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Description
Aww...
I would have drawn a Christine to complete the set, but I don't like her for one. For two, just looking at her hair and her big puffy dresses...It's not worth the trouble.
I actually printed Erik (Phantom) on one side and Raoul on the other and ta-da...new bookmark.

So, yeah I am like sooooo obsessed with The Phantom of the Opera right now. Such a good story. I love Erik and Raoul is just sho cute.

I don't rant often (I don't think) but here comes a rant about Raoul.
The Raoul Rant:

I just don't understand why so many people hate him. I can't go anywhere without seeing people take part in 'Raoul-bashing.' It doesn't make any sense. Usually when characters get bashed they're stupid or annoyingly evil.

Raoul has done nothing wrong!! He is an all around good, awesome character. Why don't people like him?

Is it because he ruined the ending for the book/movie? Okay, let's examine this closely. Raoul went to save Christine from the antagonist (correct me if I'm wrong, but in most plots this is a good thing) and got captured. Christine made the choice between which one she wanted!! If you want to blame someone for the Phantom not having a happy ending blame her. Better yet, isn't Erik to blame for his own unhappy ending? He let them go!!

There is nothing wrong with Raoul. He is an awesome, lovable character. And Patrick Wilson, who plays him in the 2004 movie, is nothing short of adorable!! And he has the most addictive sweet smile.

And the whole 'Fop' thing isn't funny anymore. You want to keep calling Raoul a Fop? Fine!! I can't stop you. But, let's look closely at the word.

fop - a man who is excessively vain and concerned about his dress, appearance, and manners.
(As provided by Dictionary.com.)

Now, if you want to call Raoul a Fop under this definition it wouldn't be too very far from the truth. (Giving the aristocrat that he is.) But, think about it...doesn't that mean that Erik is also a Fop? I mean look at him. Is he not obsessed with his appearance? Does he not always dress to his finest? Are his manners not extravagant? I rest my case.

Okay...now I stop.

EDIT: 07/19/2009 I'm sorry, but I'm disabling comments. I'm simply tired of people continuously trying to argue that Raoul is not a good person. Or that he is some prissy princess who "stole" Chrstine. Even though if you took one second to read what I typed above, pure logic would beat that claim down. Think, people. Saying anything akin to the opposite is the sinking ship of a defense. (fyi: I write off anyone who says as much an idiot on the spot. It lets me know you probably just watched The Phantom of the Opera through a couple of times and think you know it sooo well.) I no longer want to have the same discussions over and over and over. I keep giving the same facts again and again and winning little debates with common sense and a nice insight into the plot.
Yes, I have read the book, seen the 1925 movie, and the 2004 musical. I have also written two separate papers (one of which was more than twelve pages long and involved many weeks of research) on all of these and more Phantom of the Opera versions. Don't try and challenge me because you've read the book and think you have something over me. You cannot tell me anything I do not know. Erik is pitiful. I love him as much as I love Raoul. But!! He is still the antagonist. That isn't going to change. Raoul is the hero. And if you feel like fighting me on this simply to be difficult, I'm going to give you some un-debatable definitions straight from dictionary.com as they are relevant. Okay?
Protagonist: the leading character, hero, or heroine of a drama or other literary work. (In the book, which started it all, Raoul is portrayed as the main character as the book is told from his perspective. This and the fact that we simply know the protagonist as the hero must make us claim Raoul as it because he tries-- to the point he brushes death-- to save Christine and put an end to the Phantom which haunts them all.)
Antagonist: a person who is opposed to, struggles against, or competes with another; opponent. The adversary of the hero or protagonist of a drama or other literary work. (This simple definition should be enough, but no. Laying it right out there for you too blind to see: Erik terrorized the Opera House from the shadows. He kidnapped Christine and sent the whole plot spiraling downward into a dark mess that would have otherwise been a happy story of love between two childhood friends.)
I'd say debate the highlighted truths, but I typed them for the sheer fact that I'm sick of that.
Erik is the antagonist. Raoul is the protagonist. And Christine is a bland character who WILLINGLY chose the Vicomte over the Phantom. STOP blaming things on Raoul. Bashing him is a practice whose stupidity is on par with jumping out of a plane without a parachute.

Description
Aww...
I would have drawn a Christine to complete the set, but I don't like her for one. For two, just looking at her hair and her big puffy dresses...It's not worth the trouble.
I actually printed Erik (Phantom) on one side and Raoul on the other and ta-da...new bookmark.

So, yeah I am like sooooo obsessed with The Phantom of the Opera right now. Such a good story. I love Erik and Raoul is just sho cute.

I don't rant often (I don't think) but here comes a rant about Raoul.
The Raoul Rant:

I just don't understand why so many people hate him. I can't go anywhere without seeing people take part in 'Raoul-bashing.' It doesn't make any sense. Usually when characters get bashed they're stupid or annoyingly evil.

Raoul has done nothing wrong!! He is an all around good, awesome character. Why don't people like him?

Is it because he ruined the ending for the book/movie? Okay, let's examine this closely. Raoul went to save Christine from the antagonist (correct me if I'm wrong, but in most plots this is a good thing) and got captured. Christine made the choice between which one she wanted!! If you want to blame someone for the Phantom not having a happy ending blame her. Better yet, isn't Erik to blame for his own unhappy ending? He let them go!!

There is nothing wrong with Raoul. He is an awesome, lovable character. And Patrick Wilson, who plays him in the 2004 movie, is nothing short of adorable!! And he has the most addictive sweet smile.

And the whole 'Fop' thing isn't funny anymore. You want to keep calling Raoul a Fop? Fine!! I can't stop you. But, let's look closely at the word.

fop - a man who is excessively vain and concerned about his dress, appearance, and manners.
(As provided by Dictionary.com.)

Now, if you want to call Raoul a Fop under this definition it wouldn't be too very far from the truth. (Giving the aristocrat that he is.) But, think about it...doesn't that mean that Erik is also a Fop? I mean look at him. Is he not obsessed with his appearance? Does he not always dress to his finest? Are his manners not extravagant? I rest my case.

Okay...now I stop.

EDIT: 07/19/2009 I'm sorry, but I'm disabling comments. I'm simply tired of people continuously trying to argue that Raoul is not a good person. Or that he is some prissy princess who "stole" Chrstine. Even though if you took one second to read what I typed above, pure logic would beat that claim down. Think, people. Saying anything akin to the opposite is the sinking ship of a defense. (fyi: I write off anyone who says as much an idiot on the spot. It lets me know you probably just watched The Phantom of the Opera through a couple of times and think you know it sooo well.) I no longer want to have the same discussions over and over and over. I keep giving the same facts again and again and winning little debates with common sense and a nice insight into the plot.
Yes, I have read the book, seen the 1925 movie, and the 2004 musical. I have also written two separate papers (one of which was more than twelve pages long and involved many weeks of research) on all of these and more Phantom of the Opera versions. Don't try and challenge me because you've read the book and think you have something over me. You cannot tell me anything I do not know. Erik is pitiful. I love him as much as I love Raoul. But!! He is still the antagonist. That isn't going to change. Raoul is the hero. And if you feel like fighting me on this simply to be difficult, I'm going to give you some un-debatable definitions straight from dictionary.com as they are relevant. Okay?
Protagonist: the leading character, hero, or heroine of a drama or other literary work. (In the book, which started it all, Raoul is portrayed as the main character as the book is told from his perspective. This and the fact that we simply know the protagonist as the hero must make us claim Raoul as it because he tries-- to the point he brushes death-- to save Christine and put an end to the Phantom which haunts them all.)
Antagonist: a person who is opposed to, struggles against, or competes with another; opponent. The adversary of the hero or protagonist of a drama or other literary work. (This simple definition should be enough, but no. Laying it right out there for you too blind to see: Erik terrorized the Opera House from the shadows. He kidnapped Christine and sent the whole plot spiraling downward into a dark mess that would have otherwise been a happy story of love between two childhood friends.)
I'd say debate the highlighted truths, but I typed them for the sheer fact that I'm sick of that.
Erik is the antagonist. Raoul is the protagonist. And Christine is a bland character who WILLINGLY chose the Vicomte over the Phantom. STOP blaming things on Raoul. Bashing him is a practice whose stupidity is on par with jumping out of a plane without a parachute.