Analysis of Cyrano de Bergerac as a Romantic Work Essay

Analysis of Cyrano de Bergerac as a Romantic Worknbsp;nbsp; 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. First and foremost is the appeal to emotions. All of the other facets of romanticism can be related to the emotional appeal in Cyrano de Bergerac. Because strong emotional appeal is perhaps the most important method used by the author to create identity with the reader, especially in romantic works, the actions which elicit the emotional responses must, then, show a great deal about the character. The characters motives and philosophies can be determined†¦show more content†¦The reader feels strongly for Cyrano to go for it! and is proud and respectful toward him because of his magnelephant actions. Cyranos actions and the resulting emotional response from the reader, then, portray him as an individual. During this age of romanticism, this was considered to be the chic thing to do. Here we have the feeling of the fashionability of Cyranos actions. He is a moral leader which the people look up to. As the play progresses, we are shown various incidents in the play which elicit emotional responses from the reader: the longing Cyrano has for Roxane; his belief that he can never have her because of his appearance; a comical intervention as Christian gets a nose up on Cyrano; Cyrano and Christian working together to court Roxane; the author of the letters to Roxane being unknown to her; the passionate speech which Cyrano delivers to Roxane from behind the shrub; the existence of the cadets in such grim conditions; the death of Christian; the final resolution of Cyranos love for Roxane and his death. These emotions are what define the play and make it great. A second characteristic of romanticism is individualism. Throughout the play, it is regarded as noble in spirit to be individualistic, and Cyrano demonstrates to this effect repeatedly. His white plumes of freedom are perhaps the most vivid example of this independent spirit. He openly and willingly defies the standards set forth by traditional culture in