Part 3: Pants Roles in Gaston Leroux’s Novel

Siebel is a character in Charles Gounod's opera "Faust". The opera tells the story of the scholar Faust, who makes a pact with the devil Mephistopheles in exchange for worldly pleasures.

Siebel is a young man in love with Marguerite, and he is one of the more sympathetic characters in the opera. Siebel is a student and has a gentle, sincere nature. His love for Marguerite is pure and unselfish, in contrast to the more complex relationships depicted in the opera.

One of the notable moments involving Siebel is his aria "Faites-lui mes aveux" ("Let me confess to her"), where he expresses his devotion to Marguerite and places flowers at her door, hoping for her love in return.

 

Siebel becomes entangled in the tragic events of the opera, particularly as they relate to Marguerite. His character serves as a foil to Faust and Mephistopheles, embodying innocence and genuine affection. Despite his minor role in the larger scheme of Faust's story, Siebel's character adds a touch of humanity and compassion to the opera.

Christine plays Siebel in Faust and her pants roles plays with gender reversal in the novel- the first time she goes down to the Phantom’s lair, she is still in costume, dressed as a man. This represents more than a role for Christine, it is a statement on how she wears the pants in her relationship with both Erik and Raoul. Raoul is not the hero and is portrayed very femininely, despite being in the navy, and Christine’s roles with Erik are reversed several times throughout the novel, showing the shifts in their dynamic. 

 

One of very few adaptations to actually show Christine as Siebel is the 1989 Robert Englund Phantom, though it’s brief. Faust is the focus of the adaptation. The first time we see Christine interact with the Phantom, she is dressed as a man.