This course analyzes and traces the history of Gaston Leroux’s The Phantom of the Opera from the novel through several adaptations to get at the reasons why–like Frankenstein and Dracula–this Gothic tale has deep symbolic significance for Western audiences. We start with the Leroux’s basic ingredients and the significance of how he combined them. Then we turn to the “cultural unconscious” of his time, the quest for human identity in the West, and what is “monsterized” so that quest can attain its goal. Noting how this story is often significantly changed in its many reincarnations, we will look at the three most influential adaptations, why each made their changes, and what those changes reveal about the times of each production.