Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in Cyrano De Bergerac, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Appearances and Identity
The Many Kinds of Love
Panache
Social Hierarchy and the Romantic Ideal
Loyalty and Honor
Summary
Analysis
Cyrano sits in the pastry shop with his cadets, Ragueneau, and Lise. The cadets ask Cyrano why he’s been picking fights with so many powerful people—first the Viscount Valvert, and now the Count de Guiche himself. Cyrano replies that he’s always delighted in displeasing people. Hatred is a powerful force—by embracing hatred, Cyrano makes himself strong and invincible. Le Bret, who’s been listening closely to Cyrano and watching his behavior, whispers, “She loves thee not.”
Cyrano’s explanation for why he picks fights with his social superiors isn’t exactly truthful, and Le Bret recognizes this right away—he knows that Cyrano is just depressed about being unloved by Roxane. In truth, Cyrano usually picks fights with his superiors because he’s proud, dignified, and enjoys showing off. He also refuses to give into the bogeymen of 17th century society: censorship, excessive piety, close-mindedness, etc.
Themes
Christian enters the pastry shop. Although he is a cadet, his peers don’t speak to him, and he sits alone at a table.
This is the first test of Cyrano’s loyalty and honor: will he take out his anger on the hapless Christian, or will he remember his promise to Roxane?
Themes
