Cyrano de Bergerac Theme of Lies and Deceit

Deception is at the heart of Cyrano de Bergerac and drives the action forward. From fake identities and hidden emotions to dastardly plots and clever plans, little is what it seems in this play. Deception is both a tool of malice and an aid to good intentions, though the play’s likely conclusion is that nothing good comes of lying to those you love.

1. Why is Roxane blind to Cyrano’s love? What distracts her? Is Christian similarly blinded?
2. What does Cyrano sacrifice when he agrees to deceive Roxane through Christian?
3. How might Comte de Guiche be interpreted as a more honest (or less deceptive) character than either Cyrano or Christian?
4. Why is Le Bret so observant? He seems to be the only one not blind to the fact that Cyrano loves Roxane, or that he is deeply insecure about his appearance. What plot function might he serve?

Roxane’s bouts of blindness prove to be more severe than those of the other characters; hers ultimately lead to the deaths of Christian and Cyrano.

Although he plays the part of a villain, Comte de Guiche is actually the most honest character in Cyrano de Bergerac.