# Comte de Chagny — The Phantom of the Opera character guide

> Comte de Chagny in The Phantom of the Opera by Gaston Leroux.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** the Comte de Chagny, Philippe, Count Philippe, Philippe Georges Marie Comte de Chagny, le Comte de Chagny, Count

**First appearance:** 0008-viii-the-mysterious-brougham

## Snapshot

The proud Comte de Chagny, who will do anything to stop his younger brother Raoul from marrying an opera singer beneath the family name.

## Who they are

Count Philippe is the head of an old aristocratic house and the guardian of its honor, and he sees Raoul's infatuation with Christine Daaé as a threat to everything the Chagnys stand for. The brothers adore each other, yet their quarrels over Christine grow sharper, and Philippe's vow that the family promise will not be kept becomes a public wager. His opposition forces Raoul to choose between duty and desire, tightening the pressure around Christine just as the Phantom's grip on her deepens.

## In the story

### [Prologue](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_phantom_of_the_opera_se/chapters/prologue)

Count Philippe, Raoul's elder brother, whose body was found on the bank of the lake in the Opera cellars.

### [II: The New Margarita](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_phantom_of_the_opera_se/chapters/ii-the-new-margarita)

Observes Raoul's agitation, follows him to the stage, and later applauds Christine's performance.

### [The Enchanted Violin](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_phantom_of_the_opera_se/chapters/v-the-enchanted-violin)

Raoul's brother, who had done his best on Christine's behalf with M. Richard.

### [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)

Confronts Raoul about his plan to marry Christine, sits alone in his box during Faust, and is described as adoring his brother but opposing the match.

### [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)

Philippe is found dead on the bank of the Opera lake, having pursued Raoul into the cellars.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_phantom_of_the_opera_se/characters/philippe_de_chagny
- 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