Cyrano De Bergerac

The dramatic play Cyrano de Bergerac by Edmond Rostand depicts an ugly French poet named Cyrano who helps a friend named Christian write poetic love letters to attract the woman they both love, Roxane. Cyrano is able to express his true feelings to Roxane without the fear of rejection by helping to write these letters. Through the repeated use of fear, the author is trying to show that neither Cyrano nor Roxane has any desire to face reality. They are happy in their own "make-believe worlds." Cyrano fears rejection when he charms Roxane with his own poetry or when he is mistaken for Christian. Roxane fears that Christian is not the breath-taking poet she hoped for as he is trying to rhapsodize by himself.

The first use of fear is when Cyrano serenades Roxane:(page 91).

Cyrano: I who praise your lilies fair, But long to love your ro...ses!

Cyrano seems to have wanted to confess his love of Roxane, but couldn't let it out. He is in plain view of Roxane and charms her. Unfortunately, he is fearful of rejection due to his grotesque features.

The second use of fear is when Cyrano is impersonating Christian, talking to Roxane on the balcony (page 107).

Cyrano: The one moment I ever-my one chance to speak to you...unseen!

Cyrano wants this one chance to confess his love without the fear of rejection due to his ugliness. He doesn't want Roxane to know that he is the one writing the letters and enchanting her with poetry because he is afraid of rejection due to his ugliness. He successfully charms Roxane, however, Christian gets the credit.

The third use of fear is when Roxane realizes that Christian is not very good at rhapsodizing (page 103):

Roxane: That you adore me. Yes; I know that