Not to be...you know, exactly as you would expect me to be, but as far as I can tell PotO fandom just like, doesn't talk much about the significance and omnipresence the Commune plays in the novel and the politics of Leroux's inclusion of it and I am Climbing The Walls

Why does Leroux explicitly reference the Commune's use of the opera if not to remind us of their burning of the Tuileries, of their "attacks" on Paris? Why does he link Erik specifically w/ the "evil" actions of the Communards if not to put his own politics/opinions on display?

(if you thought I was insufferable about talking about the politics of 5-6 June in Les Mis...OH BOY. I've read much more extensively on the Commune and I Will Not Be Stopped)

LIKE, the violence of the Commune was so drastically eclipsed by Thiers' government and les honnêtes gens who called for blood and I think that's an extraordinarily interesting conversation to have ESPECIALLY considering Raoul's nobility, AND YET.

Also interesting to consider the Commune's ban on over-night work (ie bakers) as it lead to extreme social exclusion & the whole never seeing daylight thing, which is INTERESTING compared to someone who has been socially Other-ed to the point of living underground away from light

(this is just a small part in one chapter of a whole book so it leaves a lot more to be discussed but) *slams fist one table* THAT'S WHAT I'M FUCKING TALKING ABOUT

I absolutely cannot justify the huge expensive of this book but damn I want it

W o w. This review says when this book came out in 04 it was $70 now the publisher is charging $139 for physical copies

I had to double check some facts BUT, the Commune did have hostages, mostly in an attempt to threaten reprisals for the Versailles government's continual execution without trials of any captured Communards.

They didn't follow through on the threat and they made repeated attempts for trade their hostages for imprisoned Communards which were denied by Thiers.

It was only after the start of the Bloody Week that the Commune started executing hostages, about 60-100 in total. (Death tolls for the side of the Commune are 6k+ confirmed, with estimates ranging from 10k-20k)

SO what does this all say about Leroux? Honestly not sure yet. Probably something about specters, and otherness, and the "dangers" of existing outside bourgeoisie society. I'll circle back to it. And I have to look closer at Christine's foreign otherness as well

My main thesis I want to dig into is: Through his use of the (literal) framework of the Commune, Erik both recreates & deconstructs the Comm. & it's this liminiality we see repeated throughout his life & experiences
& it is there that our (societies') horror&disgust of him lies

I know you're all sick of me rambling about this but this thread is my Thoughts To Come Back To so.
The significance of Erik dressed as the Red Death vis a vis the role of the wealthy nobility in the Poe story