CyranoDeBergeracActEssay
AnmolBurmyMrs.AvonEng.10,Period420Feb.2016EnglishWhiz,CyranodebergeracAct–3 Onomatopoeia–Referstosoundwordswhosepronunciationtotheactualsoundtheyrepresent. "Hoo!Hoo!"(Cyranodebergerac144)ThisisanexampleofOnomatopoeiabecauseCyranois makingofwaveswithhisvoiceandtheirmovementbylarge,vaguegestures.thesoundisturned intoawordmimickingthatnoise.Simile–comparingthingsusing"like"or"as".2."Yournameis likeagoldenbellhunginmyheart....."(Cyranodebergerac127).Thisisanexampleofsimile becauseherecyranocomparesroxane'snametoagoldenbellusingtheword"like".Symbolism–In writing,symbolism
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Intoday'sdayandage,peoplearejudgednotontheirinnerbeauty,butrather,theirphysicalbeauty. Thisdesiretoholdjudgementagainstouterbeautyslowlyruinsself–confidence.InCyranode Bergeracthisjudgementonouterbeautymakesthecharactersfeelinsecureabouttheirweaker qualities.ThisisdemonstratedbyCyrano'sbeliefthatpeoplethinklowlyofhimbecauseofhis appearance.Incontrast,Christianfindshimselfphysicallyattractivebut,withlittleeloquenceand fearshishandsomelooksisallpeopleseeofhimAndfinally,Roxannecontributestothisissueby expressingherjudgementonpeoplebasedontheirlooks.
Appearancedoesnotportendeverything,butinmostcases,isthequalitythatisjudged predominately.Cyranoisanastonishinglyintelligent,andwell–spokenman,buthasunappealing looks.Hisappearanceaffectshisself–confidenceconsideringthathebelieveseveryonelooksathim asbeinganuglyindividualWhenRoxanneisexplainingtheman,sheisinlovewith,Cyrano assumessheisexplaininghischaracteristics,untilshesays"hisfaceshineswithwitand intelligence,he'sproud,noble,young,fearless,handsome..."(CyranodeBergerac,Rostand,pg.77). Cyranohearsthatthemanishandsomeandlosesallhope,becausetohimselfheisnotconsidered handsome.Havingbeenjudgedabouthisphysicalfeatures,hisself–confidenceispoor.Although, hebelieveshisouterbeautydecidesonhowpeopleenvisionhim,heisaveryintelligentindividual andhasmarvelousinsidequalities,whichmanypeoplerecognizeandrespect.Ifonlyhecould realizethathisouterbeautyisnotnearlyimportantashisinnerbeauty,maybethenhecouldsee howimportanthisstrongestqualitiesare Beingwelldressed,groomed,andbeingphysicallyappealinghasitsperks,asappearanceiswhata firstimpressionwouldbebasedonifnoconversationisinvolved.Butouterbeautydoesnotindicate aperson'spersonalityandintelligence.InregardstoChristian,heisaveryhandsomecharacter,but hiswordchoiceandpoeticsensibilityareverypoor.Heisalwaysatalossofwordsandbelieveshe isadim–wittedindividual,especiallywhenhetellsCyranothat"I'moneofthosemen
AnalysisofCyranodeBergeracasaRomanticWork
Appealtoemotions,individualism,andintellectualachievementwerethreeimportantelementsof Romanticism.ThisessaywillexplorethedegreetowhichCyranodeBergeracexemplifiesthese elementsofRomanticism.
Firstandforemostistheappealtoemotions.Alloftheotherfacetsofromanticismcanberelatedto theemotionalappealinCyranodeBergerac.Becausestrongemotionalappealisperhapsthemost importantmethodusedbytheauthortocreateidentitywiththereader,especiallyinromanticworks, theactionswhichelicittheemotionalresponsesmust,then,showagreatdealaboutthecharacter. Thecharacter'smotivesandphilosophiescanbedeterminedshowmorecontent
ThereaderfeelsstronglyforCyranoto"goforit!"andisproudandrespectfultowardhimbecause ofhis"magnelephant"actions.
Cyrano'sactionsandtheresultingemotionalresponsefromthereader,then,portrayhimasan individualDuringthisageofromanticism,thiswasconsideredtobethe"chic"thingtodoHerewe havethefeelingofthefashionabilityofCyrano'sactions.Heisamoralleaderwhichthepeoplelook upto.
Astheplayprogresses,weareshownvariousincidentsintheplaywhichelicitemotionalresponses fromthereader:thelongingCyranohasforRoxane;hisbeliefthathecanneverhaveherbecauseof hisappearance;acomicalinterventionasChristiangetsanoseuponCyrano;CyranoandChristian workingtogethertocourtRoxane;theauthoroftheletterstoRoxanebeingunknowntoher;the passionatespeechwhichCyranodeliverstoRoxanefrombehindtheshrub;theexistenceofthe cadetsinsuchgrimconditions;thedeathofChristian;thefinalresolutionofCyrano'slovefor Roxaneandhisdeath.
Theseemotionsarewhatdefinetheplayandmakeitgreat.
Asecondcharacteristicofromanticismisindividualism.Throughouttheplay,itisregardedasnoble inspirittobeindividualistic,andCyranodemonstratestothiseffectrepeatedly.His"whiteplumes offreedom"areperhapsthemostvividexampleofthisindependentspiritHeopenlyandwillingly defiesthestandardssetforthbytraditionalculturein ...Getmorecontent...
Sometimesinlife,ittakesatragicscenarioforustolearnalesson.IntheplayCyranodeBergerac byEdmondRostand,theplottellsofamannamedCyranowhohasalargenoseandisunableto revealhislovetoawomannamedRoxane,soheposesunderthenameofa"handsome"mannamed ChristiantowinRoxane'slove.Thetwousewhattheylackfromeachothertoeventuallywinher love,butthedeathsofbothChristianandCyranointheendrevealthatifonelovesandcaresabout someone,thenoneshouldsacrificeone'sownneedsforthem
ThefirstdeathwewitnessintheplayisChristian'swhenheisinbattleandreaderscanlearnthat onemustcometotheirowntruthsbeforeonedies.ThereRoxannerisksherlifetocomesee Christianonthebattlefield.ChristianasksRoxanne,"Andnow,Roxane,tellshowmorecontent HisresponsetoRoxaneshowshehasrealizedthatitisnothimthatRoxaneloves,butCyrano. Unfortunately,beforeChristianwasabletoconfesstoRoxane,heisshotbytheopposingenemy andhislifeendedshortlyafterwards.Christianwasneverabletocometohisowntruthsbeforehe dies,andinsteadheasksCyranotoconfesstoRoxanneofthetruth.Cyranohadtheperfectchance toconfesshislove,butwasplacedinapositionthatwouldcauseRoxannemoretogriefCyrano decidestosacrificehischanceoflovewithRoxanneforthebetterofbothRoxanneandChristian.
CyranodecidestolietoChristianashehadhislastbreathoflifeandtoldhimthatheconfessedto Roxanne,andshestilllovedChristian,butinrealityhehadsaidnothingtosaveRoxannefrom anotherheartbreakandsoChristiandiedhappy.Thisisagreatexampleofsacrificingyourown needsforthebenefitof
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CyranodeBergeracbyEdmondRostandisabouttwomennamedCyranoandChristian.Cyranoisa gallantsoldier,brilliant,witty,poetwithmanytragedies,loverwithafacethatdoesnotmatchhis personality.ChristianistheoppositeofCyrano.Christianhasreallygoodlooks,howeverhelacks intelligenceandwit.CyranoandChristianarebothinlovewithCyrano'scousin,Roxane.Roxaneis averybeautifulandsmartwomanCyranoandChristianworkedtogethertotrytogetRoxaneto loveChristian.CyranoandChristianbothwenttowarwiththeCadets.Christianunfortunatelydies aftergettingshot.CyranocomfortedRoxaneandactedlikeher"gazette"whenChristiandied.Even thoughCyranoisinlovewithRoxanehestillmournsChristian's
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Manylovestoriesendwithhappyendings,whileothersleadtotragedy.Aforbiddenlovestoryis displayedintheplayCyranodeBergeracbyEdmondRostandwherealovetriangleiscreated betweenthemaincharacters.Thisisshownspecificallyshowninthebalconyscenewiththe charactersRoxane,Christian,andCyrano.Thebalconysceneisarepresentationofhowthe charactershidetheirtruefeelingstowardsoneanothertoprotectthetruthObstaclespreventthoseto showtruefeelingsandaffectionstotheoneswhomeanmost.Truefeelingsarehiddentoprotect one'sintentionswithwhatmorallybelongstothem.Duringthebalconyscene,Cyranofacesseveral obstaclestoexpresshisfeelingstowardsRoxanneeventhoughhefailedatfirstWhenRoxanesays "AndIloveyou...andIamyours...andyou/Havemademethus,"sheistrulyinlovewiththe wordsproclaimedbyCyrano,andnotChristianhimself(3.337–8).ForthisreasonCyranoisnever abletoconfesshistrueloveforRoxane.WhileChristiangetstoexpresshislovethroughCyrano, CyranofaceschallengesforhisloveforRoxanne,whichonlycauseshimtobecomemoreloyal towardsChristianandmorelovingtowardsRoxaneintheendCyranofacesmanyobstaclesinthe pastthathelpthegrowth...showmorecontent...
Cyrano'spastmakeshimmoretimidtosharehistruefeelingsbecauseheisscaredtoseehow peoplewillreact.WhenCyranoproclaimsthat"Irememberlastyear,theFirstofMay,/Alittle beforenoon,youhadyourhair/Drawnlow,thatonetimeonly,"(3.308–10)heissupposedto pretendheisChristian,howeverhetalksaboutamemoryfromayearago,whenChristiandidnot knowRoxane.Sheistoolove–strickenby"Christian'swords"torealizethiswronging.Thisline hintsthatCyranoisprofessing"Christian'slove"butthroughhisowntrueaffectionstowardRoxane, whichunfortunatelyforhimcannotbe
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AfamousmanbythenameofKahlilGibranoncesaid,"Beautyisnotintheface;beautyisalight intheheart."ItjusthappensthatCyrano'sheartshinedbrighterthananyoneIhaveeverknown. Throughinsecuritiesandheartbreaks,Cyranowouldneverforgethisprideorthefeelingsofhis friends.Heneverlosthishonorandwouldalwaysbringlightintoanysituation,evenwhenhewas nearhisdeathCyranodisplayedmanypositivetraitsandvaluessuchasloyalty,devotion, selflessness,knowledge,andpridewhichallcontributedtooursympathytowardshim.Oneof Cyrano'smostsignificanttraitsasafriendwashisloyalty.Hewouldalwayslookoutforfriendsin theirtimeofneed,whichmakestheaudiencefeelsympatheticshowmorecontent Ifyoudonotremember,CyranosentRoxanealetterfromChristiantwiceadaywhiletheywereat war.HepromisedRoxanethatChristianwouldwritetohereveryday,soCyranowroteeveryday, andputhislifeindangerbytravellingacrossbattlefieldsjustforher.Themostunfortunatepart beingthatRoxanealwaysthoughtitwasChristiansendingandwritingtheletterseveryday,"Things dead,longdead,see!Howtheyriseagain!–Why,whykeepsilenceallthesefourteenyears,when,on thisletter,whichheneverwrote,Thetearswereyourtears?"(V.v.217–220).Hewasdevotedto keepitasecret,whichalsorevealshowpatientheis,waitingalltheseyears,listeningtoRoxane mournaboutChristian,whenheknewthatitwashimallalong.CyranowouldcomevisitRoxane everyweekfor14years,showinghiscommitmenttowardsher.HewasdevotedtoChristianaswell, whenChristianwasdyingCyranotoldhimthatRoxanetrulylovesChristian,"Itoldherall,She lovesyoustill."(IV.x.445).HekeptitasecrettospareChristian'sdignity.Moreover,bysparing Christian'sdignity,Cyranoportrayedselflessnessexcellently.Hisselflessnessstrengthenedhis nobilityandhonorableimagetotheaudienceHoweverthiswasnottheonlywayCyranoshowed this.Mostofyoumightrememberthenightoftheplay,whenChristianfirstmovedtoParis.Itwasa memorablenightbecauseCyranofoughtoffthose
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Franceisusuallyequatedwithloveandromance,andalovetriangleisespeciallyafavouriteof mostaudiences.TheFrenchmovieCyranodeBergerac,an1990adaptationoftheoriginal19th centuryplayofthesametitle,isgoingtosatisfytheappetitesofthosewhoarehookedon everythingaboutloveandFrenchliterature.CyranodeBergeracisacomedicremakeofthesame play,exceptwithexceptionalcastmembers,completedwithsupremelypoeticdialoguesEvenif youarenotafanofFrenchpoetry,theopulentcostumesandenchantingmusicwillsurelybewitch youraestheticsenses.DirectorJean–PaulRappaneauintendedthis2hours,18minutes,PG–rated dramaticcomedytofeedtheeyesandearsofyoungadultsHiscinematicadaptationremainedloyal totheoriginalplay:themoviestartsoffwiththeheroofthestoryCyrano(GerardDepardieu)falling inlovewithhiscousinRoxane(AnneBrochet).Ourunfortunateherowasbornwithanabsurdly largenose,whichmakesCyranoferociouslyconvincedthatRoxanewillnevergrowtolovehim. ThischangeswhenChristian(VincentPerez),acolleagueofCyranointhesame...showmore content
Theclassicalmusicsuitsthe17thcenturytimeperiodofthestory,andaccentuatestheenduring passionthatpermeatesthefilm.Otherthanthemusic,theelegantcostumescanbeviewedasan independentcollectionofartwork;infact,thefilm'scostumedesignerFrancaSquarciapinoreceived theAcademyAwardforBestCostumeDesignatthe1990AcademyAwards.Theactingwasas expectedfromFrenchactors,passionateanddramatic,stirringsentimentsofsympathytowards Cyrano.Depardieu,inparticular,presentedtotheaudienceagallantandbrilliantCyrano,asifthe characterhasplayedashimselfinthemovie.Thepeach–facedBrochetwastailoredtothecharacter, asifRoxanewascreatedjustforher,nottheotherway
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Therelationshipbetweenselfandobjectiscompletelyopposite.Theobjectisinserviceoftheself. Selfisalsoknownasthesubject,good,white,light,andwithgod.Objectisknownastheother,bad, black,dark,andwiththedevil.ThisideaappearedinHeinzKohut'sworkforthosewithnarcissistic personalitydisorders,asnotedinencyclopedia.com.Inthemovie,"CyranodeBergerac,"the characterRoxanneisanobjectandasubject
Cyranoplaysthemaincharacter.ThewholemovieisaboutCyranowhobelievesheistoouglyto beloved,soheneverconfessestoRoxanne,buttheaudienceknowsthatRoxanneloveshim.The movieisalsonamedafterCyranoInaselfandobjectrelationship,themaincharacterisalwaysthe subject,thereforeRoxanneandeverybodyelseisanobjectusedtowriteastoryallaboutCyrano. Thewebsite,Shmoop,claimsthatRoxanneis"theobjectofeveryone'ssexualdesires..."Roxanne wasjustusedasaprettycharacter.AlthoughthisisaFrenchstory,"InAmericancultureawomanis valuedfortheattractiveness"(Nilsen160).Thesamecanbesaidinthisfilm.Manymendidnot knowRoxannepersonally,suchasChristian,buttheyshowmorecontent
Inasubjectandotherrelationshipwithinastory,thereisaprotagonistandantagonist.Accordingto dictionary.com,aprotagonistis"theleadingcharacter,hero,orheroineofadramaorotherliterary work,"andanantagonistis"apersonwhoisopposedto..."Theleadingcharacterisalsothemain character,Cyrano.Cyranospokethroughouttheplay,fromthebeginningtoend,unliketheother charactersHowever,therewasnoevilforcetobetheantagonist,unlessitwasCyrano'snoseInthe movieCyranosaid,"[Roxanneis]thelight–Iamallshadow!"Cyranoisnotgoodenoughto Roxannetospeaktoherdirectlyabouthisfeelings.Lightisalsoassociatedwithgood,andshadow isgenerallyassociatedwithbadRoxannemaybethesubjector
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TheplayCyranoDeBergerac,writtenbyEdmundRostandcoversaperiodoftimejustoverfifteen years.Themaincharacters,Cyrano,Christian,andRoxane,aretangledinalovestoryformostof thefifteenyearstheplaycovers.BothCyranoandChristianareinlovewithRoxane.Roxane believesthatshehasfalleninlovewithChristianahandsomemanwithnointelligence.Butnot Cyrano,averyintelligentmanwithanunappealingface,hasbeeninlovewithRoxaneThetwo menmakeanagreementtocombineefforttomakeRoxaneaperfectman,amanwithwit,andgood looks.ThePlanworkedbutChristiandiesearlyinthefifteenyearperiodandCyranospendshis timecomfortingherinherlostlove,howeverafraidtotellherthathewas
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Love,Betrayal,Hubris,andRelationshipsinCyranodeBergerac
Frenchauthorsandplaywrightshavebeenacclaimedworldwidefortheirdynamicprose,complex situations,andunpredictableendings.ThesamepraisesholdtrueforEdmondEugeneAlexis Rostand.BornofProvencalancestryonApril1,1868,Rostandwaswell–learned,asevidencedby hisextensivechildhoodeducationasastudentofthelyceeofMarseilleHisfatherwasaprominent memberoftheMarseilleAcademy.Asadirectresultofthishighinfluence,Rostandconcludedhis studiesattheCollegeStanislasinParis.Hestudied,underthedirectionofthethen–renowned ProfessorReneDoumic,theworksofthosecremedelacremeauthorsheldinhighesteem––show morecontent...
Inmanyways,thecharacterCyranodiffersfromtheactualheroForinstance,therealCyranowas borninParis,whereasthefictitiousCyranowasborninGascony.However,itmustnotbeforgotten that,inotherways,bothcharactersarestrikinglysimilar.BasedonCyranodeBergerac,andputting asidetherealCyrano,Rostandcombinedtraditionalromanticismwithatouchofhisown Rostandism.
CyranodeBergerac,thenovel,issetinthe1600s(Goldstein485),anditvividlytellsthestoryof Cyrano,asuccessfulswordsman,poet,philosopher,andplaywright––allrolledupintoone.His onlyflawishislong,unattractivenose,atopictowhichCyranoisverysensitive(Marlowe1262) HeisinfactuatedwithRoxane,awitty,light–headeddistantcousinwhomheproclaimstobethe mostbeautifulwomaninFrance.Hisownoutwardappearancefrightenshimintonotprofessinghis lovetoher,andshesuspectsnothing.Meanwhile,RoxaneisinlovewithChristiandeNeuvillette,a young,inexperiencedsoldier––onlybecauseofhisphysicalappearance.Thisrevelationcrushes CyranolikeapapercupRatherthantakingrevengeonChristian,Cyranodevoteshimselfin professinghislovethroughlettersaddressedfromChristian.DoingsoonlyincreasesRoxane'slove forChristian,andthetwoofthemaremarried.CountdeGuiche,thecommanderinchargeofthe regimenttowhichbothCyrano
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Loveissomethingimportant.It'sthecauseoflife,death,andeverythinginbetween.It'sthething thatmakessomepeoplegetoutofbedinthemorning.Whetheritbeheadoverheels,orjustalittle crush,loveisbeautiful.However,somepeoplecorrupttheviewoflovewithlust,whichisbased whollyonappearance.Althoughmaintainingagoodappearanceisimportant,andhavingbeauty isn'tnecessarilyabadthing,trueloveismoreaboutinternalattributesandnotwhat'sontheoutside In"CyranodeBergerac",EdmondRostandusesconflict,tone,anddictiontoexpressthethemethat trueloveislessaboutbeautyandmoreaboutwhat'sontheinside.EdmondRostandillustratesthat one'sappearanceisthenottheonlyfactortoconsider
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IntheplayCyranodeBergerac,byEdmondRostand,isabookaboutCyranodeBergerac,whois oneofthemaincharactersinthisbookthathasadownfallinthehislovelife.Cyranohadaflawin hislifethatleadtohisdownfallintheend.Thecontributionsthatleadtothiswouldbehistragic flaws,whichtrulypreventedhimfromachievingthewomenofhisdreams.Cyranomayhavehad favorabletraitsabouthimselflikebeingabletotakecontrolasaleader;gaininghimrespectfrom others.Surely,thatwouldhavegivenhimtheconfidencetogainRoxane'sbuthestoodinthe shadowsbecauseofhishonorarycode.Roxanedidlovehim,butshelovedhimthroughChristian.
Cyranowouldbeconsideredatragiccharacterbecauseheshowmorecontent
BeforeChristian'sdeath,RoxanesaysthatshewouldloveChristianevenifhewereuglybecauseof hisaffectionin"hisletters"butinrealitythataffectionwasbeingwrittenbyCyrano.Christianknew hewasgoingtodieduringthewarconsideringhewasalreadyfamishedandgauntsohetold CyranospecificallythatRoxanewouldlovesChristianevenifhewereuglyandthatheknew CyranolovesRoxanebecauseheriskshislifebycrossingenemylinesjusttosendheraletter everyday.Beingthemanofhonor,CyranodidnottellRoxanethat"Christian'ssoul"wasactually him,forthereasonofRoxanemourningoverChristian.WhileChristianwasdying,Cyrano whispersinChristian'sear,"Itoldhereverything.It'sstillyousheloves!"(4.9.194).Eventhough hemayhaveliedtoChristian,buthecouldn'tlethimdiewiththethoughtofRoxanenotlovinghim. Fifteenyearslater,RoxanefinallylearnsthetruthofhowitwasCyranowritingsthoseletters CyranorequestsRoxanetolethimreadthelastlettergiventoRoxane"fromChristian,"thenashe isreadingit;hereaditwiththesametoneasthenightunderthebalcony.Inthelightofthereading, sheclaims,"HowwellyoureadthatletterAvoicethatI'mnothearingforthefirsttime!Itwas you"(217).RoxanesoonrealisingthatCyranohasalwayslovedherandnowdoesn'twanthimto leave.Cyrano'sdeathhappenedafterthis
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