Did Christine

On some level, yes.

What everyone else saw as the phantom, she saw as the angel of music. For her, the angel of music became a replacement father figure. He gave her so much, and supported and guided her, so she certainly had a degree of feelings for him.

He was also charismatic and alluring, powerful and intimidating, and he had such love for her, which would make it very easy for her to fall for him.


But she also loved Raoul.

Look, I'm sorry I called you an inanimate object earlier. I was angry.

I suppose it depends on the actress.
But based on the libretto I am utterly convinced she was falling in love with him (although of course she realized he was too dangerous for them to be together). This is why she was so horrified when he murdered Buquet - like, "how could I have been falling for this guy?"
Makes the story much more complex and compelling imho.

I believe she did.

Her love for Raoul was a child-like love: simple, undemanding, safe, innocent, wrapped up in the memories of her father. He can be her protector.

Her love for the Phantom, however, was a mature love: complicated, difficult, frightening, tied to her sexual awakening (see her face in 'The Point of No Return') and the belief that he was sent by her father. Add to that gratefulness for the wonders he did for her voice and perhaps even compassion. Christine was growing into her love for the Phantom, but still at times longed for the easy love she shared with Raoul.

The scene that, to me, proves she does love the Phantom is when the Phantom is making her choose to save Raoul. The first kiss would have been enough for the Phantom to let them go, but when she pulls away, there is a look of revelation on her face and she kisses him again. Then she seems to be singing 'All I Ask of You' to the Phantom before Raoul comes to take her away.

That is one of the reasons I felt Sierra Boggess was such a good Christine. In the beginning, you could really see the innocence on her face, then she really showed how Christine was maturing.

The novel Phantom by Susan Kay describes the relationships between the Phantom and Christine and Christine and Raoul this way, as well as giving the Phantom a back story, if you're interested.


They're talking about fictional characters. FICTIONALCHARACTERS!