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What subjects and themes explored in The Phantom of the Opera are relevant in society today?

One of the subjects and themes of The Phantom of the Opera that is still relevant today is the choice that people must make between professional success and personal happiness. Christine agrees to be beholden to Erik, the phantom, so that she can achieve success in the opera, but Erik forces her to be  a virtual prisoner to him and to give up her true love, Raoul. The parallel to today's society is that many people sacrifice personal happiness, such as time spent doing what they love or time spent with their families and loved ones, to achieve success in the professional world. Another theme is the meaning of true love. At first, Erik feels that he wants to entrap Christine and kill off her lover, Raoul, but he comes to realize that true love means letting Christine be free to marry as she wishes and allowing her to live the life she wants. 

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