I think there was, but the fire destroyed the good in Erik. He's just obsessed afterwards. He kills and maims for the pleasure of it.
I can't stand Erik! Really, really, really dislike him intensely. I felt sorry for him, but I still really disliked him.
In Leroux, Raoul loved Christine quite deeply, to the point he was willing to die for her to save her life - even in Webber's version. In addition, he opposed his brother, Philippe, who was against the match. He dared to marry beneath his class, which would have been a huge obstacle in life. Philippe clung to the class system, thinking no doubt Raoul's marriage to Christine was social suicide for his brother. Raoul is also a symbol in the story, if you dig deep enough, especially in Webber's version. He's portrayed as a savior and saint in many ways as well, where Erik represents darkness (as much as we all love the dude). You might check my blog for more in depth analysis. I have a lot of respect for his character in many ways. He's an important aspect of the story for a reason and not just a sissy to be scorned.
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