Love means conflict in Cyrano de Bergerac. Barriers seem to stand in the way of every potential couple, and competition is the name of the wooing game. Interestingly, two men who want the same woman find a way to work together, each "having" a little piece of her love (one physical, one intellectual). That love cannot be so easily divided, however, becomes quite clear, as problems quickly arise and difficulties worsen in the thickening plot.
Questions About Love
- What is love in this play? Which character loves with the most genuine emotion?
- Is Cyrano’s love for Roxane made any truer by his ability to express it well? Conversely, is Christian’s love rendered any less true by his lack of eloquence?
- Why is it so important to Roxane to hear pretty words about her suitor’s love? Why can’t she just accept that he loves her?
Chew on This
Try on an opinion or two, start a debate, or play the devil’s advocate.
There are no cases of genuine love in Cyrano de Bergerac because all characters are operating with false impressions of everyone else.