In Gaston Leroux’s novel, the Phantom of the Opera, the character known as Erik, who is the Phantom, suffers from a severe physical deformity that is often described as a disease. While the book does not specify a particular name for his condition, it portrays Erik as having a facial disfigurement that leads to his isolation and the creation of his monstrous persona.
This deformity can be seen as a metaphorical ‘disease’ representing societal rejection and the psychological turmoil that results from being an outcast. His condition deeply impacts his life, pushing him into the shadows of the Paris Opera House, where he orchestrates his haunting presence and complex relationship with Christine Daaé.
Ultimately, Leroux uses Erik’s deformity to explore themes of beauty, love, and acceptance, illustrating how external appearances can shape one’s identity and fate.