And since I am male, in my early sixties and Southwest-Hispanic in culture, that carries some categorizable consequence probabilities. Moreover, whatever critical assessment you read by some literary reviewer will most probably reflect how that person has visualized the story, often within a particular school or trend of interpretation. The critic saw it in his or her own way, that needs to be taken as valid, too, even if you and I might not agree. On the other hand, from your and my point of view as readers, the Carmen that emerges also has a definite validity. Moreover, later re-readings by you or me may produce a different Carmen, who will also be valid, while reflecting how the reader has grown or changed.
Opera is different, relying more on hearing and watching than reading.
Much more of it is visually created for you than in a novel. The story is sung, not written. You are part of the participating audience and the singers are far away on stage, meaning that facial expressions and acting are not going to be as obvious as they would be in a movie with a zoom lens. Besides, this is a performance at an opera house or theater, and therefore is a social occasion shared with hundreds of other people, many in evening dress. There is a live orchestra with conductor.