two essays, one story

As I mentioned last month, we have been working on persuasive essay writing through a book discussion on The Phantom of the Opera.  This was our first time encountering this story, even though the musical and stage productions have made this story familiar to many.
After working through several drafts, both handwritten and typed, we reached a consensus on my son's final draft. We both worked on paper through the various steps of Invention, Arrangement and Elocution for this third essay. It is a process that while is still new to us in some ways, is yielding such good insights into the stories that we continue to persevere in following the instructions set out in The Lost Tools of Writing.

After Seth's final draft was secured, I thought I might take my notes and attempt to write an essay taking the other side of our issue. I was more convinced in the position Seth chose, but thought it would be good for me to try for a different position using the same issue we had chosen.

So I leave you with our two essays and if you are familiar with the story, ask you to consider where you fall on the issue presented.

ESSAY 3: THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA           Feb.2, 2016

Have you ever seen a ghost or an angel? Have you ever welcomed a stranger to your house?

These questions apply to why I believe that Christine Daae should not have welcomed the Angel of Music in The Phantom of the Opera. She was not cautious, was not careful of her possessions, and did not consider what the Angel said.

Christine should not have welcomed the Angel because she was lured by Erik’s singing. She was so caught up in his singing that she did not ask herself who or what was singing. She did not know the Angel’s plans for her, she should have asked why he was here. She could not see Erik, she should have asked other singers or musicians if they had seen him.

Christine should not have welcomed the Angel because she should not have given her soul to a stranger. Christine said she was dead since she gave her soul to him. The Angel was a curse because he caused pain and suffering to Christine.         

Christine should not have welcomed the Angel because Erik may have been a demon-possessed man. He lived under the opera house which signifies that he may have come from the Underworld. The Angel was a fictional figure who was not supposed to be real.

I believe that Christine Daae should not have welcomed the Angel of Music: She was not cautious, was not careful of her possessions, and did not consider what the Angel said.

The Phantom of the Opera February 5, 2016

What is the cost of love? If there is no cost, is it truly love? Through these questions, I seek to explore the idea that Christine Daae in The Phantom of the Opera rightly introduced Erik, the Angel of Music into her life for the following three reasons: it promoted her singing career, it provided a connection with her dead family, and  it caused her to have compassion for suffering.

The Angel of Music promoted Christine’s singing career by providing her with fame and status following an enhancement of her singing talent. He provided her with a personal mentoring experience that allowed her to become successful. And lastly, he provided her with an even greater ability to do what she loved, singing.

The Angel of Music provided Christine with a connection to her dead mother and father. He was a companion who knew both the loves of her past and the hopes for her future. His arrival was the fulfillment of a promise made to her by her father when she was yet a young girl.

By introducing the Angel of Music into her life, Christine was given the opportunity to have compassion for the suffering of another. She was able to give the love and affection that Erik’s mother had refused him. By agreeing to marry him, she showed sacrificial love to both Raoul, her devoted lover and to Erik, her unintended lover when they both needed her most. She promised to attend to the details of Erik’s burial upon his death as a final act of compassion to him.

While Christine’s acts of love to the Angel of Music may have cost her turmoil and suffering, she rightly introduced him into her life because it promoted her singing career, provided a connection with her dead family and caused her to have compassion for the suffering of others.