Cyrano de Bergerac

[implied]

inspired by the avatar of istpjim as well as a convo i had with gilly on the topic of the character.

i'm speaking of the type of the fictional cyrano de bergerac, not the real person. although obviously the character in the play was supposedly based on the real CDB.

no v.i. is really "allowed" although i suppose you could v.i. the portraits that have been done of him.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyrano_de_Bergerac_(play)

also portrayed by steve martin in the rather charming rom-com, roxanne.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roxanne_(film)

any thoughts on the type?

[mu4]

ILE

Values friends, devalues love

Romantic

Low confidence in looks

Multi-talented

He combats various foes, half imaginary and half symbolic, conceding that he has lost all but one important thing — his panache — as he dies in Roxane's arms.

Writes fun stories.

Cyrano delays De Guiche by pretending to be a stranger with a fantastic tale of seven ways of traveling to the moon.

[Cyrano]

Wow! what a plesant surprise.

Here is the REAL Cyrano, give it 3 miniutes and you will not turn away.




This is the end of the movie when Cyrano faces his final foe, and Roxanne realizes that she has lost her love...twice.

[mu4]

CYRANO:
Roxane!

ROXANE:
'Twas you!

CYRANO:
No, never; Roxane, no!

ROXANE:
I should have guessed, each time he said my name!

CYRANO:
No, it was not I!

ROXANE:
It was you!

CYRANO:
I swear!

ROXANE:
I see through all the generous counterfeit--
The letters--you!

CYRANO:
No.

ROXANE:
The sweet, mad love-words!
You!

CYRANO:
No!

ROXANE:
The voice that thrilled the night--you, you!

CYRANO:
I swear you err.

ROXANE:
The soul--it was your soul!

CYRANO:
I loved you not.

ROXANE:
You loved me not?

CYRANO:
'Twas he!

ROXANE:
You loved me!

CYRANO:
No!

ROXANE:
See! how you falter now!

CYRANO:
No, my sweet love, I never loved you!

ROXANE:
Ah!
Things dead, long dead, see! how they rise again!
--Why, why keep silence all these fourteen years,
When, on this letter, which he never wrote,
The tears were your tears?

CYRANO (holding out the letter to her):
The bloodstains were his.

ROXANE:
Why, then, that noble silence,--kept so long--
Broken to-day for the first time--why?

CYRANO:
Why?. . .

CYRANO:
Mais que diable allait-il faire,
Mais que diable allait-il faire dans cette galere?. . .
Philosopher, metaphysician,
Rhymer, brawler, and musician,
Famed for his lunar expedition,
And the unnumbered duels he fought,--
And lover also,--by interposition!--
Here lies Hercule Savinien
De Cyrano de Bergerac,
Who was everything, yet was naught.
I cry you pardon, but I may not stay;
See, the moon-ray that comes to call me hence!
(He has fallen back in his chair; the sobs of Roxane recall him to reality; he looks long at her, and, touching her veil):
I would not bid you mourn less faithfully
That good, brave Christian: I would only ask
That when my body shall be cold in clay
You wear those sable mourning weeds for two,
And mourn awhile for me, in mourning him.

CYRANO:
Why, I well believe
He dares to mock my nose? Ho! insolent!
(He raises his sword):
What say you? It is useless? Ay, I know
But who fights ever hoping for success?
I fought for lost cause, and for fruitless quest!
You there, who are you!--You are thousands!
Ah!
I know you now, old enemies of mine!
Falsehood!
(He strikes in air with his sword):
Have at you! Ha! and Compromise!
Prejudice, Treachery!. . .
(He strikes):
Surrender, I?
Parley? No, never! You too, Folly,--you?
I know that you will lay me low at last;
Let be! Yet I fall fighting, fighting still!
(He makes passes in the air, and stops, breathless):
You strip from me the laurel and the rose!
Take all! Despite you there is yet one thing
I hold against you all, and when, to-night,
I enter Christ's fair courts, and, lowly bowed,
Sweep with doffed casque the heavens' threshold blue,
One thing is left, that, void of stain or smutch,
I bear away despite you.

[Expat]

inspired by the avatar of istpjim as well as a convo i had with gilly on the topic of the character.

i'm speaking of the type of the fictional cyrano de bergerac, not the real person. although obviously the character in the play was supposedly based on the real CDB.

no v.i. is really "allowed" although i suppose you could v.i. the portraits that have been done of him.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyrano_de_Bergerac_(play)

also portrayed by steve martin in the rather charming rom-com, roxanne.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roxanne_(film)

any thoughts on the type?

I don't think he fits perfectly any type; but the best fit is Te base, Fi seeking.

[mu4]

DE GUICHE (who has controlled himself--smiling):
Have you read 'Don Quixote'?

CYRANO:
I have!
And doff my hat at th' mad knight-errant's name.

DE GUICHE:
I counsel you to study. . .

A PORTER (appearing at back):
My lord's chair!

DE GUICHE:
. . .The windmill chapter!

CYRANO (bowing):
Chapter the Thirteenth.

DE GUICHE:
For when one tilts 'gainst windmills--it may chance. . .

CYRANO:
Tilt I 'gainst those who change with every breeze?

DE GUICHE:
. . .That windmill sails may sweep you with their arm
Down--in the mire!. . .

CYRANO:
Or upward--to the stars!

(De Guiche goes out, and mounts into his chair. The other lords go away whispering together. Le Bret goes to the door with them. The crowd disperses.)

Clearly a Don Quixote

[mu4]

LE BRET:
Alone, an if you will! But not with hand
'Gainst every man! How in the devil's name
Have you conceived this lunatic idea,
To make foes for yourself at every turn?

CYRANO:
By dint of seeing you at every turn
Make friends,--and fawn upon your frequent friends
With mouth wide smiling, slit from ear to ear!
I pass, still unsaluted, joyfully,
And cry,--What, ho! another enemy?

LE BRET:
Lunacy!

[mu4]

Actually there are two ILE's in the book

Christian

Cyrano

One the alter ego of the other.

Most ILE's you will meet are going to be more like Christian then Cyrano.

Just as Don Quixote is Alonso Quixada the Good, Cyrano is Christian.

The poet speaks from the shadows from the mouth of a witless wonder.

[mu4]

Man has a bit of panache eh.