Pauls Case vs. Tallented Mr. Ripley

Infatuation differentiating from real love, is there a difference? This is a striking question for someone involved in both love and lust because often times when an individual is sustaining two romantic/sexual relationships they may find it rather difficult to distinguish the difference between true love and sexual arousal, this can lead to things such as torn relationships, broken hearts and confusion. In the movie The Phantom of the Opera two men, the Phantom and Raoul, sings two love songs, Music of the Night and All I Ask of You, to a girl named Christine whom they both love. In both love songs the lyrics, the location, and movements of the people during the songs all illustrate; the messages each man is trying to communicate, her relationship towards each man, what Christine is attracted to in each of them and the contrast of light and dark imagery. In the song Music of the Night from The Phantom of the Opera lyrics play a large role in the determination of the songs true meaning. When the Phantom sings to Christine in lines 48 to
50 he says only then can you belong to me, in that line it shows the theme of the song very clearly which is control and power over Christine, their relationship isn’t equal he controls her with her sexual arousal near him and her belief that he was sent to her by her dead father. Also in lines 51 to 54 he sings “floating, falling, sweet intoxication! Touch me, trust me savour each sensation!” The Phantom talks about intoxication, floating and sensation all these words relate to fantasising and almost drunk off of each other’s love. The Phantoms actual words show that their relationship is full of passion and lust and that he controls Christine and intoxicates Christine to be more comfortable around the Phantom. The Phantom brings Christine down to the bowels of the opera house to sing to her, this location is very dark and very secluded. In his “lair” he also has candles everywhere and he