Review of Cyrano de Bergerac

1637 Words7 Pages
Title of Work: Cyrano de Bergerac Author of Work: Edmond Rostand Plot Analysis: Problems addressed/presented in the introduction: In the beginning of the play we find out that Cyrano is in love with his beautiful, and intellectual cousin Roxane. Cyrano was a brilliant poet and swordsman, and any woman would have been lucky to have him, but Cyrano thought himself too ugly for his beautiful cousin because he had a very large nose. Rising Action or Complication: We soon find out that Cyrano has some competition in winning the affections of his cousin because a handsome young man named Christian is also in love with Roxane. When Roxane meets with Cyrano the next morning, she tells Cyrano that she is in love with Christian and that he is going to be in Cyrano’s company of guards, Cadet’s of Gascoyne, and she wishes that Cyrano protect him. Cyrano agrees, and leaves. When the cadets arrive, Christian tries to prove his bravery by insulting Cyrano’s nose- a usually fatal act. Because of Cyrano’s promise he simply embraces Christian and tells him about Roxane’s feelings for him. At first Christian is pleased, but then he realises that Roxane, being an intellectual woman, would find Christian boring and dull because he is not smart nor can he write poetry. Cyrano comes up with a plan to have himself pretend to be Christian and have Christian repeat everything Cyrano says. It works and Roxane and Christian secretly married. But their happiness is short because de Guiche, the man that Cyrano dueled at the theater a few nights ago to be Roxane’s husband, announces that he is sending the cadet’s to fight Spain. Crisis or Climax: Cyrano writes to Roxane everyday pretending to be Christian and risks his life to send these letters to her. De Guiche says that the Spaniards will attack within the hour, but then a coach arrives and Roxane emerges with a feast for the soldiers.
Open Document