Symbols in Cyrano de Bergerac
Cyrano's Nose
- His nose's extraordinary nature reflects the other extraordinary traits of Cyrano’s character.
- Cyrano is convinced that because of his nose, no woman could ever love him. His obsession is an extreme example of the almost universal human tendency to feel inadequate in the presence of the beloved.
- As the play progresses, his nose might also be a symbol for societies reliance on outer-beauty and inability to see inner-beauty
Symbols in: Cyrano
de Bergerac
The moon
- Act 3, scene 13, Cyrano makes up tall stories about having dropped from the moon (to distract de Guiche) The moon here symbolizes the heights to which Cyrano’s imagination stretches
- When Cyrano is dying in Act 5, scene 6, he says he expects to go to the moon, rather than heaven, a statement that marks him as being outside conventional religion, a free-thinker.
The White Plume
- On the battlefeild the white plume is a mark of military rank, a target for enemy guns. De Guiche threw his away in the heat of the battle and Cyrano picks it up. This is symbolic of Cyrano's courage, loyalty to his country and soldiers, and undying honor
- Cyrano's last words, and the last words of the play, are of this plume which is seen as noble, honorable, etc.
- Becomes Cyrano's 'panache' or 'style'
Christian's Blood & Cyrano's Tears
- The final letter Roxane recives, after Christian’s death, is stained with Christian’s blood and Cyrano’s tears. The mixture of the blood and tears symbolize the combination of Christian and Cyrano into the 'Romantic Hero.'
- Since the blood is Christian’s, Cyrano feels that he cannot dishonor his dead friend’s memory by telling Roxane the truth. The tears and blood therefore additionally symbolize Cyrano’s painful secret.
Autumn & Twilight
- As Cyrano is dying in Act 5, the time of year is autumn (the fall) and the time of day is approaching twilight. This is symbolic of death.