How we cite our quotes: (Act.Line)
Quote #7
LIGNIÈRE
It is true that for an ode—
You give a tart—
RAGUENEAU
A tartlet—
LIGNIÈRE
Modesty!
And for a triolet you give—
RAGUENEAU
Plain bread.
LIGNIÈRE (Severely)
Bread and milk. And you love the theatre?
RAGUENEAU
I adore it!
LIGNIÈRE
Well, pastry pays for all. (II.98-102)
Ragueneau puns between pastries and currency. Rostand may be making a commentary on the theater here by saying that it is worth nothing but sweets—in other words, nothing.
Quote #8
CYRANO [to Roxane]
—But my dear child! You, who love only words,
Wit, the grand manner—Why, for all you know,
The man may be a savage, or a fool. (II.217-219)
Roxane is so concerned with Christian’s looks that she does not hear Cyrano’s words; this reflects the larger issue at hand, that she doesn’t hear Cyrano for who he is because she is so focused on her hunk of a cadet.
Quote #9
A VOICE OUTSIDE
Ah! Sandious!
(Noise outside of swords and trampling feet approaching.)
CARBON
Here they come now!
THE CADETS (Entering the shop)
Mille dious!—
Mardious!—Capadedious!—Pocadedious!
RAGUENEAU (In astonishment)
Gentlemen—
You are all Gascons?
THE CADETS
All! (II.256-258)
The different tribes of Frenchmen can be recognized by their different dialects of speech. Here, the Gascons are identified by their curses. Again we see that language defines identity in this play.