The Phantom of the Opera
by Gaston Leroux
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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 must have gone mad. However, Raoul and the Persian later discover that this mysterious creature Papin saw is not the Phantom but the rat-catcher, a man in charge of keeping rats away from the Opera building.

Papin Quotes in The Phantom of the Opera

The The Phantom of the Opera quotes below are all either spoken by Papin or refer to Papin. 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:
The Natural vs. the Supernatural Theme Icon
).

Chapter 1 Quotes

“He is extraordinarily thin and his black coat hangs loosely off his skeletal frame. His eyes are so deep-set that you cannot make out his pupils: all you can see are two big black holes, as in a skull. His skin is stretched over his bone structure like a drumhead, and is not white but an ugly yellow. His nose is almost non-existent when seen sideways; and this absence is a horrible thing to behold. As for his hair, it consists of no more than three or four long dark strands on his forehead and behind his ears.”

Related Characters: Joseph Buquet (speaker), Erik / The Phantom of the Opera / The Ghost / The Voice, Papin
Related Symbols: Masks
Related Literary Devices:
Page Number and Citation: 13
Explanation and Analysis:
Joseph Buquet is one of the early witnesses to describe the Phantom of the Opera’s appearance. Although his testimony differs from that of Papin, the fireman, it is later proven to be a correct depiction of Erik’s body. Buquet’s description is particularly terrifying not only because it portrays a body at the limit between life and death, incomparable with any other human face, but also because Buquet has not fallen prey to the general paranoia at the Opera. Rather, the narrator describes Buquet as a serious, practical man, unlikely to let his imagination roam. Therefore, his testimony is particularly credible Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde enim nesciunt. Commodi necessitatibus voluptas. Accusamus eaque omnis. Velit eaque error. Possimus corrupti soluta. Qui aut a. Rerum voluptas debitis. Voluptatem accusantium est. Mollitia
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Papin Character Timeline in The Phantom of the Opera

The timeline below shows where the character Papin appears in The Phantom of the Opera. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Chapter 1
The Natural vs. the Supernatural Theme Icon
Another episode also created an uproar. One of the firemen on duty, Papin, almost fainted after his safety rounds below stage. He claimed to have seen a floating... (full context)
Chapter 21
The Natural vs. the Supernatural Theme Icon
Violence, Revenge, and Redemption Theme Icon
...the two of them then see a shining head of fire float toward them. Remembering Papin’s description, the Persian and Raoul attempt to flee. However, the fast-moving head keeps on moving... (full context)