Was there any point in Raoul keeping his hand raised on the trip to the lair?
Yes, he put it down too soon 11 votes
No, he fell into the lair 10 votes
I never understood that part 3 votes
24 total votes
Comments
I love that this part of the story was more or less carried over from Leroux into the other versions of the Phantom's story. The Persian first tells Raoul to keep his hand raised, under the pretense of holding a pistol up and ready, level with his head. As the story goes on, the Persian admits that the pistol isn't likely to be of much use against Erik, but it's holding it up in that position that could save his life. With his hand up, if the Phantom's lasso is used against Raoul or the Persian, he cannot yank it tight and kill him because the hand is in the way. Having his hand up and within the noose, it would prove none-too-difficult to loosen it and remove it. Webber eliminated the Persian from his version of the Phantom of the Opera, but he kept this important bit of information, coming instead from Mme. Giry, who instructs that he keeps his hand at the level of his eye. It's unfortunate that it wasn't explained better for the audience, but poor Raoul obviously didn't remember/understand either, since when the lasso appears his hand is nowhere near the level of his eye. --Empy
Though he probably did put his hand down to soon, all that would have done was extend his life for a few moments longer before the torture chamber claimed him ~Christine to be<3
