Cyrano de Bergerac, by Edmond Rostand, is the story of a plan based on love and deceit created by two friends to beguile a girl to fall in love with one, while the one that truly loves her is the mastermind behind the courtship. Even though Cyrano and Christian are close friends, Cyrano’s large nose and resulting insecurities prevent him from expressing his love for Roxane, so he uses his handsome friend to be the mouthpiece for his poetic charms, which makes Roxane happy and causes her to fall more deeply in love with Christian. Although some may say over time Christian will learn how to intellectually talk to Roxane by listening, reading, and practicing the way Cyrano has flattered her, this is not who he really is, and, therefore, their …show more content…
What’s the matter? (Rostand 63) These feelings based on Christian’s good looks are superficial and not a love that can stand the test of time. For a time Cyrano can feed romantic words to Christian and he can use this to capture Roxane’s love, but this is a temporary and unrealistic way to pursue a relationship with Roxane. First, because Christian doesn’t seem smart or witty enough to maintain the deceit he and Cyrano create, but also, while Roxane might display some shallowness in character, she proves she is smart enough in the story to eventually figure things out. Christian uses Cyrano’s intelligence and romanticism to engage Roxane, but this is not a true representation of who he is. In ACT II, Christian admits he is not intelligent. “Because...because I am a fool!/Stupid enough to hang myself!”(Rostand 84). This offers the reader a hint that eventually this plan will fail unless Cyrano is with them for the entire relationship because Christian does not have faith in his own dialogue, intelligence, and abilities with Roxane. Therefore, eventually, he will not be able to continue the charade. At one point he tries to talk to Roxane without Cyrano’s help and fails: CHRISTIAN. I love you. ROXANE. Yes,/Speak to me about love