Leroux's story- the original

[creampuff]

So, I figure that this would be a good place to discuss Raoul and Christine's relationship in this book, as well as Christine and Erik's relationship, compare the two, blah blah blah blah.

Leroux's is, in fact, a fascinating book. It will be nice to discuss this without hoards of EC shippers.

Let us continue.

In order to grasp the depth of Raoul and Christine's relationship, we must also grasp the depth of Erik and Christine's relationship. But we must also grasp the depth of Christine and her father's relationship. That's a lot of grasping.

Let's have some fun, people! ;D

[The Black Domino]

Now 'tis my type of thread. Bring the love triangle thing on.

I'd have to say that for me the main base of both relationships, E/C and R/C, is definitely that both are *not* the ordinary romance. As in, I believe that the reason why Christine loved Raoul was a strange reason as well as the one why she loved Erik, even if both reasons are different, in their own ways. And definitely did Christine love both, the difference being that Raoul's love was more noticeable, and more acceptable for Christine's mind, and also as I pointed out that the reason why she loved Raoul was different from the reason why she loved Erik, and so on.

Also, as for to leave that other subject for further discussion and not blurt out full POVs so sharply, I'd say too that while Christine completely loved Raoul, what may have tormented her a lot while she was Erik's prisoner/bride/etc., I believe is just 'what might have been'. As in, once that she was in Raoul's arms, in other words w/ the person she believed she loved the most, she had *practically* all the happiness she wanted at that moment, and then having that happiness lost and thinking that it could have remained just destroyed her. I'm not saying at all that she didn't love Raoul, for yes she did, but what *may have* tormented her like hell during that part was just the possibilities of the happiness that she could have had. Perhaps if she would have not seen Raoul at that time during her 'Opera era', she might have still been miserable living w/ Erik, but she could have winged it a lot more than she could have having seeing Raoul once more in her life.

Those are just two of my main options on the whole triangle. I have more, but I'll start with this for the moment. I'm not the greatest philosopher to have ever lived (well, of course), so I could easily be sounding dumb at any point in what I just wrote. Normally I do.

Carry on.

[creampuff]

I was waiting for someone to jump in with the discussion. I felt so ignored.

I find the idea of the 'living wife' and 'dead wife' to be one of the most fascinating things about the book. I think that the ring she accepts implies some rather explicit promises. I think that she's mentally aware of them but not exactly emotionally.

I think that Raoul is hell-bent and determined to make Christine his, mostly because he loves her, but I don't think that its just that emotion. I think a part of it is pride and religious devotion. He has vowed to marry and have sex with the woman he loves and only her. When he loves Christine, he does everything possible to pursue her. If in some alternate universe Erik hadn't existed but she still became a popular diva, she would have been happy to see Raoul but a bit put off by his fierceness. She would have loved him, of course, I'm not trying to imply that she wouldn't have.

Sound good? <3

[eriksprotege]

I agree.

Although I personally think that Raoul's fierceness would be a huuuuuuuge turn-on.

And, if it were an alternate universe...wouldn't Christine not been able to sing? And wouldn't Raoul NOT be in love with Christine, and vice versa?

And wouldn't Raoul be Erik, and vice versa?

*is confusing herself*

Nevermind...