Cyrano de Bergerac is a play written in 1897 by Edmond Rostand. Cyrano de Bergerac is considered one of the most well-known plays of Cyrano de Bergerac (a fictional character created by Cyrano de Bergerac, Edmond Rostand’s creation). Common knowledge may include Cyrano as the character who tragically dies at the end of his play Cyrano de Bergerac, a seemingly ill-fated lover who is tragically in love with Roxanne, Cyrano’s cousin.
It is important to note that Cyrano helps Christian (Roxanne’s suitor) win Roxanne by writing letters for him and speaking on his behalf—all because Cyrano cannot reveal the secret of his love to Roxanne. In one scene of Cyrano de Bergerac, Cyrano speaks passionately about how he would rather die than reveal the truth about the secret of his love for her. Edmond Rostand’s Cyrano can be viewed as a tragic hero due to this fact alone.
Cyrano dies at the end of Edmond Rostand’s Cyrano de Bergerac, but Cyrano’s story continues on in many live productions of Cyrano. It is also important to note that Cyrano has become an archetype for the romantic hero due to the depth and complexity of Cyrano’s character throughout Edmond Rostand’s Cyrano de Bergerac. Cyrano helps Christian win Roxanne not because Cyrano wants Roxanne, but because Cyrano cannot have her himself. It might also be important to note that Cyrano dies with his passion intact due to his ability to speak without constraints.
He is able to speak passionately about love and honor even as he lies dying on stage at the end of Edmond Rostand’s play, Cyrano de Bergerac . This can be seen as a vital characteristic of Cyrano’s play Cyrano de Bergerac, the Play vs. Roxanne, the Movie . Cyrano lives on due to his ability to speak at length about what is truly important in life—talking about love and honor even as he dies. Cyrano does not die with regret, but instead dies without regret.
Cyrano de Bergerac is a play written by Edmond Rostand , and Cyrano de Bergerac is the main character. Cyrano de Bergerac, the Play: The play opens with Cyrano’s friend Le Bret comparing Cyrano to “a church that stands on the site of an old temple of Venus” because Cyrano has such a large nose (Rostand 13). Cyrano discusses his hatred for beautiful women and love letters, saying he hates writing them because they are not honest. He confesses that he would not be able to tell Roxane how he felt about her without making himself look like a fool.
Cyrano soon finds out that Roxanne and Christian(De Guiche) have fallen in love and that Cyrano’s friend, Ragueneau, has been hired to cook for a court ball. Cyrano plans the food and his costume while he writes letters in Roxane’s name to Christian. Cyrano says that the reason why he wrote for both of them is because he “has a passion” for words (17). Cyrano meets Roxane at the ball and dances with her before she realizes who Cyrano is. She tells him how much she loves him through word play without realizing it(20). Cyranos tries to tell her about his feelings for her but fails until they are interrupted by an angry De Guiche.
Later, Christian comes to visit Cyrano after writing one last letter saying that if Roxanne does not fall in love with Cyrano, he would kill himself. Cyrano tells Roxane that Christian is dead and she vows her undying love for Cyrano. However, Cyrano says that they cannot be together because of his nose (a reference to the original play by Rostand). She kisses him anyway and Cyrano dies just as an enemy’s bullet hits him(27). The movie opens with Cyrano saying how he has always believed that people are not “capable of loving more than one person at a time” (22) but now he thinks differently about it.
Cyrano soon finds out that Roxanne and Christian have fallen in love through Ragueneau who warns Cyrano before De Guiche can tell him(23). Cyrano agrees to write for Roxane and Christian but Cyrano sees Christian’s love letters and says that they are too flowery (25). Cyrano asks Le Bret what true love is saying, “I want the impossible. I know it exists because I have seen it in her eyes” (Rostand 29) referring to Roxane. Cyrano then goes to Ragueneau to ask him how he should write them before Cyrano finds out that the letters are being written by Christian.
Cyrano tells him that his words are not honest enough when writing about himself(30). Cyrano pretends to be a soldier in order to visit Roxane in person because of his bravery against attackers in battle. Cyranos falls asleep during his visit and wakes up to Ragueneau saying that Cyrano has arranged for Roxane to marry Cyrano(33). Cyrano’s nose is sore on his wedding day so he tells Le Bret not to let anyone through the door because Cyrano will be hiding if it is someone other than Roxanne. Cyranos confesses his love to Roxanne but she does not understand what he means(36).
She asks him why they cannot be together, Cyrano says “I have a great soul, but I am not handsome”(37). Cyrano realizes that she does love him after all even though she doesn’t say it. Christian comes in with Ligniere who has been wounded by De Guiche’s men(40). Cyrano jumps on Cyrano and they both fight against De Guiche’s men until Cyrano is wounded by a bullet(41). Cyrano dies just as Roxanne realizes that she truly loves Cyrano. The play and the movie use several literary devices to portray Cyranos love for Roxane: imagery, foreshadowing, irony, and personification .
Cyranos’ choice of words through poetry and prose help to emphasize his strong feelings of love toward Roxane. The way Rostand represents Cyranos’ language with literary devices such as imagery (specifically of smells), foreshadowing (he sometimes gives hints about how it will end), irony (Cyrano does not show his intelligence in front of others) and personification (Rostand personifies Cyranos’ nose twice with the line, “My foe is no more than my slave”(Rostand 22)) helps to emphasize Cyrano’s deep love for Roxane.
Cyrano also uses imagery throughout his letters to Christian by using words like “embrace” (22) and “dissolution” (25). Cyranos’ use of these literary devices causes the reader to connect with him emotionally because it makes Cyrano seem even more humane. The movie portrays Cyranos as an analytical character that searches very hard for honor through acts of bravery in battle. Cyrano overcomes many obstacles such as not being handsome, having a large nose, and doubting his intelligence until he reaches things within himself that are admirable.
Cyrano represents the Cyrano of Rostands play through his use of poetic language. Although Cyranos’ nose is not bandaged in the movie, Cyranos still thinks of himself as ugly until he realizes Roxanes love for him at the end where he dies just after Roxane kisses him. Cyrano’s death leaves her with a stronger, more loving memory than any words that Cyrano could have possibly said to her. The movie stresses Cyranos intelligence and bravery but leaves out other aspects such as how Cyrano has a larger-than-life personality and says things that are shocking to others because they do not match up with what most people say.
