The Courageous Character of Cyrano in Cyrano De Bergerac, a Play by Edmond Rostand

In the tragedy/comedy Cyrano De Bergerac there are many crucial instances to the story where the main character, Cyrano, acts up in a way that everyone in his company clearly notices. Many of these moments are considered unconditionally courageous. However, are these moments truly courageous or is Cyrano just being an arrogant, braggadocios fool? Although the truth about Cyrano’s true intentions, whether he was truly courageous or an arrogant man who wanted to be in the spotlight, are unable to truly know without the very words of the great man Cyrano himself. We can still make our own rather accurate personal opinions based off what we have seen or heard about the main character, Cyrano, in the famous play by Edmund Rostand. Other characters in the play recognize Cyrano as a very courageous fellow but perhaps it could be possible that everyone simply knew him in general because he is arrogant?

One of the crucial moments that define Cyrano’s interesting character at the beginning of the play is when a large group of people are waiting for a play to begin. The play is beginning and a man who Cyrano had strictly forbidden from being on stage for a whole month walks out and begins to recite his lines. Some of the crowd understands this foolish man should not be on stage in fear of Cyrano’s rage. With no sight of the enforcer Cyrano anywhere, the portion of the crowd that is aware of Cyrano’s feud with this man, assume all shall certainly be well. However, out of nowhere, Cyrano jumps up and steps up on stage to threaten and yell at the foolish man who he had strictly told not to be on stage. The foolish man, Montefleury, trembles with fear at the sight of Cyrano’s sword just as much as he trembles at the words of Cyrano ever threatening mouth.

Cyrano tells Montefleury, “I will clap my hand three times, you full moon! On the third clap, I want to see you eclipse yourself!”

These words certainly frighten Montefleury and the crowd is in great disdain for Cyrano ruining the play they were all greatly excited to see. Doing this act could be considered courageous that Cyrano would risk the fearful anger of the large audience just to stick to the words that had forbidden the fool, Montefleury, from performing for a month. However, this unhinged action of jumping up on stage and ruining the play could also be considered somewhat arrogant considering doing this action caught everyone’s attention. Although much of the audience considered Cyrano was just being arrogant, his close friends recognized this deed as not only arrogant but also courageous.

I personally do not think Cyrano did such an act simply because he wanted only to stick to what he said. I think he did such a thing to get in the spotlight of the play and the people. His actions were certainly dramatic. Actions that would only be performed by an entertainer rather than a man searching for justice. While it was indeed courageous of him too risk his well-being. I think the main reason Cyrano did such a thing was to be noticed more by the people. However, I do think that Cyrano is a courageous man. There where parts of the play where he risked his life when no one was watching. However, I think with his admirable courage, he also has arrogance.