Renowned dramatist and poet, Edmond Rostand, in his play, Cyrano de Bergerac, illustrates the effect of inner and outer beauty in ones insecurities. Rostand's purpose is to show how one perceives his or her own qualities can lead to inner conflict affecting his or her self-confidence and actions. Each character has a quality that is accentuated and determines his or her insecurity. Rostand generates a humorous, yet dramatic, tone in order to demonstrate to his audience how one’s own insecurities can lead to regretful actions.
Christian’s main insecurity is due to his lack of poetic ability but he is confident enough in his looks and charms to attempt to win over Roxane. Although he knows he does not posses the ability to win her heart with
…show more content…
words, he strives to do so. Thinking he has learned enough from Cyrano, Christian ventures off with his own feelings and words when in Roxane’s room.
He knows he does not possess a poetic tongue but he does not find himself to be incompetent enough to lose her interest. “Why not? I am no fool- you shall see! Besides- my dear friend- you have taught me much. I ought to know something- by God, I know enough to take a woman in my arms” (116). Christian believes he can win over Roxane’s heart without the help of Cyrano as he thinks he has learned plenty from observing and listening to Cyrano. He is confident in her interest for him and heavily relies on his charm and outer beauty to truly win her heart. He thinks of the façade he has with Cyrano as a joke. This façade he and Cyrano had established benefitted both parties as he got the love of the woman he wanted and Cyrano was allowed to voice his true feelings to Roxane. However, the deception the two men have been upholding casted Christian in a shadow as the poetry is what gained Roxane’s interest. "No, I say! I have had enough- taking my words, my letters, all from you- making our …show more content…
love a little comedy! It was game at first; but now- she cares- Thanks to you. I am not afraid. I'll spread for myself now" (116). His insecurity in his lack of poetic ability is incomparable to his feelings for Roxane. Because Roxane was thought to already be infatuated with Christian, he overcame his insecurity and took a leap of faith in their love. He thought Roxane overlooked his lack of poetic ability and loved him for who he is. However, he soon discovers that Roxane only loves the poetic words he was parroting from Cyrano. However, Christian soon faces inner conflict as he questions whether Roxane loves Cyrano’s words or his self more. His confidence continues to simmer until he finally decides to give up the charade and confront Roxane with the truth. Christian regrets allowing Cyrano to voice his own love for Roxane secretly in his place as Roxane confesses she loves his soul more than his good looks. When the truth about Roxane’s love is revealed, Christian is shattered. She confesses to him that even if he were ugly, she would love him. "I thought I loved you, ever since last night when a voice that I never would have known under my window breathed your soul to me. But all this time, your letters- every one was like hearing your voice there in the dark, all around me, like your arms around me" (185). As Roxane confesses her love for Christian, he realizes that she only loves him because of the loving words, his soul. This shatters his heart as this implies that she does not truly love him. He comes to the conclusion that Roxane is in love with Cyrano but does not know it herself as they have both been deceiving her. By saying that she would love Christian even if he were ugly, she addresses and soothes Cyrano’s insecurity. Christian realizes that Cyrano also loves Roxane himself but refuses to tell her the truth due to his insecurities. Christian realizes that having Roxane’s love is not enough if she does not truly love him for who he is, even without his poetic soul. “I want her love for the poor fool I am- or not at all! Oh, I am going through with this! I know, one way or the other. Now I shall walk down to the end of the post. Go tell her. Let her choose one of us” (191-192). Christian regrets his ploy with Cyrano to deceive Roxane for her love. He regrets his choice to win her love with a façade that he created using Cyrano’s words because she eventually loved his soul more. By deceiving Roxane, she ended up falling in love with Cyrano even though she does not know it. He allows Cyrano to confront his own insecurities by telling Roxane the truth. However, Cyrano’s own self-consciousness causes his indecision to confront Roxane with the truth. To spare Christian despair from his regretful decision, as he is dying, Cyrano tells him he did reveal the truth to Roxane and she chose Christian despite his lack of poetic ability. With this lie, Christian dies thinking that he has Roxane’s love even though in actuality, she loves his soul (which is Cyrano). Cyrano’s insecurity in his appearance never allowed him to confess his love for Roxane until his death, even then, he is still unsure of himself.
He knows that Roxane loves him even though she does not know it herself. Both Christian and Cyrano know who truly possesses her heart. When she confessed to Christian that she loves his soul more than his face, she confessed that she is actually in love with Cyrano. Although, he never revealed the truth to her and let her mourn for her late husband and lover, Christian. Even as he is dying, he fears rejection from Roxane because he lacks outer beauty like Christian did. When Roxane finally realizes that it is Cyrano who has her heart, he denies her love due to his insecurity. "No, that is not in the story! You remember when beauty said, ‘I love you,’ to the beast that was a fairy prince, his ugliness changed and dissolved, like magic. But you see I am still the same" (224). Although Cyrano does not directly confesses his love for Roxane, she finally realizes who she truly loves as he reads the letter he wrote for her in Christian’s name. Roxane realizes that he must have been the one to write the letters as he could not have possibly read every word flawlessly in the dark. “I know that it will be today, my own dearly beloved- and my heart still so heavy with love I have not told, and I did without telling you! No more shall my eyes drink the sight of you like wine, never more, with a look that is a kiss, follow the sweet grace of
you” (218). She then recognizes Cyrano’s voice as the one who spoke to her under her balcony in the dark. At that time, she had thought it was Christian. With her epiphany, she reveals to Cyrano that she loves him but he denies her. He denies her love because of his appearance. So insecure, he refuses to acknowledge Roxane’s love for him and his soul, even as he is dying. Only when he is sure that Roxane knows the truth does he finally acknowledge her love. With her persistence that she truly loves him, he allows her to love to embrace him. Roxane regrets her late discovery, which is because of Cyrano’s overdue confession. His fear of rejection by the woman he loved was because of his lack of self-confidence and insecurity in his outer appearance. In Cyrano de Bergerac, Edmond Rostand describes how insecurities can be affected by one’s inner or outer beauty. One’s perception of his or her own qualities causes inner conflict as one battles with his or her insecurities. This inner conflict affects one’s self-confidence and leads to actions that may be regretful. Cyrano de Bergerac is used demonstrate that one’s actions, or lack of actions, have consequences for the future and to illustrate how one’s perception of his or her qualities may be accentuated to cause a lack in self-confidence.
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.
“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.
In the beginning of the play all aspects of society come together to the theater which involves the poor and the richest people. There’s were Roxane first saw Christian and she was immediately attracted to his looks, she’s just like society is quick to judge looks over personality, completely under minding Cyrano. Roxane tells Cyrano about Christian beauty in Act two Scene five Roxane said “His face shines with wit n intelligence, He’s proud, noble, young, fearless, and handsome.” This shows that she’s completely blinded by his looks! Society will describe Christian just like Roxane but will have different aspects of him. She’s saying that Christian is a bright person judging him by the way he looks. Roxane starts to look for Christian by letting Cyrano know that he is part of his regiment. In Act two Scene five Roxane said “ And it s happens, cousin, that he’s a member of your regiment.” Roxane had just seen Christian once and she already knew who he was and what he did....
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
It could be argued that Cyrano is not a failure in the fact that his love for Roxanne does not go unanswered. It is devastating that Cyrano spent so much time trying to obtain this happiness and realises all along that “he could have won Roxanne’s love for himself” (“Debating Deception,” n.p.). This is emphasized when Roxanne realizes that Cyrano was the one who had written these letters after many years. He denies that it was him because he does not want to tarnish her memory of Christianity. She recognizes Cyrano’s voice and declares how it was him
Cyrano has created a mental stage where women are kept on the outside and men are free to go within. Because he lacks confidence around women, he has no choice but to express his feelings by writing letters and does not have any kind of physical contact with women. When Cyrano is complaining to Le bret that he can never have Roxane he says, “With this nose of mine that marches on… Whom should i love? Why-of course-it must be the most beautiful woman in the world”(48). If a man does not have any confidence in himself, then any attemp...
One of Cyrano’s most significant traits as a friend was his loyalty. He would always look out for friends in their time of need, which makes the audience feel sympathetic towards him. Because Cyrano is such a loyal friend, the audience feels angry with Roxane for manipulating him, and taking advantage of his loyalty. An example of Cyrano’s loyalty was when Ragueneau’s wife was having an affair with a musketeer, Cyrano confronted her, “Make sure you do./I like your husband, and I don’t intend/To see him made a fool of./Is that clear?”(II.iv.115-118). He stood up for his dear friend, and did not want him be made a joke of. I believe this is important because it shows that he is not only loyal to his friend, but also caring and has strong moral principles. What Lise was doing was wrong, and the author put this part in to emphasize the reader’s sympathy for Cyrano. Later when Ragueneau’s wife left him, Cyrano did not hesitate to support Ragueneau by talking him out of killing himself and providing him with a proper job. Furthermore, as everyone must be aware of, Cyrano was in love with Roxane. But because he was such a trustworthy friend, he agreed to protect Christian...
Both Christian and Cyrano love Roxane but Roxane loves only the person that has been writing to her. It was actually Cyrano, who was writing to her but she thinks it was Christian. Cyrano had said, "..And we two make one hero of romance." (II,85) Since Cyrano was suffering with an inferiority complex, as he had a gigantic nose, he was shy to ask Roxane whether she wanted him or not. He had assumed that she would not like him because of his deformity. He one said , "..I adore Beatrice Have I / The look of Dante?" (I,42) What he had not considered was that Roxane loved him for what he was from the inside, not outside. Once she had told Christian that , "If you were less charming - ugly even - I should love you still.
If you pay attention to the last scene of each end, it would always end up with Cyrano saying something. The point of view in this play is omniscient which is multiple perspectives. Because this is a play, it is obvious that there will be different point of views. Most of the figurative language is said by Cyrano because of the type of person he is. “ ‘ I’ll be as silent as a tomb. ‘ “ (p. 111). When Roxane didn’t want Cyrano to tell Christian of what he has to do, this is what Cyrano said. This quote is a simile. “ ‘An old acquaintance. We’ve met on the battlefield, among other places. I knew we’d meet again some day, but this time wasn’t the time for it. ‘ ” (p. 195). This quote is a metaphor. Cyrano was about to die, but because he did not want Roxane to worry, he said
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.
After Christian De Neuvillette proves Cyrano De Bergerac that he has fortitude by insulting Cyrano’s extensive nose, Christian hastily apologizes later when Cyrano acknowledged he was the cousin of Roxane. This may be interpreted as an action of remorse, considering Christian did affront the cousin of Roxane; a woman Christian felt adoration towards. The interpretation is partially correct, although stepping into Christian ’s point of view, his loyalty is focused on Roxane. Christian’s reaction to when he figured Cyrano was Roxane’s cousin, revealed a sudden change in attitude towards Cyrano, creating a much lighter and respectful tone in his speech: “I am so glad to meet you
Cyrano’s happiness was not viewed by him with either a favor or a goal. I cannot believe that Cyrano cared about his own happiness whatsoever. Really, that apathy would probably be the only way that he could emotionally accept his dangerously selfless undertakings. Case in point, his giving of Roxanne to the incredibly undeserving Christian. No real happiness in that action. Roxanne and Christian’s, maybe, but certainly not his own, and he loved Roxanne. Had Cyrano actually wanted to be happy, the pangs of grief that he would feel as he gave her away would certainly have ripped him apart. But if Cyrano convinced himself that he did not care about his own happiness, then it would at least take the edge off of those bitter emotions that surely plagued his soul whenever he saw his love’s face. This triggered diffidence, with all the sacrifice that Cyrano made, may have been the only defense mechanism that he had.
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.
Cyrano confides with his friend Le Bret that he is in love with his cousin Roxane. Le Bret advises Cyrano that he should tell Roxane his feelings because there was no better time than now to tell her his feelings after she witness...