# Christine Daaé — The Phantom of the Opera character guide > Christine Daaé in The Phantom of the Opera by Gaston Leroux. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Christine, Daaé, little Christine, Mlle. Daaé, Mlle. Christine Daaé, poor Christine, the little Daaé **First appearance:** 0001-i-is-it-the-ghost ## Snapshot A grieving young soprano whose sudden stage triumph and secret lessons from a voice in the walls pull her between earthly love and something far stranger. ## Who they are Christine rises from the corps de ballet's shadow to the Opera's brightest soprano, adored by audiences and resented by rivals like Carlotta. Raised on her dead father's legends and the promise of an Angel of Music, she is credulous, affectionate, and dangerously susceptible to the sublime — exactly the temperament her unseen teacher cultivates. Her torn loyalty between Raoul's warm, human courtship and her mentor's unearthly demands drives the story's central, escalating suspense. ## Relationships ### [Raoul de Chagny](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_phantom_of_the_opera_se/characters/raoul_de_chagny) _romantic_ Childhood sweethearts who rekindle their love, with Raoul fiercely trying to rescue Christine from Erik's influence. ### [Erik](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_phantom_of_the_opera_se/characters/erik) _psychological_ Christine is both Erik's obsession and his victim, manipulated through his control and her fear mixed with pity. ### [Mamma Valérius](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_phantom_of_the_opera_se/characters/mamma_valerius) _family_ Mamma Valérius is Christine's elderly, doting foster mother who raised her after her father's death. ### [La Carlotta](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_phantom_of_the_opera_se/characters/la_carlotta) _rivalry_ La Carlotta, the prima donna, is jealous and hostile toward Christine, who replaces her as the star soprano. ### [The Persian](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_phantom_of_the_opera_se/characters/the_persian) _friendship_ The Persian protects Christine and helps her escape Erik's clutches, acting as a secret guardian. ### [Raoul de Chagny](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_phantom_of_the_opera_se/characters/raoul_de_chagny) _romantic_ Childhood sweethearts who rekindle their love, with Raoul fiercely trying to rescue Christine from Erik's influence. ### [Raoul de Chagny](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_phantom_of_the_opera_se/characters/raoul_de_chagny) _romantic_ Childhood sweethearts who rekindle their love, with Raoul fiercely trying to rescue Christine from Erik's influence. ### [Erik](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_phantom_of_the_opera_se/characters/erik) _psychological_ Christine is both Erik's obsession and his victim, manipulated through his control and her fear mixed with pity. ### [Mamma Valérius](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_phantom_of_the_opera_se/characters/mamma_valerius) _family_ Mamma Valérius is Christine's elderly, doting foster mother who raised her after her father's death. ### [Erik](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_phantom_of_the_opera_se/characters/erik) _psychological_ Christine is both Erik's obsession and his victim, manipulated through his control and her fear mixed with pity. ### [The Persian](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_phantom_of_the_opera_se/characters/the_persian) _friendship_ The Persian protects Christine and helps her escape Erik's clutches, acting as a secret guardian. ### [The Persian](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_phantom_of_the_opera_se/characters/the_persian) _friendship_ The Persian protects Christine and helps her escape Erik's clutches, acting as a secret guardian. ## In the story ### [Prologue](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_phantom_of_the_opera_se/chapters/prologue) Mentioned in connection with the kidnapping and the strange correspondence that the Persian provides to the narrator. ### [II: The New Margarita](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_phantom_of_the_opera_se/chapters/ii-the-new-margarita) Sings a triumphant Margarita in Faust, faints, and is attended to in her dressing room; she speaks with a mysterious voice. ### [Box Five](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_phantom_of_the_opera_se/chapters/iv-box-five) Mentioned in the Ghost's letter as having genius, but being prevented from creating important parts; praised for her performance in Faust. ### [The Enchanted Violin](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_phantom_of_the_opera_se/chapters/v-the-enchanted-violin) Withdraws from public performances, writes to Raoul, meets him in Perros, and prays at her father's grave. ### [Faust and What Followed](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_phantom_of_the_opera_se/chapters/vii-faust-and-what-followed) Referenced in Raoul's thoughts and as the subject of Carlotta's jealousy. ### [The Mysterious Brougham](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_phantom_of_the_opera_se/chapters/viii-the-mysterious-brougham) Disappears after the performance; is said to be with her 'Angel of Music'; seen in a brougham on a lonely road; sends Raoul a letter arranging a masked ball meeting. ### [At the Masked Ball](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_phantom_of_the_opera_se/chapters/ix-at-the-masked-ball) Sends Raoul a note, appears as a black domino at the ball, leads him to a private box, confesses her love, and vanishes through a mirror. ### [Forget the Name of the Man's Voice](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_phantom_of_the_opera_se/chapters/x-forget-the-name-of-the-man-s-voice) Defends her secrecy, refuses to reveal the voice's identity, and is terrified when Raoul says the name Erik. ### [XI: Above the Trap-Doors](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_phantom_of_the_opera_se/chapters/xi-above-the-trap-doors) Shows extreme nervousness and fear around trapdoors; proposes a secret engagement to Raoul; returns triumphantly to the stage after Carlotta's departure. ### [Apollo's Lyre](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_phantom_of_the_opera_se/chapters/xii-apollo-s-lyre) Christine narrates her abduction and imprisonment by Erik, describing her fear, anger, and eventual pity for him. ### [A Masterstroke of the Trap-Door Lover](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_phantom_of_the_opera_se/chapters/xiii-a-masterstroke-of-the-trap-door-lover) Escapes with Raoul, reveals the Persian's identity, loses Erik's ring, and performs Faust nervously while fearing Erik's revenge. ### [The Singular Attitude of a Safety-Pin](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_phantom_of_the_opera_se/chapters/xiv-the-singular-attitude-of-a-safety-pin) Has disappeared from the stage during the performance; her whereabouts are unknown. ### [Christine! Christine!](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_phantom_of_the_opera_se/chapters/xv-christine-christine) Has disappeared after the performance; Raoul fears she has been taken by Erik. ### [XVIII: The Commissary, the Viscount and the Persian](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_phantom_of_the_opera_se/chapters/xviii-the-commissary-the-viscount-and-the-persian) Disappeared during the Prison Act of the performance; the central figure of the investigation. ### [The Viscount and the Persian](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_phantom_of_the_opera_se/chapters/xix-the-viscount-and-the-persian) Abducted by Erik; the Persian confirms she is with him in the house on the lake. ### [Interesting and Instructive Vicissitudes of a Persian in the Cellars of the Opera](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_phantom_of_the_opera_se/chapters/xxi-interesting-and-instructive-vicissitudes-of-a-persian-in-the-cellars-of-the-opera) Abducted by Erik during the Prison Act; her heart belongs to Raoul; the Persian observes that Erik fills her mind with terror. ### [In the Torture Chamber](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_phantom_of_the_opera_se/chapters/xxii-in-the-torture-chamber) Bound and imprisoned by Erik, she communicates with Raoul and the Persian, revealing the location of the keys and her failed suicide attempt. ### [XXIII: The Tortures Begin](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_phantom_of_the_opera_se/chapters/xxiii-the-tortures-begin) Attempts to retrieve Erik's bag, pleads with him, and is forced to look through the window; she faints from the heat. ### [XXIV: “Barrels!… Barrels!… Any Barrels to Sell?”](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_phantom_of_the_opera_se/chapters/xxiv-barrels-barrels-any-barrels-to-sell) Mentioned as being in the Louis-Philippe room with Erik; Raoul hallucinates seeing her. ### [XXV: The Scorpion or the Grasshopper: Which?](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_phantom_of_the_opera_se/chapters/xxv-the-scorpion-or-the-grasshopper-which) Faces the ultimatum in the Louis-Philippe room; ultimately turns the scorpion to save the audience. ### [XXVI: The End of the Ghost's Love Story](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_phantom_of_the_opera_se/chapters/xxvi-the-end-of-the-ghost-s-love-story) Christine acts as a silent, devoted nurse, reading a religious book and fulfilling her promise to be Erik's living wife. ### [Epilogue](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_phantom_of_the_opera_se/chapters/epilogue) Disappeared with Raoul; buried Erik and slipped a ring on his finger. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_phantom_of_the_opera_se/characters/christine_daae - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_phantom_of_the_opera_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_phantom_of_the_opera_se/characters