Baron Christian de Neuvillette Character Analysis in Cyrano De Bergerac

Christian is a foil to Cyrano de Bergerac: a shallow, inexperienced, slow-thinking man who’s been blessed with a beautiful face. By himself, Christian could never woo Roxane, as he doesn’t have the brains or wit. Only when he and Cyrano work together—Christian supplying the physical beauty, Cyrano providing beautiful love letters—do they succeed in seducing Roxane. Where Cyrano is capable of admiring a woman for her mind and soul as well as her physical beauty, Christian seems to love women for their beauty and nothing else. But while Christian isn’t a deep thinker or a noble hero, Rostand shows that he’s still a decent man, and capable of acts of great kindness. Shortly before he’s killed in the Siege of Arras, for example, Christian discovers that Cyrano loves Roxane, too, and selflessly insists that Cyrano tell Roxane about his feelings. In the end, Christian attains a kind of dignity for himself, in spite of his weak mind, and it’s partly out of personal respect for Christian that Cyrano refuses to tell Roxane about his feelings until the very end of the play.

Baron Christian de Neuvillette Quotes in Cyrano De Bergerac

The Cyrano De Bergerac quotes below are all either spoken by Baron Christian de Neuvillette or refer to Baron Christian de Neuvillette. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:

). Note: all page numbers and citation info for the quotes below refer to the G. W. Dillingham Company edition of Cyrano De Bergerac published in 1898.

LIGNIERE (tasting his rivesalte in sips):
Magdalene Robin--Roxane, so called! A subtle wit--a precieuse.

CHRISTIAN:
Woe is me!

Related Characters: (speaker), (speaker),

Page Number and Citation: 29

Explanation and Analysis:

ROXANE:
Then you will be his friend?

CYRANO:
I swear!

ROXANE:
And he shall fight no duels, promise!

CYRANO:
None.

Related Characters: (speaker), (speaker),

Page Number and Citation: 97

Explanation and Analysis:

ROXANE:
You would vex a saint!. . . But 'tis your jealousy.

CYRANO (starting):
What mean you?

ROXANE:
Ay, your poet's jealousy!

Related Characters: (speaker), (speaker),

Page Number and Citation: 130

Explanation and Analysis:

CHRISTIAN:
And how know you I cannot speak?--
I am not such a fool when all is said!
I've by your lessons profited. You'll see
I shall know how to speak alone! The devil!
I know at least to clasp her in my arms!
(Seeing Roxane come out from Clomire's house):
--It is she! Cyrano, no!--Leave me not!

Related Characters: (speaker), ,

Page Number and Citation: 140

Explanation and Analysis:

ROXANE:
That he shall be faithful!

CYRANO:
Doubtless, but. . .

ROXANE:
That he will write oft?

CYRANO (pausing):
That, I promise you!

Related Characters: (speaker), (speaker),

Page Number and Citation: 172

Explanation and Analysis:

CYRANO (in despair. to Roxane):
He's gone! 'Tis naught!--Oh, you know how he sees
Importance in a trifle!

ROXANE (warmly):
Did he doubt
Of what I said?--Ah, yes, I saw he doubted!

CYRANO (taking her hand):
But are you sure you told him all the truth?

ROXANE:
Yes, I would love him were he. . .

(She hesitates.)

CYRANO:
Does that word
Embarrass you before my face, Roxane?

Related Characters: (speaker), (speaker),

Page Number and Citation: 215

Explanation and Analysis:

ROXANE:
Ah!
Things dead, long dead, see! how they rise again!
--Why, why keep silence all these fourteen years,
When, on this letter, which he never wrote,
The tears were your tears?

CYRANO (holding out the letter to her):
The bloodstains were his.

Related Characters: (speaker), (speaker),

Page Number and Citation: 243

Explanation and Analysis:

CYRANO:
That night when 'neath your window Christian spoke
--Under your balcony, you remember? Well!
There was the allegory of my whole life:
I, in the shadow, at the ladder's foot,
While others lightly mount to Love and Fame!
Just! very just!

Related Characters: (speaker), ,

Page Number and Citation: 246

Explanation and Analysis:

Baron Christian de Neuvillette Character Timeline in Cyrano De Bergerac

The timeline below shows where the character Baron Christian de Neuvillette appears in Cyrano De Bergerac. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

Social Hierarchy and the Romantic Ideal Theme Icon

...Baron de Cuigy, and the Baron de Brissaille. Ligniere introduces them to his friend, Baron Christian de Neuvillette, who seems distracted. (full context)

Christian pulls Ligniere aside. Christian has come to the Hotel to seek Ligniere’s help. Christian wants... (full context)

...near the stage. The Marquises notice her enter the room and comment on her beauty. Christian sees the woman and exclaims that this is the woman he’d noticed before. Ligniere explains... (full context)

Christian and Ligniere watch as a young, handsome nobleman goes to speak to Roxane. Ligniere—who’s quickly... (full context)

...with the Marquises. De Guiche invites the Marquises to climb onto the stage with him. Christian, watching all this, reaches into his pocket for his gloves, and realizes that the Pickpocket... (full context)

...him this—all he can say is “Ah!” Then, Roxane reveals that this man is Baron Christian de Neuvillette. Just as Roxane tells Cyrano this, the Duenna walks back into the shop,... (full context)

Cyrano asks Roxane what she sees in Christian. She explains that he is very handsome, but Cyrano points out that anyone can be... (full context)

Christian enters the pastry shop. Although he is a cadet, his peers don’t speak to him,... (full context)

A cadet walks by Christian’s table and calls Christian a weak, inexperienced boy. He also warns Christian never to say... (full context)

Christian walks to his Captain, Carbon de Castel-Jaloux. He asks Carbon what a Northerner (which Christian... (full context)

...his conflict with the soldiers the previous night. The night was very dark, he begins. Christian interrupts Cyrano, saying the night was so dark that Cyrano must have been able to... (full context)

The pastry shop is empty except for Cyrano and Christian. Cyrano turns to Christian, who has been making fun of his nose in order to... (full context)

Cyrano explains that Roxane wants Christian to send her a letter. Christian finds this intimidating—while he’s handsome, he’s extremely bad at... (full context)

Cyrano then has an idea. Together, he and Christian will woo Roxane. Christian will be the “face,” and Cyrano will be the “voice.” Cyrano... (full context)

...the pastry shop, the cadets are gathered, waiting to hear the sounds of Cyrano attacking Christian for insulting his nose. One cadet pokes his head into a window and is shocked... (full context)

Roxane emerges from her home and greets Cyrano. She gushes that Christian is brilliant and handsome—she has read “his” letter, which, she believes, proves that he has... (full context)

...by the Guards regiment—the group headed by Cyrano. Roxane is horrified, as this means that Christian will be sent off to fight, as well. (full context)

...her. She decides to allow de Guiche to visit her, in order to ensure that Christian stays in Paris. With this, de Guiche kisses Roxane’s hand and leaves. (full context)

Roxane tells Cyrano that she’s sure Christian will attend the lecture. She tells him that she’s looking forward to talking to Christian... (full context)

Outside Clomire’s house, Cyrano and Christian discuss Roxane. Christian insists that he’s going to wait outside the house for Roxane. After... (full context)

...arrived far too late, and missed the entire lecture. As Roxane steps out, she notices Christian standing nearby. She greets Christian and invites him to walk and converse with her. (full context)

Christian begins his conversation with Roxane by saying, “I love you.” But he finds that he... (full context)

Cyrano walks toward Christian, who has just done poorly in his first conversation with Roxane. Christian cries out to... (full context)

Christian calls up to Roxane. Roxane replies disdainfully that she doesn’t care to speak to him... (full context)

After Cyrano’s speech, Roxane begins to weep with love for “Christian.” Christian himself then calls out, “A kiss!” Roxane is taken aback by his request, and... (full context)

A Monk finds Cyrano and Christian standing outside Roxane’s house. The Monk tells the men he’s looking for the house of... (full context)

Alone outside Roxane’s house, Cyrano and Christian discuss how to proceed with wooing Roxane. Christian begs Cyrano to speak more with Roxane,... (full context)

Cyrano resumes speaking to Roxane, who’s standing at a high window. Imitating Christian once again, Cyrano tells Roxane that she must not be bashful when he asks her... (full context)

Suddenly sad and happy music fills the air—the Monk is back. Roxane and Christian look down from the window, and see—of course—Cyrano standing below. Christian, feigning surprise, greets Cyrano.... (full context)

...square, complaining that he’s still looking for Roxane’s home. He greets Cyrano, and then Roxane, Christian, and Ragueneau emerge from Roxane’s house. Roxane asks what’s going on, and the Monk explains... (full context)

...the letter says that the Count de Guiche wants the Monk to marry Roxane to Christian on the spot. Roxane rushes the Monk and Christian inside her house so that they... (full context)

Cyrano stands outside, frustrated by Roxane and Christian’s marriage. Then he hears sad music playing—there is a man coming. Cyrano climbs up a... (full context)

...there are sounds of claps and cheers from inside the house. Recognizing that Roxane and Christian are now married, Cyrano removes his hat and sheds his accent, coolly informing the Count... (full context)

Outside Roxane’s house, the Count de Guiche stares amazedly at Cyrano, Roxane, and Christian. De Guiche gives credit where it’s due, and compliments Cyrano for his clever performance. The... (full context)

Spitefully, the Count de Guiche tells Cyrano and Christian that he’ll now arrange for the two of them to be shipped off to fight,... (full context)

...The cadets sit huddled around a fire. Captain Carbon and Le Bret keep watch while Christian sleeps alongside his peers. Le Bret tells Carbon that there is a famine in the... (full context)

Cyrano and Carbon must now plan their defense against the enemy. Cyrano calls for Christian, who’s weak from hunger, and can only think of Roxane. Cyrano shows Christian that he’s... (full context)

A carriage carrying Roxane has just arrived at the camp. Christian rushes forward to embrace Roxane, and asks her why she’s here. Cyrano mutters to himself,... (full context)

Reluctantly, Christian tells Roxane that she’ll need to leave immediately—a battle is about to begin. Roxane refuses... (full context)

Christian and Cyrano beg Roxane to leave the camp before a battle breaks out. Roxane refuses.... (full context)

Christian demands to know why Roxane came to see him. Roxane tells Christian that she’ll explain... (full context)

...cadets’ defense. De Guiche leads Roxane to the pikemen. While Roxane is away, Cyrano tells Christian to be careful while talking to Roxane—if Roxane talks about his letters, he must not... (full context)

Christian and Roxane talk to each other while Cyrano, Carbon, and de Guiche busily shout orders.... (full context)

Roxane explains that at first, she only loved Christian for his handsome looks. Now, though, she’s sure that he has a brilliant mind as... (full context)

Christian runs to speak to Cyrano. He explains that Roxane doesn’t love him at all—she only... (full context)

Christian tells Cyrano that they must let Roxane choose between them. Cyrano says this is ludicrous—he... (full context)

Cyrano stands with Roxane. Roxane asks Cyrano what’s wrong with Christian. She guesses that he has doubts about whether she truly loves him. Cyrano carefully asks... (full context)

...group of cadets walk up to the camp, carrying something. Cyrano whispers to Roxane that Christian “was” a great, noble man. Roxane realizes that the cadets are carrying Christian’s body: he... (full context)

Roxane crouches over Christian’s body while everyone else—except Cyrano—goes off to fight. Roxane says that Christian was a brilliant,... (full context)

...as they walk through the convent. Roxane tells de Guiche that she’s still faithful to Christian, her dead husband, but adds that she “forgives” de Guiche. She mentions that Cyrano comes... (full context)

...few moments. Roxane nods and says that she has wounds of her own—the memory of Christian. (full context)

Roxane produces “Christian’s” letter—the letter that was stained with blood on the day Christian died. Cyrano begs Roxane... (full context)

...denies this, but Roxane knows she’s right: she remembers hearing Cyrano’s voice on the night “Christian” wooed her from outside her window. Before Cyrano can say more, Le Bret and Ragueneau... (full context)

Cyrano turns to Roxane and tells her the truth: on the night that Christian appeared outside Roxane’s window, it was he who wooed her from underneath the balcony. He... (full context)

...Roxane that he wants her to mourn him at the same time that she mourns Christian. Roxane nods tearfully, promising to remember Cyrano forever. (full context)