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How does Shakespeare explore the theme of love
The role of language in communication
Shakespeare's views on love
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"Love is an inborn suffering proceeding from the sight and immoderate thought upon the beauty of the other sex, for which cause above all other things one wishes to embrace the other and, by common assent, in this embrace to fulfill the commandments of love. . . ." once said Andreas Capellanus, the twelfth century French author of a well-known but skeptical book, The Art of Courtly Love. Despite Capellanus’s attempt to provide others with an accurate definition of love, he fails in doing so; trying to achieve the impossible; Capellanus is unaware in composing a meaning of love that with its great ambiguity, love cannot ever be defined as a single phrase; its true meaning, which lies in the eyes of each different individual, includes a vast array of definitions, all of which differ from each other, either slightly or majorly. The presence of many distinctive interpretations of love helps illustrate this point. Even the greatest philosophical, powerful, and influential individuals of history possess diverse opinions regarding the extensive, far-reaching concept of love. William Shakespeare, a renowned author, and creator of immortal words and poetry which have endured though the modern times once said,” Love is a smoke raised with the fume of sighs, Being purged, a fire sparkling in lovers' eyes, Being vexed, a sea nourished with lovers' tears. What is it else? A madness most discreet, A choking gall and a preserving sweet.”” Love comforteth like sunshine after rain.” Shakespeare’s compelling use of language to convey his opinions is remarkable, yet very much differs from that of Andreas Capellanus. While Shakespeare depicts love as a seemingly wonderful and comforting part of life, including that love, at times, can be unpleasant,...
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...your words are so halting. Why?
Cyrano: In this dim light they have to grope through shadows to your ear.”
In this excerpt, Cyrano utilizes his witty, intelligent, yet cunning personality to appease Roxanne, and to fulfill her wishes of Christian to speak amorously of her.
These same excerpts of Rostand’s “Cyrano de Bergerac” illustrate the direct participation of Roxanne, Cyrano, and Christian in the tradition of courtly love. During the balcony scene, Roxanne believes she is speaking with her “knight”, both literally and figuratively. The practice of courtly love includes a woman loving a knight, and because Christian is a cadet in the war, he fits into this description. Christian also loves Roxanne, and protects her during the war he is fighting in.
In conclusion, there are many interpretations of love, which lie in the eyes of each distinct individual.
The plot in both the movie and the book are similar. In both, Cyrano is trying to help Roxanne and Christian fall in love with each other, even though he loves Roxanne. Cyrano writes letters to Roxanne telling her how much he loves her, pretending to be Christian. He loves Roxanne, but feels that he is ugly and could never get her to love him back because of his huge nose.
Superficial passion revolves around outward beauty, but true love is always found in the heart. In Cyrano de Bergerac, Edmond Rostand conveys this truth beautifully. This play follows Cyrano in his quest for love from Roxanne, believing she could not love him due to his oversized nose. Little do they know that she does not truly love the handsome Christian, but rather Cyrano, the master of words.
Appeal to emotions, individualism, and intellectual achievement were three important elements of Romanticism. This essay will explore the degree to which Cyrano de Bergerac exemplifies these elements of Romanticism.
Both Christian and Cyrano love Roxane but Roxane loves only the person that has been writing to her. It was actually Cyrano, who was writing to her but she thinks it was Christian. Cyrano had said, "..And we two make one hero of romance." (II,85) Since Cyrano was suffering with an inferiority complex, as he had a gigantic nose, he was shy to ask Roxane whether she wanted him or not. He had assumed that she would not like him because of his deformity. He one said , "..I adore Beatrice Have I / The look of Dante?" (I,42) What he had not considered was that Roxane loved him for what he was from the inside, not outside. Once she had told Christian that , "If you were less charming - ugly even - I should love you still.
One of Cyrano’s most significant traits as a friend was his loyalty. He would always look out for friends in their time of need, which makes the audience feel sympathetic towards him. Because Cyrano is such a loyal friend, the audience feels angry with Roxane for manipulating him, and taking advantage of his loyalty. An example of Cyrano’s loyalty was when Ragueneau’s wife was having an affair with a musketeer, Cyrano confronted her, “Make sure you do./I like your husband, and I don’t intend/To see him made a fool of./Is that clear?”(II.iv.115-118). He stood up for his dear friend, and did not want him be made a joke of. I believe this is important because it shows that he is not only loyal to his friend, but also caring and has strong moral principles. What Lise was doing was wrong, and the author put this part in to emphasize the reader’s sympathy for Cyrano. Later when Ragueneau’s wife left him, Cyrano did not hesitate to support Ragueneau by talking him out of killing himself and providing him with a proper job. Furthermore, as everyone must be aware of, Cyrano was in love with Roxane. But because he was such a trustworthy friend, he agreed to protect Christian...
If you pay attention to the last scene of each end, it would always end up with Cyrano saying something. The point of view in this play is omniscient which is multiple perspectives. Because this is a play, it is obvious that there will be different point of views. Most of the figurative language is said by Cyrano because of the type of person he is. “ ‘ I’ll be as silent as a tomb. ‘ “ (p. 111). When Roxane didn’t want Cyrano to tell Christian of what he has to do, this is what Cyrano said. This quote is a simile. “ ‘An old acquaintance. We’ve met on the battlefield, among other places. I knew we’d meet again some day, but this time wasn’t the time for it. ‘ ” (p. 195). This quote is a metaphor. Cyrano was about to die, but because he did not want Roxane to worry, he said
After Christian De Neuvillette proves Cyrano De Bergerac that he has fortitude by insulting Cyrano’s extensive nose, Christian hastily apologizes later when Cyrano acknowledged he was the cousin of Roxane. This may be interpreted as an action of remorse, considering Christian did affront the cousin of Roxane; a woman Christian felt adoration towards. The interpretation is partially correct, although stepping into Christian ’s point of view, his loyalty is focused on Roxane. Christian’s reaction to when he figured Cyrano was Roxane’s cousin, revealed a sudden change in attitude towards Cyrano, creating a much lighter and respectful tone in his speech: “I am so glad to meet you
This is not fate nor coincidence. In complete control of his life, Cyrano is arrogant, deceptive, and hesitant in his actions; this ultimately leads to the great tragedy. As a result, we conclude that Cyrano has technically jeopardized himself. If Cyrano had not been so stubborn when he refused to be under De Guiche’s patronage, had not been so generous to feign the love letters for Christian, and had he not been so hesitatant when he deciding to confess his love to Roxane, the tragedy could become a romantic love story with a sweet ending. Again, Cyrano must hold all the responsibility for his actions and he must recognize that only he is to blame for this tragedy.
“Everything has beauty, but not everyone sees it.” (Confucius) Cyrano’s insecurity of his nose effects his relationship with Roxane. In Edmond Rostand’s play Cyrano De Bergerac, Cyrano’s insecure and eloquent self-perception results in Cyrano’s companionship & loving in his relationship with both Christian & Roxane. Cyrano’s level of eloquence helps him combat the insults of his nose. Cyrano is a poetic, witty, & eloquent man who is insecure & has trouble showing his true feelings for Roxane .Cyrano and Christian work together to win Roxane’s heart, and at the end Cyrano allows love to kill him, even after Roxane discovers & reciprocates his feelings.
In the beginning these two worlds are kept apart until Cyrano devises a way to bridge the two together. He discovers that the woman he loves, Roxanne is in love with a man named Christian. When he tells Christian that Roxanne has feelings for him, he reveals to Cyrano that he may have good looks, but a terrible way with words. Cyrano replies with "strange.... Now it seems I, if I gave my mind to it, I might perhaps make love well."..... "Borrow it then! - Your young manhood - lend me that, and we two make one hero of romance." (p. 84-85)
Few words can be more humorous, or more upsetting, than a well thought out and witty phrase. The only skill that matches Cyrano’s skill with a sword, is his skill with his tongue. With a wit unmatched by any poet, Cyrano made enemies wherever he went, simply by out-smarting all who came against him. In the first act of the play, Cyrano crashes a performance of the well-known actor Montfluery. After many insults, Cyrano heaps upon them by saying, “I would never venture out in public with a soiled conscience, a tarnished honor, or scruples grimy and dull. I do not adorn myself with gems and ribbons, like you. Instead, I decorate myself with truth, independence, and a clean soul.”
Cyrano has unknowingly created a sort of psychological trap in which women are kept on the outside and men are free to roam within. Lacking confidence around women, he is forced to pour his heart out on to letters and is deprived of any kind of physical contact with the opposite gender. Without confidence, a man's attempts at any kind of a relationship with a woman are almost always thwarted because in order for a woman to be attracted to a man, she must first see confidence in him. Since Cyrano has no confidence in his ability with women, he is stuck in a never-ending cycle of rejection and loneliness.
Continuing on from Cyrano’s carelessness for his happiness, we may easily make a jump to his sense of self-worth. Any man who would sacrifice his own love, thus, his entire world, for the sake of his rival cannot have a concern for himself.
Cyrano has created a mental stage where women are kept on the outside and men are free to go within. Because he lacks confidence around women, he has no choice but to express his feelings by writing letters and does not have any kind of physical contact with women. When Cyrano is complaining to Le bret that he can never have Roxane he says, “With this nose of mine that marches on… Whom should i love? Why-of course-it must be the most beautiful woman in the world”(48). If a man does not have any confidence in himself, then any attemp...
The Definition of Love Love by definition is an emotion explored in philosophy, religion, and literature, often as either romantic love, the fraternal love of others, or the love of God based on the definition found in The Encarta Encyclopedia. As I explored the definitions through the Internet, books, and articles, I noticed the definitions changed quite a bit, but yet had the same basic understanding. The definition I found in The Encarta Encyclopedia is probably the most simple and most basic. It refers to love in the whole aspect, which is Godly, fraternal, and romantic. All of which can only be defined by one word and that is love.