In Phantom of the Opera, what do they mean when they say “hand at the level of your eyes?”?

Its in both the movie and musical versions but I've only seen the movie. I have the music soundtrack but I still don't understand what they mean by that. Anyone have some incite to how that applies to the story?

In Phantom of the Opera, what do they mean when they say “hand at the level of your eyes?”?

In one scene, Madame Giry finds Raoul, takes him to the bridge above the lake, and tells him where to find the Phantom. She warns him to keep his "hand at the level of your eyes", as a preventive tactic against the Phantom using what is called a "Punjab Lasso". This is like a mini-noose many assaulters used to murder their victims very fast. A person with his hands at the eye level, supposedly has the best chance of defending against this maneuver.

Phantom of the Opera summary:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Phantom...

Punjab Lasso explanation:

"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Punjab_L...

In Phantom of the Opera, what do they mean when they say “hand at the level of your eyes?”?uninstall internet explorer internet explorerIT is also referenced when Joseph Buquo (sp?) is scaring the girls with stories of the phantom. It is more prevelant in the book. I'd recommend reading it. Report It


thank you so much, I have been wondering the same thing myself... it makes much more sense now! Report It


it has something to do with hanging. If you keep your hand at the level of your eyes then you will be able to keep someone from putting a rope around your neck. The phantom is known for hanging people.
Remember when Mme. Giry catches Joseph Buquet teasing the chorus girls about the Phantom, playing with the lasso? She puts the lasso around his neck and tells him to keep his hand at the level of his eye, because doing so will make it nearly impossible for the Phantom or anyone on the other end of the lasso to tighten the noose, thereby choking him.

This is actually something of a reference to the novel, where the Persian tells Raoul to keep his pistol raised even with his head for the same reason. The gun would be pretty well useless against the Phantom, but keeping his arm in the way could save either man's life.