'You Are Not Alone': The Spiritual Message of 'The Phantom of the Opera'

• In Event: Top Papers - Spiritual Communication Division

Abstract

Gaston Leroux’s gothic novel, Lloyd Andrew Webber’s musical, various books and movies inspired by Leroux’s tour de force, and as of latest, Webber and Schumacher’s movie about the musical genius whose repulsive physical deformity forces him to live in solitude, have drawn readers and viewers alike. Whether it was Leroux’s captivating story, Webber’s mesmerizing music, Hart and Stilgoe’s touching lyrics, superb singing and acting, or Shumacher’s stage wizardry, various versions of The Phantom have exerted a special appeal on many a reader and viewer. In this paper, I argue that a very special message of The Phantom, hidden amidst love, romance, and a touch of gothic horror, is the message of spiritual beauty and of its transforming power. Using as a theoretical foundation Buber’s I-Thou primary relationship, I focus on the redeeming aspect of The Phantom of the Opera. In an age characterized by materialistic and narcissistic values, a spiritual message hidden in a work with a broad popular appeal gains special significance.

Author

• Slavica Kodish, Arkansas Tech University