Christine's Internal Conflict

The emotional struggle within Christine between love for Raoul and pity for Erik.

increasingBearing stren­gth in each eventdecreasing

The Divided Heart

The Divided Heart The Angel vs. The Man Christine believes the Voice is the Angel of Music, but she also feels a human connection. She is grateful for the gift of her voice, but she is also afraid. When she meets Raoul, her heart is torn. The Promise to the Voice She swears to the Voice that she does not love Raoul, but she is lying. She feels guilty for betraying the Voice's trust. Yet she cannot deny her feelings for Raoul. The Fear of the Truth Christine suspects that the Voice is not an angel. She is terrified of what she might discover. Her desire to know is at war with her fear of the consequences.

The Unmasking

The Unmasking The Horror Revealed Christine tears off Erik's mask and sees his face. She is horrified. She tries to kill herself. She is caught between revulsion and pity. The Pity Grows Erik's tears and his tragic story move Christine. She begins to see him as a suffering human being. She lies to him, pretending to accept his love, but she feels guilty for the deception. The Final Choice In the end, Christine chooses Raoul. But she cannot hate Erik. She kisses him out of pity, not love. This act of compassion is the most profound expression of her internal conflict. She saves Erik's soul but breaks his heart.

during her secret lessons

during her first captivity