Eric's Eulogy:

     Erik, the man with so many names, that wonderfully complex man that many may have known as the Phantom of the Opera, , will never really leave this city. Our beautiful City of Paris. Erik and his actions will forever be remembered in time, so much that they will never die, never vanquish, and that future generations will explicitly see the profound effect this single man has had on all of us sitting here today.

     Erik, bless his soul, had not even a name when he entered our world. His mother, so horrified by the physical repulsiveness or her offspring, was driven away, his father never even laid eyes on his face. Even his name was the not name given to him by his mother; the name "Erik" was so accidently given to him later in life. As a young child, Erik spent his life with a band of gypsies, making a living as an attraction in a multitude of freak shows. The Erik we know today stemmed from these people; with them he developed his astounding abilities. His illusionry, ventiloquoy, and magic acts were spectacular, while his singing voice had been established as unparalleled in its unearthly beauty.

     Erik's life changed again when he met the Shah of Persia, through the Shah's own request. Erik had been hired to build a Mazenderan; our trap door lover put his mark in this, as the building was so well acoustically designed that it was rumored to have spread the sounds of whispers to the point where nothing would go unheard to the spies in the wall.

     Erik was brought to us Parisians by the Persian, a man who helped Erik escape the Shah. They brought with them an identity that would become one very fiercely remembered. However, here in Paris, we also see Erik's crime spree and his altercations with the law. What happened here changed Erik, and while it was violent, and ended in the death of an innocent man Joseph Buquet, it was an essential part of who he became to be.

     Erik fell in love. Here at the the Opera house, within these walls, he met the then not-so-acclaimed Christie Daae, and he fell for her. He went through many adventures with Christine Daae, such kidnapping her initially and winning her over, letting her go so that she may return for him. He triggered the incident of dropping a chandelier in the audience for her. And all while, in the end, she couldn't choose Erik over her now Husband, Raul. Erik's mercy in even allowing her that victory will continue to astound us. A man shown no mercy his entire life will give up the thing he loves most so it could be happpier without him. These are the signs of no ordinary man. Back