Literary Criticism Of Cyrano De Bergerac By Edmond Rostand

“Studying a work’s major themes helps develop understanding of an author’s intent and the quality of the work” (Beauty and the Beast 59). The author clearly portrays full understanding of the play, Cyrano de Bergerac, by studying the work’s major themes. Cyrano de Bergerac, a play by Edmond Rostand, reveals the struggles that Cyrano, the renowned poet, confronts in order to receive love from his beloved one, Roxane. Unfortunately, Cyrano’s hideous appearance discourages him from expressing his true feelings to Roxane. Charles Marowitz, the author of the literary criticism, depicts his thoughts on countless aspects of the story, from romance to uniqueness. Throughout the criticism, Cyrano de Bergerac is said to have included an artistic aspect, uniqueness, and romantic appeal.

Rather than focusing on naturalism, which was the universal surge during that time period, Rostand glorified clever trickery and whimsy. During that “era,” Cyrano de Bergerac uniquely revealed an artistic aspect aloofness and stood out among several works of art. “There is something gratifying about that kind of artistic aloofness in an age, like our own, when everyone else was metaphorically wearing pins and subscribing to one ‘school’ or another” (Beauty and the Beast 60). In other words, the play has a new artistic characteristic that allows it to look more satisfying than other “humdrum” works of art. The poet’s jovial, sinuous, and artistic verses occasionally produce “major”