Identity Issues in The Phantom of the Opera Alliyah Neveaux College

In the novel The Phantom of the Opera, by Gaston Leroux, characters Christine and Raoul both suffer from identity issues due to their connection with their childhood. Both characters go through many complicated obstacles trying to figure out who they really are, along with what they really want. However, as a result of the dilemmas that Christine and Raoul both face, they are able to overcome these issues as a result of the troubles the both of them experience throughout the novel. In this paper, I will focus on the identity issues of both characters as well as the connection to their childhood. First, the text will explain how Christine and Raoul have these issues and what factors presented connect to their childhood. Next, the text will explain why there is a connection between the two characters. Finally, the text will compare how the characters overcome the issues and how they both have matured in the end of the novel in comparison to the beginning.

An important area to look at within the novel is how each of the characters are introduced, in order to create first impressions. When Leroux first introduces Christine in the novel, he writes, "No gala performance ever equalled this one. All the great composers of the day had...