A question that has been bugging me:
Why does everyone like Erik (Phantom) so much? Why does everyone think Christine should end up with him? Erik doesn't hold a candle to Raoul in any universe!
Why do I think this? Let me explain.
Using a system of pros and cons, my evaluation of their comparative characters stands thus.
Erik: Terribly attractive. (pro)
Raoul: Terribly attractive. (pro)
Erik: Awesome voice. (pro x2)
Raoul: Nice voice. (pro)
Erik: British accent! (pro)
Raoul: American accent. (con)
Erik: Ugly. (con)
Raoul: Handsome. (pro)
Erik: When he wanted Christine, he hypnotised her into following him. (con)
Raoul: When he wanted Christine, he asked her out to dinner. (pro)
Erik: And then yelled at her and cursed her and called her names. (con)
Raoul: And then worried about her frantically when he couldn't find her. (pro)
Erik: Obsessed over and stalked her since she was seven, and he was an adult. (con)
Raoul: Fell in love with her when they were both kids, and remained in love with her even though he didn't see her for nine years. (pro)
Erik: Wanted to possess her. (con)
Raoul: Wanted to marry her. (pro)
Erik: Made her the star... (pro)
Raoul: Wanted her to be the star... (pro)
Erik: ...by killing/threatening people... (con x2)
Raoul: ...and encouraged her...(pro)
Erik: ...because he was obsessed with her voice. (con)
Raoul: ...because he was in love with her. (pro)
Erik: Helped her, then demanded that she pay him back by giving him her soul, her freedom, and herself. (pro, con x2, con x2, con)
Raoul: All he asked of her was her love. (pro x2)
Erik: When she didn't give him what he demanded, threatened her, manipulated her, hurt her, and killed people. (con, con x2, con x2, con)
Raoul: When she couldn't help him, kept loving her, protected her, watched over her, and gave her what she wanted. (pro x2, pro x2, pro, pro)
Erik: Killed innocent people to be with Christine. (con)
Raoul: Almost killed someone who had threatened and kidnapped Christine and attacked him. But then he didn't because Christine asked him not to. (pro, pro, pro, pro, pro x2)
Erik: Set up a plan to seduce Christine so she couldn't escape (involved killing someone.) (con x2, con, con)
Raoul: Set up a plan to protect Christine by calling in the police. (pro x2, pro)
Erik: Didn't care if he hurt her as long as he got her. (con x2)
Raoul: Cared very much if she had to take the slightest risk for her own safety. (pro x2, con, pro)
Erik: Kidnapped her (again) (con)
Raoul: Went after her, risking his own life. (pro x2)
Erik: Threatened to kill Raoul if Christine didn't stay with him. (con x2)
Raoul: Was willing to die if it meant ensuring Christine's freedom. (pro x10)
Erik: Finally gave her up. (pro x4)
Raoul: Didn't kill him. (pro)
Erik: Left his rose and her ring at her grave. (pro, bonus pro point for making me cry)
Raoul: Spent money to leave something at her grave that she cared about. (pro x2)
Erik gets 5 cons for the life sized mannequin of her in a wedding dress. Ewww. However, he gets 1 pro for tragic past and 10 for sexiness.
Raoul gets 5 pros for general trueness and courage, and 1 con for not believing some of Christine's crazier claims.
TOTALS:
Erik: Pros: 23, Cons: 33
Raoul: Pros: 48, Cons: 3
Allowing one like point for every pro and negative one like point for every con, the totals stand thus:
Erik: -10, Raoul: 45.
Raoul beats Erik by FIFTY FIVE POINTS.
Raoul is the epitome, not only of lawful goodness, but of romance. Why do people like the Phantom more than Raoul??
Gender:
Points: 1049
Reviews: 46