The Phantom of the Opera Lesson Plan

In what ways does the tone of the story change because of Erik telling Christine that he is merely a man—not a genius, a ghost, or an angel?

The revelation that Erik is merely human changes the story's tone in several ways. First, it makes it slightly less grandiose—Erik is not a ghost with magical powers, but rather a mere mortal. At the same time, it makes the story more human and fascinating—how did a man come to live in the bowels of the Opera House? Why does he act the way he does? How did he get to where he is in life? These questions are about Erik's humanity are now at the forefront of the story.

Why does Erik tell Christine that she belongs to him now that she...