In Phantom of the Opera, what does the little monkey symbolise?

[b0mbrman]

Saw it for the first time in London and I'm not sure what that little monkey is supposed to mean.

I get that it's a link between the past and the present (young and old Raoul) but otherwise, I get nothing. Is it supposed to be inner beauty/innocence of the Phantom? Does it show us that mechanical things live forever while people grow old and die? Is it just there cuz monkeys are entertaining?

 

[yakko]

Beastiality.

 

[b0mbrman]

Mmm...I figured as much.

 

[Ameesh]

its like that george michael song, "watch out! whos that! theres amonkey on your back!"