Cyrano de Bergerac discussion

guilty as in culpable :)

Somehow I blame those around Cyrano for no-one having the strength of character, at any point in his life, to tell him not to be afraid of living. I think all it would have taken is a person willing to to be a sincere friend to deBergerac.

I think that Roxanne is the most guilty. She has known him the longest and wasn't a terribly good friend to him, or so it seems to me.

I have actually never thought of this work in these lights. Guilty? But I must agree with Annie. Cyrano is pure hero.

BTW, has anyone of you ever read the books penned by the real Cyrano? they are lots of fun.

Guilty of what? Can you expand on that? Your post does not make sense.

Cyrano himself, I'd say is the person most guilty of anything.
He's sets up Roxanne with another man against his better knowledge. And when you come to it it's not love that drives him, more a kind of vanity, a want to prove to himself his conviction that she would love him in spirit, but won't in body.
He's guilty of cowardice at the least in this.

Jon,

I don't think most people know there's a real Cyrano. :-)

But there is, the character on whom Rostand's play is based. He was a writer, although I believe more narrative prose than poetry.

But Roxanne asks Cyrano why he never told her. "Your words," she says appealingly, holding the letter. "But his blood," Cyrano answers. So who is guilty? Rostand, of course. He set the story up so there was no other plausible ending. And yet this is the greatest play ever written.

Jon and Bill, who is the "real" Cyrano? Do you recommend his writing?

Butterflyinthesky wrote: "Jon and Bill, who is the "real" Cyrano? Do you recommend his writing?"

See here:
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/...

Jon wrote: "I have actually never thought of this work in these lights. Guilty? But I must agree with Annie. Cyrano is pure hero.

BTW, has anyone of you ever read the books penned by the real Cyrano? they are..."

which works did he author? is it more along the lines of philosophical treatises or poetry?

Annie wrote: "I think that Roxanne is the most guilty. She has known him the longest and wasn't a terribly good friend to him, or so it seems to me."

I believe they were cousins, and you most people don't pay attention to their relatives' talents...

deleted user wrote: "Jon wrote: "I have actually never thought of this work in these lights. Guilty? But I must agree with Annie. Cyrano is pure hero.

BTW, has anyone of you ever read the books penned by the real Cyra..."

I considered what you said Jon, about Cyrano being "hero" but most literary heroes have flaws, which makes them heroes in literature. Cyrano's guilt is that he allowed others' weaknesses to dictate his behavior, for his cousin's need to have what she wants, and for his friend's inability to give her what she wants. Also, Cyrano's pride kept him from admitting his friend was a moron, to his cousin. What would such a literate man be doing fraternizing with a moron, but to insinuate even Cyrano was taken by his friend's good looks? Hence, Cyrano's flawed character makes him culpable of the outcome of crossed lovers and the irony at the end in the plot.

Had he rather allowed his cousin to know what it is to be a true lover in heart rather than looks, she may have grown from this, and the outcome may have been different, but of course it would not have been as dramatic. If I were teaching the class, these are some of the discussions we would be having.

I can't find guilt in anyone to be honest.