Character Analysis: Cyrano De Bergerac

Cyrano Values One individual’s idea of good could easily be another’s evil. In a world where there is often a thin line separating all ideals from “good” or “bad,” it is difficult to actually classify one’s views. But, why are people’s views so different? One may ask, wouldn’t it be easier if each individual had the same opinions? Well, unfortunately, it is not that simple. Morals, which are principles for differentiating between right and wrong, differ in each and every human being on this planet. One’s morals are often defined by the unofficial societal code of conduct and norms, and they almost never change. Values, however, also come into this equation. They are the ideals and things that one holds dearly, usually stemming from an individual's personal beliefs. One’s values can shift radically because of life experiences. For example, a human being can strongly value love and compassion, but one too many negative experience with such values could cause the individual to abandon those ideals all together. Cyrano de Bergerac, the esteemed play written by Edmond Rostand, features a protagonist of the same name who holds great pride in maintaining his values. This swashbuckling character could be admired greatly for
always staying true to his values, but could also be seen as a fool for throwing away his happiness in order to do so. One could say, almost without a doubt, that Cyrano valued bravery. Being incredibly skilled in the art of sword dueling and hot headed, he was never one to turn down a fight. In fact, he always did the exact opposite. Montfleury, who was a terrible actor, was hated by Cyrano for making a pass at his love, Roxanne. However, this reason was not known by Cyrano’s friends, as Ragueneau said, “So hates Montfleury, he has forbidden him for three weeks to appear on stage” (Act I). A combination of what seemed to be foolishness and dauntlessness led to him covertly crossing the no-man’s-land every day in order to send letters to Roxanne. This was only one of the many courageous acts he had under his belt. However, amidst all of his lionhearted bravery, laid one fight that he was unable to face. Monsieur de Bergerac, under the pretense of wanting to assist Christian, used the dim-witted yet handsome cadet in order to confess his love for Roxanne without having to confront his insecurities about the large protruding bump that emitted from the middle of his face. Even when given the opportunity during the balcony scene, he refused to reveal himself, “The one moment I ever - my one chance to speak to you...unseen!” (Act III). Only when he was moments away from dying was he able to declare his true feelings for Roxanne, but even then, he did not originally intend to make her aware of them. Because of this, it could be said that while Cyrano was brave enough to constantly take on physical challenges, he was not brave when it came to emotional challenges. Cyrano, as well as being a courageous and thick skinned soldier, was quite a superficial man. Ignoring the rest of his positive and negative traits, Cyrano valued physical appearance so strongly that he decided that Roxanne was incapable of loving him solely because of his pompous nose. During the course of the play, Cyrano would often speak about his unsightly appendage while making it out to be a larger issue than it was in reality. On one occasion, he once said, “Oh, not that ever! No, that would be too grotesque - tears trickling down all the long way along this nose of mine? I will not so profane the dignity of sorrow. Never any tears for me! Why there is nothing more sublime than tears, nothing! Shall I make them ridiculous in my poor person?” (Act I). These superficial views did not only apply to Roxanne, however, but also to the plainest of women. Also, since he was so deeply convinced that Roxanne was only enamored by looks, he wished to look like Christian. In one instance, he said, “Strange...now it seems I, if I gave my mind to it, I might perhaps make love well….If I could be a handsome little Musketeer with eyes!-” (Act II). Cyrano believed that he was unequivocally unable to be loved because of his appearance. Something that I value greatly in people is a will to change the world. As an avid member of two service clubs, I am surrounded by a plethora of people who have this value, but in particular, one person that stands out is Cara Nguyen, who I consider to be one of the most prolific leaders of my generation. As one of my largest inspirations, one of the most memorable things that she has ever told me was, “Okay, so you’re giving me a list of problems. Now find solutions to those problems”. Leslie Knope, a character from the popular political comedy sitcom Parks and Recreation, once said, “That’s what public service is about: small, incremental change everyday” (Poehler). That is a message that Cara embodies. Despite all of life’s struggles and obstacles, she continues to believe in the motto of “Service Above Self” and spends countless hours each and everyday in order to create a change in the world. If I had to decide on which of my values was most important to me, I would choose freedom.
The freedom to choose what I want to do with my life is the greatest luxury that came with modern society. Growing up, I made plenty of questionable decisions, but looking back now, I am grateful to have even been able to make decisions of my own accord. Many people generalize Asian parents as controlling people who rely on negative reinforcement in order to get their children to succeed, but that wasn’t the case for me. While my parents were certainly more strict during my childhood, they were ultimately supportive of me finding my own individuality. Because of this, I was able to determine what I valued most in life and the morals that guide me through
life.