Athena Corbett Mrs.Justus European Lit. 5/20/24 There is More Behind the Mask “There’s more to them than meets the eye” -Optimus Prime. In 1897, Edmond Rostand wrote the world-famous drama “Cyrano De Bergerac”. One of the many themes that stood out throughout the “Cyrano de Bergerac” drama is that not everything is as it seems. As Rostand was born into a lavishly(LY) wealthy family in France; Rostand was cultured by his father teaching him poetry. During his lifetime, he became France’s most accomplished playwright. Acting out this play all around the world in colleges as well as community drama clubs is now commonplace, his first play in 1888, La Gant Rouge, was an absolute flop, which no one noticed. The drama, Cyrano De Bergerac, was partially …show more content…
This man inspired (SV) Edmond to write this flamboyant play of a seemingly fearless warrior deeply in love with the most desired woman in Paris, Roxane, his cousin. Throughout the play, the theme of more than meets the eye is shown through the deceitful(QA) escapades of Cyrano and Christian, the non-nobility of the nobleman De Guiche, and Cyrano’s inability to cope with his supposed one flaw. (PREP)Around the year 1640, in Paris, France, tensions between France and Spain were rising while poet soldier and protagonist Cyrano De Bergerac fell deeply(LY) in love with the gorgeous and coveted(QA) Roxane. Although Cyrano may emanate arrogance, deep inside he is truly insecure due to a single flaw splotched right in the middle of his face, his large nose. He believes all his greatness is shadowed by the absolute size of his nose. Because of Roxane’s beauty, she is desired by many, but the one she is physically attracted to lacks one thing, his eloquence in speech. Cyrano and Christian team up to deceive Roxane, and hopefully win her love by deceiving her into believing that Christian is intelligent. Christian and Cyrano pull off their act by acting beautifully while Cyrano speaks for him …show more content…
In this play, a character and two conflicts perfectly(LY) demonstrate this theme: Cyrano and his deeply ingrained inferiority complex, De Guiche’s general creepiness messily covered up by his status of nobility, and the great deception of Roxane. (ASIA) As the play begins, Cyrano is depicted(SV) as an arrogant(QA) jerk by many because acted as if he is better than all others around him. However, Rostand soon reveals that Cyrano denies all his great achievements due to one supposed flaw, his colossal mammoth-sized schnoz. This crushing belief in his disfigurement allows him to not pursue his deepest desire, which is to express his feelings of romance to the beloved Roxane. Secondly, when De Guiche appears to be a respectable nobleman, he is described as, “a slug on a rose petal”, by Rostand. Determined to win Roxane over so his lustful desires can be fulfilled, he attempts to crash Christian’s and Roxane’s wedding. ING: Arriving there, he wore a ridiculously obvious metaphor, a mask. A third example of the theme is when two men who covet Roxane, Christian and Cyrano, team up to fill in for each other’s flaws. Acting as the handsome vessel, Christian's ill-wit is replaced with Cyrano’s whimsical(Qa) words of love, which are handed to Roxane as letters of love from Christian. In the end, this
The plot in both the movie and the book are similar. In both, Cyrano is trying to help Roxanne and Christian fall in love with each other, even though he loves Roxanne. Cyrano writes letters to Roxanne telling her how much he loves her, pretending to be Christian. He loves Roxanne, but feels that he is ugly and could never get her to love him back because of his huge nose.
Ever been to Paris, France in the year 1640? No? Well neither have I, but I have been residing in the United States in modern times. I related more to this version of Cyrano de Bergerac because the settings are familiar. In the original version there is a sword fight at a theater. Well for one, most people nowadays have the mind set that sword fights are for the aristocrats and Romeo and Juliet. Roxanne has fist fights and many events happen in a bar. I?ve seen fist fights and I have been in a bar and grill which is why I can relate to Roxanne. Another modern twist to Roxanne is the occupations of the characters. The fire figh...
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.
Few words can be more humorous, or more upsetting, than a well thought out and witty phrase. The only skill that matches Cyrano’s skill with a sword, is his skill with his tongue. With a wit unmatched by any poet, Cyrano made enemies wherever he went, simply by out-smarting all who came against him. In the first act of the play, Cyrano crashes a performance of the well-known actor Montfluery. After many insults, Cyrano heaps upon them by saying, “I would never venture out in public with a soiled conscience, a tarnished honor, or scruples grimy and dull. I do not adorn myself with gems and ribbons, like you. Instead, I decorate myself with truth, independence, and a clean soul.”
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...
The protagonist: Cyrano and the rest of the major characters: Christian, and Roxane. Cyrano was a man of many talents, he was a great poet, and a remarkable sword fighter, in the quote, “He’s an extraordinary man, isn’t he? The most delightful man under the sun” PG. 18, it conveys how Cyrano is even admired by those around him. However, Cyrano always lived by his idea in self-worth, Cyrano is very intelligent and skilled, but he lacks in self confidence which is revealed in the quote, “My friend, I have bad moments now and then, feeling myself so ugly, all alone….” PG.50. In addition to Cyrano we have Christian, the other half of Cyrano or can also be seen as Cyrano’s “outer beauty”. Christian is a handsome man who is also in love with Roxane but does not have the intelligence and courage to speak to her as seen in the quote, “I may have a certain quick, soldiery wit, but with women I’m always at a loss for anything to say.”PG.101. After meeting Christian, Cyrano uses this coincidence to help Christian by being his “conscience” or “inner beauty”, while Christian is Cyrano’s “outer beauty”. Furthermore we have Roxane, the beautiful and intelligent Roxane, whom almost everyone is in love with. The plot of the play surround solely around Roxane, Cyrano and Christian’s endeavor is to win Roxane’s love, and the ending of the play is determined by Roxane’s concept in
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.