Cyrano de Bergerac Group

Question:

krissy1221
krissy1221
Student
High School - 12th Grade

In Cyrano de Bergerac, how does Cyrano's refusal to compromise his principles leave him dying fulfilled, yet unfulfilled, happy and unhappy?

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Posted by krissy1221 on Monday March 16, 2009 at 3:29 PM and tagged with characters, cyrano de bergerac.

Answers:

  1. mwestwood
    mwestwood Teacher
    Community / Jr. College

    eNotes Editor

    Because he has satirized the hypocrites of his society, there is an "accidental" retaliation against Cyrano de Bergerac one day:  a log falls from an open window onto de Bergerac.

    Suffering from this terrible blow, Cyrano josts one final time, but loses to his foe, death.  As he lies dying Roxane comes to him, and tries to tell her the "gazette" of news at Court.  But, as he nears death, Cyrano asks Roxane to read to him Christian's note that he "wrote."  Roxane removes this note from her locket, and de Bergerac reads.  However, he is able to say the words on the page even though the daylight is diminished.  It is only then that Roxane realizes who the true author of the note is; she declares her love has always, then, been for Cyrano.  He thanks her for a life of "sweetness," and collapses while offering her his white plume, a symbol of his honor in a world of hypocrites.

    Sources:
    http:/www.enotes.com/cyrano-de-bergerac/act-five-summary

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    Posted by mwestwood on Monday March 16, 2009 at 3:56 PM