What was the symbolism of the monkey in the phantom of the opera?

My family was watching The Phantom of the Opera and we couldn’t figure out why the husband to Christine, Raul, would put the monkey on Christine’s grave. Because we thought it symbolizes the lack of freedom and deception. So i was wondering what was the symbolism of the Monkey playing the symbols?

A big part of that scene (which, I might add, was never part of the original Broadway production or the novel that inspired it) is the recurring theme that no matter how much Christine fought for her freedom, the Phantom was always a part of her life. Even after she and Raoul made their escape and married, Raoul tells us that “she often spoke” of the music box with the monkey on top. Even though she was free, even though she ended up marrying a man she loved, she never really completely let go of the Phantom. By placing the music box on her grave, Raoul was acknowledging this, and perhaps even finding some closure with it.

As a side note… it’s interesting that the Phantom himself left a rose and the ring he once tried to give Christine on her grave before Raoul even got there with the music box. The Phantom always was one step ahead.

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