Gothic Character Writing: A look at the Phantom of the Opera
Overview:
- Remember that the Gothic Genre focuses around the darkness in peoples hearts. That mankind is filled with flawed characters out to hurt each other.
- This means it needs to be represented in the characters in the text.
- Each character, even the puritan character, will have some flaw that highlights or signals their downfall
- It’s easy to write a Superman. A character who is perfect at everything they do, who is kind and caring to all with no downsides.
- The problem is this character BORING.
- The reader cannot empathise with (feel with) this character because the reader is not perfect.
- The best characters have real world flaws that the reader might share, sympathise with (suffer with) or empathise with.
- Characters are more strongly defined by their weaknesses then their strengths.
- The Phantom of the Opera is a good example of this. The story focuses around three characters trapped in a love triangle (2 corrupt and 1 puritan).
- Each character has flaws which shapes the story and explores the darkness in mankind.
The Phantom:
Strengths: Cunning, Talented,
gentle at times.
Weakness: Obsessed, fits of rage,
disfigured, blames the world for his life.
