Cyrano de Bergerac: Cyranos Qualities :: Cyrano De Bergerac Essays

Throughout Edmond Rostands classic play, Cyrano de Bergerac, the title character, Cyrano, is a passionate writer whose complex and rich individualised qualities are the foundation of his peerless eloquence. Cyranos unrivaled sense of humor is a defense against those who humiliate him for his outlandish appearance. For example, during the nose speech, Cyrano challenges Valvert with twenty stunningly change and complex alternative suggestions, one more stinging than the next, to replace Valverts banal attempt at insult. Cyranos retaliation against Valverts feeble attempt at overplus backfires as Cyrano destroys his opponent with a tirade of ingenious examples of how better to insult "the nose" Its a rock, a peak, a cape No, more than a cape a peninsula (41). In addition to Cyranos wit, his language is deeply thought-out and rich with poetic imagination. Cyrano amplifies upon a single word by using concrete words to spin a simple concept into a memorable poetic experience. C yrano illustrates the value of Christians need for a kiss from Roxane aft(prenominal) all, what is a kiss? A vow made at closer range, a more precise promise, a confession that contains its own proof, a cachet placed on a pact that has already been signed its a secret told to the mouth rather than to the ear, a fleeting moment make full with the hush of eternity (126). Furthermore, it is in compensation for Cyranos great suffering that his verbal style is so sensitive and brilliant. He will always live in vain 2Look at me and tell me what hope this protuberance might leave meI go into a garden, smelling the odour of spring with my poor monstrous nose, and watch a man and a woman strolling together in the moonlight. I think how much I, too, would like to be walking arm in arm with a woman, under the moon (51). Incorporating cleverness and eloquence into his language, Cyrano replies to Le Brets sympathy with the response that he would never let a sublime tear be lowered by having to run down such an ugly nose.