The Persian is a mysterious character who appears various times in the novel before being given a clear identity. He often refers to Erik as a “monstrous fiend,” thus proving highly aware of Erik’s cruel instincts. The Persian’s alliance with Raoul, in which he puts his own life at risk, reveals that Daroga’s main goal is a noble one: to keep Erik from causing harm to others.

The leading soprano at the Paris Opera House has a beautiful, yet emotionless voice.It is Carlotta’s absence one evening, because of illness, that allows Christine Daaé to triumph at a gala performance. Carlotta becomes one of the Phantom’s victims herself after she disregards the Phantom’s anonymous note enjoining her not to perform that evening.

The protagonist of the novel, Swedish soprano Christine Daaé is a talented, compassionate woman capable of sacrificing herself for others. While growing up in Brittany in the company of her father, her friend Viscount Raoul de Chagny and Mme Valerius, Christine develops her talents as a singer from an early age.

Known as “P. of the Opera,” “the ghost,” “the Voice” and “the Master of the Traps,” Erik is the antagonist of the novel and a tragic, violent, and ultimately mysterious figure. Erik is a human being, he displays characteristics that suggest he might be more supernatural than purely human. Having apparently never been loved, he seems incapable of giving others love and freedom, preferring to resort to brutality in order to assert his authority.

Madame Giry is an aging woman who works as a concierge in the Place De L'Opera, who looks after patrons of the Opera, principally those who sit in the boxes. In the story she is Madame Giry's only daughter. In the novel she is described as having “eyes black as sloes, hair black as ink, a swarthy complexion and a poor little skin stretched over poor little bones." She is also called a 'brat'.

Christine’s love interest and Erik’s rival. A member of one of the noblest families in France, Raoul is a surprisingly innocent and passionate young man, willing to prioritize his emotions over his social duties. Overwhelmed by his feelings of love for Christine. His insecurity can make him behave in insensitive ways, as his focus on his rivalry with Erik keeps him from trusting in Christine’s sincerity.

Moncharmin is a charismatic, patient man who knows nothing about music. He writes extensive Memoirs about his time at the Opera, which provide a window into his various states of mind. Richard has an extense knowledge of music as well as through his irritable personality. Increasingly frustrated by the Phantom’s letters, which Richard considers to be a prank, he treats staff members terribly and proves unable to contain his rage.

The chief machinist Joseph Buquet is the Phantom’s first fatal victim. Although not much is known about Buquet’s life, it is likely that, after describing the Phantom’s appearance in detail, he discovered Erik’s secret passageway. Erik killed him with a Punjab cord, later trying to make this death seem like a suicide.