satan himself. It was like a vision from beyond the grave.”
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Chapter 9 Quotes
To think that he had believed in her innocence, in her purity! That he had tried for a moment to explain everything by her naivety, her simplicity of mind and her extreme candour. The Spirit of Music! He knew him now! He saw him! Surely he was some minor singer at the Opera, some good-looking Lothario, some coxcomb all smiles and sweet talk. He felt ridiculous and pitiable. Ah, what a wretched, insignificant and foolish young man you are, Viscount de Chagny! he raged to himself. As for Christine, what a brazen, devilishly cunning creature!
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His heart was cold, frozen solid: he had loved an angel and now he despised a woman.
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Chapter 10 Quotes
Christine simply took off her mask and said: “It is a tragedy, Raoul!”
He now saw her face and could not suppress a cry of surprise and shock. Gone was her fresh, glowing complexion. No longer a reflection of her tranquil disposition and untroubled conscience, her face—so charming and gentle in former days—was deadly pale. How anguished she looked now! Her features were cruelly furrowed by sorrow and her beautiful, limpid eyes—Little Lotte’s eyes—had become wells of deep, dark, unfathomable mystery and were bordered with terribly doleful shadows.
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It was a tranquil and pure fountain of harmony from which the faithful could safely and piously assuage their thirst, secure in the knowledge that they were partaking of musical grace. Having touched the Divine, their art was transfigured.
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Chapter 11 Quotes
“When a man,” resumed Raoul, who felt his strength draining away from him, “adopts such a romantic stratagem to seduce a girl...”
“Either he is a villain, or she is a fool?” she interrupted.
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Chapter 13 Quotes
“If Erik does not hear me sing tomorrow, he will be devastated.”
“It can only be thus if you want to escape him for ever.”
“You are right, Raoul. At all events, he will certainly die of grief if I run away.” … And then she added in a muted voice: “On the other hand, he could just as easily kill us.”
“Does he love you so much?”
“Yes, he would stop at nothing for me, not even murder.”
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“Oh, how I hate him!” cried Raoul. “And you, Christine, tell me: do you hate him too? I need to know so that I can listen to the rest of your extraordinary tale with some peace of mind.”
“No, I do not hate him,” said Christine simply.
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Hideousness, soaring on the wings of Love, had dared to face Beauty.
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“You are afraid of him, but do you love me? If Erik were handsome, would you love me, Christine?”
“Why do you raise questions that I have pushed to the back of my mind as if they were sinful?”
She rose too and wrapped her beautiful, trembling arms round the young man.
“Oh, my betrothed, if I did not love you, I would not offer you my lips! Kiss them, for the first and last time.”
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Chapter 14 Quotes
“Are people always unhappy when they’re in love?”
“Yes, Christine, they are unhappy when they love but are unsure of being loved in return.”
“Are you speaking for Erik, here?”
“For Erik and for myself,” said the young man shaking his head, thoughtful and forlorn.
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“Let me tell you why I would like to see you leave tonight.”
“Yes, tell me, Raoul.”
“Because tomorrow, all your resolve will be gone!”
“Then, Raoul, you must take me away. Are we not agreed on that?”
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Chapter 23 Quotes
“You’re afraid of me! And yet, deep down, I am not a bad man. Love me and you’ll see! To be good, all I ever needed was to be loved for myself. If you loved me, I would be as gentle as a lamb; and you could do with me as you pleased.”
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Chapter 24 Quotes
“I don’t express myself like other people. I don’t do anything like other people. But I am very tired of it! Tired of having a forest and a torture chamber in my home! Sick of living like a mountebank, in a house full of tricks! Yes, I am sick and tired of it all! I want a nice, quiet apartment like everyone else, with ordinary doors and windows, and a proper wife.”
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Christine Daaé Character Timeline in The Phantom of the Opera
The timeline below shows where the character Christine Daaé appears in The Phantom of the Opera. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Prologue
...putting together various forms of evidence, that the ghost’s existence could explain three mysterious events: Christine Daaé’s kidnapping, Viscount Raoul de Chagny’s disappearance, and the death of Raoul’s elder brother, Count...
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...Persian, who gave him ample proof of the Phantom’s existence, such as letters written by Christine Daaé. The narrator was later able to confirm that this was indeed Daaé’s writing, and,...
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Chapter 2
...night. The narrator notes that the Count is correct in lauding the night’s performance, because Christine Daaé, who was replacing her ill colleague Carlotta, performed exquisitely as Juliet in Romeo and...
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...evening, in Philippe’s box, Raoul panics when he notices that, after such an intense performance, Christine is about to faint. He urges his brother to go see her. Raoul’s agitation makes...
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When Christine finally wakes up, she is startled to see Raoul. After she asks him who he...
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Raoul decides to remain by Christine’s door, hoping that he might be able to talk to her alone. He wonders if...
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Full of hatred, Raoul waits to confront his rival. When Christine opens the door and leaves, Raoul quickly jumps into her dressing-room and calls out to...
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Chapter 4
...claims to have extensive musical experience, notes that Carlotta is a terrible singer and that Christine Daaé should be allowed to take on new roles.
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The Phantom asks for Christine to sing Siebel and also demands that his box be liberated, since it has been...
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Chapter 6
For various reasons, which the narrator promises to disclose later, Christine Daaé takes a break from the stage before performing beautifully again at a Duchess’s soirée....
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The Viscount de Raoul Chagny sends Christine many letters, and finally receives an answer from her, in which she explains that she...
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During his journey on the night train, Raoul recalls Christine’s life story. Christine’s father was a Swedish peasant farmer who was passionate about music. His...
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A young boy, Raoul found himself fascinated by Christine’s voice. Once, when a gust of wind scarf threw Christine’s scarf toward the sea, he...
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...depressed. From that moment on, such people became genius musicians, making every melody divine. Although Christine’s father told the children he had never heard the Angel of Music himself, he promised...
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Three years later, Raoul met Christine again at Perros. Christine’s father welcomed him graciously, saying that Christine talked about him all...
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When Raoul first heard Christine sing at the Opera, he was mesmerized by her beauty but slightly disappointed by her...
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...finally reaches Perros, he goes to the only inn in the village. There, he sees Christine and is overwhelmed by her beauty. The two of them look at each other for...
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Raoul is dismayed by Christine’s behavior, which he describes as both tender and full of pain. Christine admits that she...
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Raoul feels jealous and confused by Christine’s attitude. However, he still feels convinced of Christine’s purity and virtue, and doesn’t understand why...
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When Raoul laughs at such an idea, Christine becomes furious. She accuses him of forgetting who she is—a woman who would never be...
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Back at the inn, Raoul learns that Christine has locked herself in her room. Confused, he wonders what she might be thinking and...
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...investigated the mysterious events taking place at the Paris Opera. Raoul explains that he followed Christine through the snow into the churchyard, though she was so concentrated on her task that...
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...of skulls, where he believes to have heard a sound. At the same moment as Christine is leaving the cemetery, all the skulls start tumbling down, rolling toward Raoul and terrifying...
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Chapter 8
...reminding them of his conditions. He tells them that his box must be liberated; that Christine Daaé should sing Marguerite, since Carlotta will be ill; that Mme Giry must return; and...
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...this situation, Carlotta concludes that she must be the victim of a conspiracy. Resentful about Christine Daaé’s extraordinary performance when she herself was last ill, Carlotta concludes that Christine must be...
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...Opera that night, so that they might defend her against what she assumes to be Christine’s followers. In Box Five, Moncharmin and Richard wait to hear or see the ghost. After...
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During the next act, when Christine begins to sing, Carlotta’s friends assume that Christine’s friends will cheer her on, but nothing...
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When Christine begins to sing again, she sees Raoul in his brother’s box and loses some of...
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Chapter 9
After this horrific evening, Carlotta becomes sick, and Christine disappears. Worried and confused, Raoul searches for her everywhere. When he goes to see Moncharmin...
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...bedroom, where she is stuck in bed, she greets him warmly and tells him that Christine is with her guardian spirit, the Angel of Music. This news depresses Raoul, though Mme...
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Shocked by such naïveté, Raoul concludes that this must explains Christine’s agitated state, as Christine has lived for so long with a lady prone to fanciful...
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...his brother down, Count Philippe then tells Raoul that, the previous evening, by the race-course, Christine was seen in a brougham with a man, a dark shadow by her side. Eager...
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After this, Raoul feels lonely and miserable, concluding that he used to idealize Christine, but now feels contempt for her. He realizes that she has played with his feelings,...
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Chapter 10
After receiving Christine’s letter, Raoul realizes that she might in fact be as innocent as he imagined. He...
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That evening, Raoul wears a white hood and a mask. He waits for Christine as instructed, and a black hooded figure touches his hand, telling him to follow her....
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Raoul and Christine walk up a few floors and enter an empty box, where she tells Raoul to...
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Christine then invokes their love and tells him to stop. Shocked by her admission of love,...
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Christine then calmly tells Raoul that she will one day forgive him for these words. In...
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After running around to search for either Christine or the Red Death, Raoul finally sees Christine enter her dressing-room, and he quickly hides...
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...sings verses from Romeo and Juliet: “Fate has united my heart for aye unto thine!” Christine walks toward the mirror, entranced. Raoul tries to grab her but suddenly witnesses a magical...
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Chapter 11
...Raoul goes to ask Mme Valerius about what has happened. He is startled to see Christine by the old woman’s bedside. Refusing to answer both Raoul and confused Mme Valerius’s questions,...
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Raoul then describes what he saw the previous night, focusing in particular on Christine’s enchantment at hearing the singing in her dressing-room, and asks her to give him the...
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This confession distresses Raoul, who falls silent. He agrees never to go to Christine’s dressing-room uninvited again, in exchange for occasional visits from Christine.
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Chapter 12
The next day, Raoul meets with Christine at the Opera. He tells her that he is going to the North Pole on...
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In the next few days, Raoul and Christine feel free to express their love to each other in her dressing-room. However, when Raoul...
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During the next few days, Christine shows Raoul around the Opera. Sometimes, though, Christine grows anxious and breathlessly leads Raoul to...
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In that moment, Raoul boldly swears to protect her. Understanding the futility of such bravery, Christine nevertheless finds his reaction touching. As Raoul insists that he will find a way to...
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Chapter 13
After frantically running upstairs, Christine and Raoul finally reach the roof without noticing that a shadow is following them. On...
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Christine suddenly turns around, believing she might have heard a noise. She says that she and...
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Christine then recalls her experience with him. After hearing the beautiful Voice for three months, she...
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When Christine saw Raoul in the audience one evening, though, she told the Voice about her feelings...
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Christine then describes her triumphant gala performance, and explains that she pretended not to see Raoul...
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When Christine woke up, the man was taking tender care of her, which revolted her even more...
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The man, who spoke in the Voice that Christine knew so well, assured her that no harm would come to her as long as...
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Overwhelmed by this story, Raoul asks Christine if she hates Erik but is astounded when she says she does not. Raoul accuses...
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The next day, when Erik told Christine that he would purchase everything she might need to live down there with him, Christine...
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The two of them then sang Othello, and Christine was amazed by how well she was able to sing. Fascinated by Erik’s talent, she...
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Christine then resumes her story, saying that Erik has a “thing” instead of a face. She...
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Christine explains to Raoul that, despite being a monster, Erik nevertheless reasons logically. She realizes, too,...
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Entering Erik’s room, Christine then called him “the most unhappy and sublime of men” and said that the only...
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After this long narrative, Raoul cannot keep himself from questioning Christine’s true feelings. He argues that she returned to Erik right after their meeting at the...
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Chapter 14
Raoul and Christine run away from a pair of frightening eyes and suddenly come across a mysterious man,...
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Christine says that they could go to her dressing-room, where Erik has promised never to listen....
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When the servants leaves, Raoul yells that he plans to take Christine Daaé away with him. Later, during police investigations, the servants told M. Faure, the examining...
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...to the Opera, leaving his carriage by the entrance, ready for his escape. That night, Christine Daaé is welcomed coldly on stage, as the public considers that, as a mere singer,...
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Chapter 15
As the audience erupts into chaos, alternately accusing Raoul, Carlotta, or the ghost of abducting Christine, members of the staff attempt to communicate with the directors, who have given orders not...
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...telling the two men that he was finally able to tell Moncharmin and Richard about Christine’s disappearance. However, they failed to show any reaction, merely saying “Good for her,” putting a...
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Chapter 16
Convinced that Erik must have kidnapped Christine, Raoul calls her everywhere in the Opera, hoping she might hear him. He fears that...
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Chapter 17
The narrator interrupts the narrative to recount then night’s previous events. The day before Christine’s performance, the directors agree to pay the Phantom his due. Following the Phantom’s new instructions...
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The morning of Christine’s disappearance, Richard and Moncharmin receive a second letter from the Phantom congratulating them for the...
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Chapter 18
...from a staff member at the same time as Rémy attempts to tell them about Christine’s disappearance.
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Chapter 19
When Inspector Mifroid enters the directors’ office, he asks whether they have seen Christine Daaé. Utterly confused—since Moncharmin now knows that neither Richard nor he took the money—Moncharmin finds...
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In the meantime, Raoul intervenes, saying that Christine has been abducted by an angel, the Angel of Music. Richard adds that the Phantom...
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Chapter 20
...tells Raoul that he hopes Raoul has not revealed Erik’s secret, since that could put Christine’s life in danger. Raoul shows impatience, wanting to pursue Philippe, but the Persian asserts that...
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...Persian replies that he does not in fact hate Erik, having long forgiven him. In Christine’s dressing-room, the Persian presses his hand against Christine’s mirror, explaining that a counterweight allows for...
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Chapter 21
...hesitation on his part would make him a coward, since his goal is to save Christine.
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Despairing at being so far from Christine, Raoul asks the Persian to take him straight to the lake. However, the Persian says...
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...he is in Erik’s abode, Raoul has to force himself not to call out to Christine and reveal their presence.
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Chapter 22
...highly unlikely, given Erik’s appearance, the Persian fears disastrous consequences. Having noticed Erik’s interactions with Christine Daaé, he assumes that, however enraptured Christine might be with Erik’s singing, she will probably...
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A few days later, still spying on Erik, Daroga sees him take an unconscious Christine Daaé to his abode, using César the horse to transport her to the lake. Hours...
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Although Erik is later proven right, since Christine does return to him, Daroga cannot help but feel anguished about Erik’s threats against humanity....
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On the day on which the newspapers announce Christine’s engagement to Raoul, Daroga considers denouncing Erik to the authorities but concludes that this could...
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Chapter 23
...the Requiem Mass. After hearing the interlocutor’s moan, the men conclude that this must be Christine. Erik then explains that, now that he has finished Don Juan Triumphant, he wants a...
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...overwhelming lament of despair, the men realize that it comes from Erik’s own voice, while Christine is probably too shocked to say anything. Erik begins to yell that she doesn’t love...
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As soon as Erik leaves, Raoul calls out to Christine. He tells her that he is on the other side of the wall, and she...
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Desperate, Christine then tells Raoul to flee immediately, but Raoul says that he will not leave without...
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Chapter 24
The Persian continues his narrative, explaining that they then hear Christine running toward them as Erik interrogates her, furious. Erik says that he does not like...
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...and the Persian understands that the torture has now begun automatically. Erik continues to tease Christine aggressively, asking her about Raoul’s beautiful face. He makes her climb up a ladder and...
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Still trying to pretend that there is no one there, Christine asks Erik how the torture chamber works, saying that all she can see is a...
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Impervious to Christine’s pleas to put out the light in the torture chamber, Erik uncovers his mouth, showing...
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Noticing that it has become very hot, Christine panics and asks what is happening. Laughing, Erik tells her that the forest in the...
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Chapter 26
Back in the chamber, they suddenly hear footsteps and an alarmed Christine calls out to Raoul, saying that she only has five minutes left before eleven o’clock....
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Regaining strength, Raoul then tells Christine to turn the scorpion, but the Persian intervenes, saying that Erik could have lied to...
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As Erik threatens to turn the grasshopper if Christine does not make a decision, Christine suddenly cries out that she has chosen the scorpion....
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Chapter 27
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...
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...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...
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...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...
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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...
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Erik then gave Christine the ring she had lost, which he had searched for himself. He told her that...
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Epilogue
...his role in the tragic events of that time. Although people have often mused about Christine’s disappearance, the narrator notes that no one ever suspected that she had run away with...
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...never use his talents in ordinary society in any profitable way. When his marriage with Christine dissolved, however, he must have realized that he no longer needed so much money.
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...However, the narrator knew it was Erik because of the ring around his finger, which Christine must have put there, as she had promised. The narrator argues that, given Erik’s unique...
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