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Edmond Rostand’s romantic comedy Cyrano de Bergerac recounts the ironic love triangle between an unattractive poet, his handsome but dim-witted friend, and their mutual love interest, Roxane. Cyrano de Bergerac, a bold and intellectual swordsman with an unsightly nose, struggles to overcome his appearance, as well as opposing suitors, to express his feelings to beautiful Roxane. Guided by the eloquent and chivalrous tenets of 17th century France, Cyrano adheres to the highest ideals of morality, love, and friendship, enabling him to achieve his goal of living a noble and fulfilling life.
Throughout Rostand’s play, the main character’s principled choices reflect his desire to live an honorable life. For example, in response to Count de Guiche’s offer of employment, Cyrano proclaims his conscionable ambition to “ ‘Work without one
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thought of gain or fame . . . Never to pen a line that has not sprung Straight from the heart within’ ” (Rostand X.XX). Unable to compromise his integrity for personal gain, Cyrano emphasizes the value of honest and heart-felt work over notoriety and wealth.
To that end, the swordsman portrays his preference for a modest and dignified life, explaining, “ ‘To be content . . . if neither oak nor elm Not mount high, perchance, but mount alone’ ” (X.XX). No doubt, by promoting such a manner of self-contentment, the poet exemplifies a chivalrous choice in placing a humble and noble existence over a lofty, glamorous, and superficial life. Furthermore, even with his homely appearance, de Bergerac’s chivalric and unfettered demeanor evokes envy in Rostand’s supporting characters, most evident when de Guiche hears of Cyrano’s fate, “ ‘Pity him not! He has lived out his vows, Free in his thoughts, as in his actions free’ ” (X.XX). Aware of the moral standards by which the swordsman lived his days, de Guiche argues no one should feel remorse for the poet’s death as he upheld an enviable and brilliant existence on his own terms. With his commitment to the highest ideals of gallantry, Cyrano fulfills his quest to live an admirable and independent
life. Though the poet believes he personifies an independent and free-spirited existence outside the confines of tradition, many of the characteristics that define Cyrano also reflect the courtly code of the era. Undoubtedly, Cyrano’s insecurities regarding his appearance yield a combative behavior that alienates many; nonetheless, his actions and choices reveal chivalric traits of bravery, passion, and dignity. Abiding by his own code of honor, Cyrano ultimately achieves a life without regret, as he embraces his fate and revels in his artful “panache.”
Superficial passion revolves around outward beauty, but true love is always found in the heart. In Cyrano de Bergerac, Edmond Rostand conveys this truth beautifully. This play follows Cyrano in his quest for love from Roxanne, believing she could not love him due to his oversized nose. Little do they know that she does not truly love the handsome Christian, but rather Cyrano, the master of words.
1. Cyrano de Bergerac Cyrano de Bergerac is a classy, intelligent man who writes for a living and his role is that he serves as the gateway for Christian to be with Roxane. Cyrano is so significance because he is stuck in a love problem where he has to help Christian, through his writings to get him and Roxane together but Cyrano also loves Roxane in which he can’t be known that the letters Roxane thinks Christian wrote are actually Cyrano’s feelings. Cyrano is a very intelligent, noble, skillful swordsman who is full of knowledge and creativity to allow him to write his writings. Cyrano shows loving character because he delivers a letter to Roxane every day, of his own feelings and helpful when helping Christian and his struggles with
“Everything has beauty, but not everyone sees it.” (Confucius) Cyrano’s insecurity of his nose effects his relationship with Roxane. In Edmond Rostand’s play Cyrano De Bergerac, Cyrano’s insecure and eloquent self-perception results in Cyrano’s companionship & loving in his relationship with both Christian & Roxane. Cyrano’s level of eloquence helps him combat the insults of his nose. Cyrano is a poetic, witty, & eloquent man who is insecure & has trouble showing his true feelings for Roxane .Cyrano and Christian work together to win Roxane’s heart, and at the end Cyrano allows love to kill him, even after Roxane discovers & reciprocates his feelings.
Appeal to emotions, individualism, and intellectual achievement were three important elements of Romanticism. This essay will explore the degree to which Cyrano de Bergerac exemplifies these elements of Romanticism.
Society tends to misjudge people base on their appearances instead of their personality. This can be seen in the play Cyrano De Bergerac by Edmond Rostand. In which Roxane represents that vile aspect of society. Roxane is attracted to Christian based on his looks, and under minds Cyrano because of his appearance. Society misjudgment of people cause oppression on an individual and it is from oppression and misjudgment f character that causes self consciousness to be born. Cyrano exhibits this self consciousness by helping Christian. Such oppression or self conscious aids to form magnificent characteristics attributes such as the ones portrayed by Cyrano throughout the novel. After all of its societies misjudgment that causes Cyrano to be the character that he is.
Control of ones tongue, or wit, and the ability to use it well is an incredibly necessary trait of an honorable individual. The cowardice of Count de Guiche demonstrates that the lack of bravery, on or off the battlefield, leaves a man without honor or respect. And finally, unconditional and extravagant love must be practiced by those men of honor, as shown by Cyrano’s love of Roxane. True honor cannot be won, nor can be bought, honor is something that can only be given by those who see these traits within a
Loyal, devoted, selfless, prideful, and knowledgeable. These are just a few of the many traits that will be sincerely missed. The story of Cyrano de Bergerac’s life impeccably emphasized that a positive soul is worth more than a beautiful face. There is currently a lot of media nowadays that highlights the importance of looks and the perfect face. They create products to alter your face and weight and people begin to forget what is really important. We see past the loyalty, the devotion, the selflessness, and go no deeper than our each other’s skin. However, Cyrano saw the good in everyone and he taught people, who may or may not have been in love, what is important in a relationship.
When we think about the force that holds the world together and what makes humans different from animals, one answer comes to our minds - that humans can love. Love is a state of mind that cannot be defined easily but can be experienced by everyone. Love is very complicated. In fact it is so complicated that a person in love may be misunderstood to be acting in an extremely foolish manner by other people. The complexity of love is displayed in Rostand’s masterpiece drama Cyrano de Bergerac. This is accomplished by two characters that love the same woman and in the course neither one achieves love in utter perfection.
The theme of this play is inner beauty and outer beauty. In the beginning of Cyrano de Bergerac, it seems like the theme focuses heavily on outer beauty. As you continue to read on, the play actually puts more emphasis in inner beauty. Symbolism is very important in this play. The letters written by Cyrano symbolizes Cyrano’s inner beauty because what you write comes from your soul which is shaped by your personality. Cyrano’s nose symbolizes his ugliness and his insecurity. Because Cyrano knows Roxane would never consider him because of his nose, he decides to help Christian since Cyrano believes he can help Christian win Roxane’s heart. “
Love is something that is so beautiful it brings people together, but at the same time it can be the most destructive thing and it can tear people apart. Edmond Rostand's play, Cyrano de Bergerac, is a tale of a love triangle between Cyrano, Christian, and Roxane. In the play, Cyrano helps Christian make a false identity about himself for Roxane to fall in love for. Christian had the looks while Cyrano had the personality, together they could make the perfect man. Throughout the play, you see similarities and differences between Christian and Cyrano’s personality, looks, and who they love.
Cyrano De Bergerac is an inspiring play based on a tragic love. The characters are revealed within unique backgrounds, creating life and depth between our imaginations. There are a variety of important characters throughout the play besides Cyrano De Bergerac. The play consists of more important characters than Christian De Neuvillette, although he is the most admirable. Three admirable qualities that Christian possessed are courtesy, modesty and bravery.
While reading Cyrano de Bergerac, I found myself often wondering whether or not Cyrano had led a happy life. Actually, I never once wondered that, but that is irrelevant, because Cyrano’s happiness is the focus of this essay. Was he happy? Truth be told, I cannot say for sure. If we look upon his life, it would seem that he was a bit of a martyr, always sacrificing his happiness for the sake of others. This is probably the case, but I do not believe that he led his life with his happiness as any sort of goal. That will be a defining case in my argument. What I really believe is that he simply did not care about his happiness. In that sense, he did not so much sacrifice it, as he annexed and divided it when he saw fit. To a further extent, this apathy towards himself probably came from a low self-worth, almost certainly spawned not from his elephantine nose, but the fair maiden Roxanne. Finally, the nose itself, the very icon of de Bergerac, was probably not the problem that Cyrano believed it to be. All of this, however obscure it may seem, is crucial to the question posed of me now.
This is not fate nor coincidence. In complete control of his life, Cyrano is arrogant, deceptive, and hesitant in his actions; this ultimately leads to the great tragedy. As a result, we conclude that Cyrano has technically jeopardized himself. If Cyrano had not been so stubborn when he refused to be under De Guiche’s patronage, had not been so generous to feign the love letters for Christian, and had he not been so hesitatant when he deciding to confess his love to Roxane, the tragedy could become a romantic love story with a sweet ending. Again, Cyrano must hold all the responsibility for his actions and he must recognize that only he is to blame for this tragedy.
Through jest of a game the Green knight enlightens Gawain the short sights of chivalry. He comes to realize within himself that the system which bore him values appearance over truth. Ultimately he understands that chivalry provides a valuable set of ideals toward which to strive, but a person must retain consciousness of his or her own mortality and weakness in order to live deeply. While it is chivalrous notions, which kept him, alive throughout the test of the Green Knight, only through acute awareness of the physical world surrounding him was he able to develop himself and understand the Knights message. From the onset of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight the author relies intensely upon descriptive language to create ambiance and tonality, but it is only later in the work, upon Sir Gawain’s development, that like Gawain, the reader is able to derive meaning from the descriptive physicality and understand the symbiotic relationship of nature and society.
When all the courtly love elements that flow through The Knight of the Cart are composed, in addition to a tale of love affair between Queen Guinevere and Lancelot of the Lake, a document revealing the enchanting history of the Twelfth Century Renaissance is created. Troyes, our powerful storyteller, was able to do this by taking us on a journey with Lancelot, not only though his exciting battles to Guinevere but, through his passionate and enamored thoughts and behaviors that yearns for his beloved.