WAS THERE REALLY A RAOUL DE CHAGNY? DID HE REALLY LOVE CHRISTINE?

When Carries Hernandez had her Phantom site online, she had a de Chagny famly tree posted. Accordingly, Raoul was actually a baby at the time the story took place. Hubert, an older brother would have been the age of Leroux's Raoul. I understand this is on file at the Genealogy department of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Having established this, whether Raoul or Hubert, did he love Christine or was she just a prize to him?

It looked to me like he really loved her. Granted he seemed immature and impetuous, but he went through a lot to win her love and rescue her.

I don't see him as a fop or a mean person.

What do you think?

Leroux changed the names to protect people so the story, so Raoul could have very well been Hubert. To answer your question, I think Raoul/Hubert, (whoever Leroux was talking about!!!!) really did love Christine, but the fact someone else was chasing her made it sweeter for him to have her in his possession.

I agree. Regardless of all her rejections and stange actions, Raoul never took "no" for an answer. He evern risked his life for her and went against Philippe for her. What I wouldn't give to have the love of such a man.

What else did Raoul do to prove he loved Christine?

Well, he suffered through the torture-chamber for her (thought by that point he really didn't have a choice), he was rich, and frankly, could have any woman he wanted. Christine wasn't really anything special (other than her voice) and she was so scared of that whole "Erik business". Raoul could have easily thought she was too much trouble and gone off to find someone else is really beautiful, I don't understand why so many people hate Raoul when he was so obviously the best thing for Christine.

I agree. Raoul seemed like a loving and caring man. I think when people saw Patrick Wilson portray Raoul he gave that impression for some reason. Even he acted as if he loved Christine.

Even when he thought she was seeing another man, he still persued her. Had to be love.

Do you think Erik frightened him at all? Did it matter?

Raoul was probably scared of Erik in many different ways, it too bad we can't talk to the actual people of this time-period. When Raoul woke during the night and thought he saw Erik's yellow eyes staring at him through the window, he fired at him. Even if he was just doing this so Christine would be free from "the monster" the fact is, if Raoul didn't feel Erik was a threat to himself or Christine, he wouldn't have attempted to kill him.
Both Erik and Raoul were willing to die for Christine, it's so sad.

True...I can't help but think that Raoul really did see Erik when Philippe said it was a cat. He truly didn't have fear for his own safety, it was always for Christine. Can you fathom two men equally in love with the same woman enough to die for her? Poor Raoul!

I think it was Erik too, he may have actually been planning to kill Raoul that night!! I pity both of them, if it weren't for Erik loving Christine so much, he would have killed Raoul when he had the chance. It's strange how things turn out sometimes...

*nods*

Raoul seemed a bit immature at this time. He wanted to charge in for the rescue without any forethought. I don't think he even considered the real danger.

Exactly! If Raoul was never truly in love with Christine then he would have hesitated or forgotten about her and run off to marry another diva.