MovieChat Forums > Cyrano de Bergerac (1950) Discussion > The price of 'blind love and devotion'.....

The price of 'blind love and devotion'...

posted 20 years ago by tiwannae
10 replies | jump to latest

Over the years, I've been doing some thinking....Cyrano's blind love and devotion to Roxane is something else I am starting to question. I mentioned in another thread at this board, my reading "Frank Langella's Cyrano" and how he adapted it in such a way that he expanded the role of Lise in the play as a, basically silent observer, who also suffers from unrequited love--she loves Cyrano, but he doesn't notice her love for him, just like Roxane doesn't notice his love for her.

Check out this exchange, in Act One, after the "Then as I end the refrain...Thrust home!" scene as Lise approaches Cyrano with food and drink:

CYRANO: My dear young woman, I cannot accept such a kindness--But, for fear that I may give you pain if I refuse, I will take, oh, not very much! A grape...one only! And a glass of water...and a half a macaroon!

LE BRET: Old idiot! Thank you, Lise!

CYRANO: Oh, one thing more--

(She turns back to him.)

CYRANO: --your hand to kiss. (He does so.) Beautiful downcast eyes! So shy...

(She drifts away.)

Here, with confidence and charm, he speaks, if not flirts, with an attractive woman. However, this confidence dissipates when, after he admits to Le Bret that he loves Roxane:

CYRANO: Think a moment. Think of me--me, whom the plainest woman would despise--Me with this nose of mine that marches on before me by a quarter of an hour.

And what is Lise, then? She willingly came to him, offering him food and drink, and flattered, gave him her hand to kiss!! How can he switch gears so, to be confident in himself with Lise, but to fall all apart at the thought of telling Roxane he loves her? I think he loves the WRONG woman!

He continues to complain....

CYRANO: Now and then, I may grow tender, walking alone in the blue cool of the evening, through some garden with fresh flowers after the benediction of the rain; my poor, big devil of a nose inhales April...and so I follow with my eyes where some boy, with a girl upon his arm, passes a patch of silver...and I feel somehow, I wish I had a woman too, walking with little steps under the moon, and holding my arm so, and smiling. Then I dream--and I forget...And then I see the shadow of my profile on the wall! I have my bitter days, knowing myself so ugly, so alone.

If this were to be taken to today's standards, we'd tell Cyrano to "get real!" He suffers from inverted vanity. He knows he has inner qualities (the gift of poetry, his art and skill as a swordsman and soldier, a man of loyalty to his friends and integrity to his beliefs), that would be admirable to attract a good woman, but he's stuck on the "trophy" of Roxane, the "woman in the world most beautiful". All this angst for having a long-er nose than most.

I say that his love for her is actually his downfall as a man. Who knows how many countless women Cyrano has passed up on, just because he refuses to want and love no one else but Roxane? Just because she was kind to him when they were children growing up together, he develops a love for her--like a fawning puppy. He fears a "mistress with mockery behind her smile," not ever once having mentioned venturing out of the box of his fears to see if he could be wrong about his perception about himself that way, having probably passed up on other potential relationships because of just wanting Roxane.

I once identified with him growing up, as I never felt attractive myself, no matter how gifted I was in other areas of my life, or how good, in spirit and character, I was. But I am beginning not to see myself that way anymore--in that I admire Cyrano's strength of character, his loyalty to his friends, his artistry as a poet and writer, but in love, he's a damnded fool!! To me, it's like when people say that they "can't" find a good man or woman, when there may be such a "good" person right around them, but because they refuse to broaden their requirements, they risk passing up on "the love of a lifetime".

It's pitiful how he cries at the end of the play, regarding losing everything on earth he ever set out to do in life--"all things--all in vain"-!-except for his 'white plume' or 'my shining soul' (of which I prefer the word 'panache' better to describe the essence of his character and spirit.) In death, "I shall find there those souls who should be friends of mine--".

I know, he's only a literary character, but he is part of a universal story--that of overcoming our "shortcomings" in order to achieve our (intimately romantic and passionate) heart's desires. I just hope not to be as blind to true love as he was....

[–] Michael_D 20 years ago

I disagree with only two points that you made.

And what is Lise, then? She willingly came to him, offering him food and drink, and flattered, gave him her hand to kiss!! How can he switch gears so, to be confident in himself with Lise, but to fall all apart at the thought of telling Roxane he loves her? I think he loves the WRONG woman!

Roxanne may have indeed been the right woman if he had only the courage to tell her his true feelings. Also, according to what I read, Lise is actually Ragueneau's wife. That romance would have been a bit tricky.

I know, he's only a literary character...

He was actually a real person. He was born in 1619, had a large nose, fought at the battle of Arras in 1640, left the military in 1642 to study science and literature. Died in 1655.

[–] sisto6 18 years ago

About him being a real person. That's still up to debate. It could be argued that the character "Cyrano" was based on an actual man but there is no way to know if the two were truely that alike or if all they shared was a big nose (and probably a short temper).

[–] Michael_D 20 years ago

Oh god, I just had a horrible thought. Cyrano, Roxanne, and Lise on the Jerry Springer Show. Who gets beads first?

Here is another thought. You, me, and the others on Jerry Springer. It would give you the chance to break something over my head, which will probably make you feel better, and it might help his ratings too.

People have a way of interpreting peoples actions in other places and times with their own contemporary filters. That lets us look at a story set in France during the 1500's and think Dr. Phil could fix it. As if the many nueroses of modern american suburbia have anything to do with life in that place and time.

Okay, let's assume Lise was available and actually interested in Cyrano. Let's assume that she is not, as she was in the play, the wife of the pastry chef who left him in the second act for a Musketeer. Even disregarding that, what she was was of lower social class than Cyrano.

The social structure that was still in place at that time, and which developed from the old Roman system of slavery and military rank, was one with varying layers of nobility above the mass of common people. The nobility of the time studied and practiced martial virtues. In other words, much of their lives were devoted to fighting, as opposed to working the land or in a trade. Lesser nobility, often lacking finances, offered their services as soldiers as a way to earn an income. It should have been clear, even from the movie, that Cyrano's guard unit was precisely that, a group of young, minor nobles.

Roxanne was also nobility, though more wealthy than Cyrano. The orange girl was not. She was beneath Cyrano socially and so was not acceptable as marriage prospect or as anything other than a mistress to him. He had too much character to pursue a mistress so his interest in her could not have been anything other than a flirtation.

Bride, if you didn't hate me before, I am sure you will now, but I am no longer believe I should self-censor on a discussion board out of fear of making you angry. Sorry, but other people have viewpoints and maybe even something to offer the discussion, even if they do not agree with you.

[–] 20 years ago

[deleted]

[–] 20 years ago

[deleted]

[–] Kingum2341 19 years ago

Perhaps Cyrano's biggest fault is not believing his own worth. Too realize a nose isn't everything. I prefer not to judge him too harshly though. If he had shown his love to Roxanne then this brilliant tale would not have been written.
In that case I am glad it didn't work out just perfect.

[–] puzzle_queen 18 years ago

I thought the Springer comment was cute and funny. One can't take it seriously though because revealing the truth to Roxanne on TV would not work with the story. Well, I suppose that would depend on where in the story the television intervention comes....Anyway, I think s/he was being funny with the comment and no hatred is necessary on anyone's part.
Marianne

[–] 18 years ago

[deleted]

[–] styner-2 18 years ago

"I think he loves the WRONG woman! "

Most men do.

[–] red_rackham_77 16 years ago

You've made a lot of excellent points, all of which I have always stated whenever I watch the film but I can feel what Cyrano goes through. I had my moments of feeling proud of my appearances and I am proud of it but when I am alone in my house, wishing that there was someone there waiting for me, it is more then I can bare. We all want what Cyrano wants, the person that we love to love us in return, I guess that is why the movie Roxanne was made, to give us an example of what would it be like to see if Cyrano exposed for his act and Roxanne shows her anger to him for his deception and then in the end they are together.

"I know, he's only a literary character, but he is part of a universal story--that of overcoming our "shortcomings" in order to achieve our (intimately romantic and passionate) heart's desires."

I am still single because there is no Cyrano in this world, and if there is one he may turn out to be a creep or a monster wearing a mask of Cyrano. I guess that is the down fall of reality and I hate it when my sisters so brutally state it to me.