Cyrano De Bergerac Act 1-2

The play begins with Lingerie and Christian. Everyone in the world is in love with Roxane. Cyrano hates Montfluery bs he is a bad actor and he likes Roxane. The play starts, Cyrano breaks up the stage and bands Montfluery off the stage for 3 weeks. He reimbursed the crowd for the play with all his money. Valvere and Cyrano swordfight. Cyrano poem. Orange girl gives Cyrano food. Cyrano tell La Bret that he loves Roxane and La Bret says that the orange girl things he is cute. Leaves with Ben to escort him home. Cyrano fights a hundred men at one point in the act.

It starts at Ragneau's bakery, his wife is mad bc he was giving poets free pastries in exchange for their poets. Cyrano cut his head and won't talk about it. Roxane friend zoned Cyrano really had, and she asked for him to keep Christian safe. He did, even though Christian was rude to him about his nose. Cyrano helps Christian win Roxane. Lise destroyed poetry and folded it into paper bags. Poets are late getting to Ragneau because they saw 8 dead people. Christian makes fun of Cyrano's nose to show he is a tough guy. Cyrano and Christian go from fighting to embracing. Cyrano decides to help Roxane fall in love with Christian.

Cyrano de Bergerac tells the classic story of two men vying for one woman's love: one of them is ugly but witty, the other attractive but not the sharpest tool in the shed. The play reminds us that we all place huge emphasis on looks, and that individuals shape how they see themselves by the way others see them. In this way, appearances come to shape personality and determine action.

Love means conflict in Cyrano de Bergerac. Barriers seem to stand in the way of every potential couple, and competition is the name of the wooing game. Interestingly, two men who want the same woman find a way to work together, each "having" a little piece of her love (one physical, one intellectual). That love cannot be so easily divided, however, becomes quite clear, as problems quickly arise and difficulties worsen in the thickening plot.

Principle—or lack thereof—is a determining factor for many characters in Cyrano de Bergerac. It defines the differences between the protagonist and the villain. Principle in this play often means valuing honor above practicality. As such, acting according to principle isn't always the most beneficial course of action, but it certainly is the most noble.

Cyrano de Bergerac is steeped in the history and culture of 17th-century France. Though the playwright lived more than two hundred years after this era, he goes to great pains to make it as faithful to the time as possible. His text is littered with references to real historical figures, artists, thinkers, philosophers, teachers, actors, and writers. The play both honors and mocks the frippery of the French court in its constant allusions to The Three Musketeers, the most famous novel written about this time period.

Courage is one of the most important characteristics of Cyrano de Bergerac's worthy hero. Cyrano's courage is almost reckless tomfoolery and his showy bravery often invites the jealousy of others. Conversely, cowardice is a mark of an unworthy man in this play—often one of the antagonists. In keeping with the chivalric traditions of the time period (17th-century France), duels are fought and lives are lost all in the name of courage.

The ability to speak well is the hero's primary quality in Cyrano de Bergerac. It is no coincidence that his other obvious talent is swordplay; although, it is noteworthy here that witty banter is often equated with dueling in this play, as characters slash at one another with words. Love is also defined largely by language and only seen as valid when accompanied by long, eloquent poetic descriptions. A simple "I love you" will not do in this play, but sonnets about Venus will make a woman melt.

Wit is the name of the game in Cyrano de Bergerac. Characters are judged by their ability to soliloquize, rhyme, and compose at the drop of a hat. Our hero character, Cyrano himself, takes pride in his wit and never backs down from an opportunity to show off. This, his witty intelligence, comes to largely define his identity.

Identity is closely related to voice in Cyrano de Bergerac: one's voice (or words) is the expression of the soul and is thus linked to one's true self. Appearances get in the way, since judgments are made on a surface level without any deeper understanding of a given individual's identity. Mixed identities play a big part as well, as characters often pretend to be others to further their own ends.

admired and feared Gascon ; eloquent, talented, and brave man ; Roxane's cousin ; poet and soldier ; has a large nose ; fought the 100 men ; hates Valvert

Cyrano's beautiful and wise cousin ; in love with Christian

Cyrano's beautiful and wise cousin ; in love with Christian

a cadet in love with Roxane ; handsome ; friends with Cyrano ; enemy of Guiche

Cyrano's best friend

Poet, pastry cook, and friend of Cyrano

Christian's friend ; said nice things about Cyrano ; the 100 men tried to kill him

nephew of Richelieu, Christian's rival and enemy of Christian ; sent the 100 men

Friend of De Guiche - fought with Cyrano

bad actor ; hated by Cyrano ; in love with Roxane

wife of Ragueneau ; used Ragueneau's poems as paper bags

Captain of Cyrano and Christian's regiment

Friend of De Guiche

1. You don't know who you are fighting. 2. I'm stronger than you think.