Public Image In Rostand's Cyrano

The image that Cyrano has molded for himself is drastically different from the one that lives inside. While being a caring and gentle soul, due to his insecurities he creates another persona, that others are familiar with, who is rugged and rough. On the outside, he appears as an alpha male, while also being an eloquent speaker. As the book progresses, it is revealed how his insecurities are always factored into his decisions. A battle that all go through, the character Rostand has created, clearly displays the strife between internal conflict, public image, and how it ultimately creates problems for oneself. Throughout the entirety of the play, Cyrano exudes a confident attitude, displaying bravado in every encounter. This bold attitude is
Within, Cyrano is at battle with himself. Living in fear of being judged by others due to his facial attributes, it prevents him from going after what he wants, in this case, Roxane. Essentially, nothing aggravates Cyrano more than someone insulting his nose. When Valvert commented on Cyrano’s nose, it ignited this fire in Cyrano in which he doesn’t only challenge Valvert to a duel, but spontaneously recites a poem of the top of his head just to add onto Valvert’s spite. Cyrano was willing to publically and intellectually insult a member of the aristocracy, all because they made a petty remark regarding his nose. Ironically, Cyrano pays much detail as to what Roxane has to say and is constantly concerned about her opinions, but if it were anyone else, their opinions could easily go in through one ear and out the other. His uncertainness is clearly shown when Cyrano uses Christian’s appearance in order to express what he’s afraid to tell Roxane face to face. Cyrano uses Christian as a conduit in which his feelings can get through to Roxane with a handsome disguise. Ideally, it would be a win-win situation, however, it has created a false image that Christian cannot keep up with, accompanied with high expectations that simply cannot meet Roxane’s standards, which is exhibited in Christian’s fumbling of words when asked to make an
Cyrano’s deal with Christian is the clearest example of said self-made problem, writing a passionate letter to Roxane in hopes of gaining her affection. He instead tells Christian to give the letter in his place, creating an additional barrier between him and Roxane. The self-conscious part of his personality forbids him from sincerely expressing his feelings, and in turn, guides his actions to directly shoot himself in the foot. Additionally, during the battle scene, Cyrano is confronted with a dying Christian and a mournful Roxane. An unexpected statement from Roxane clearly displays that the dilemma that had been going on inside his mind was simply a ploy he had devised to cripple himself, as she proclaims to love Christian even if he were ugly, loving him for his soul. Furthermore, his sensitive side sees this as an opportunity to woo the woman of his dreams, but at the sight of a dead Christian, the rugged soldier on the outside rejects the fairy tale ending. Again making the decision of self sacrifice as a result between the mental strife that takes an endless cycle within Cyrano’s mind. Finally, even in the last moments of Cyrano’s life he refuses to tell Roxane that it was he who wrote all those letters in hopes of capturing her heart. Never being able to muster up the courage to tell her how he truly feels, even when he