Cyrano de Bergerac

Cyrano de Bergerac Symbols, Allegory and Motifs

Symbol -Cyrano's nose

Cyrano may praise his nose and/or openly make fun of it, but it represents his insecurities and acts as an impediment to attaining the love of Roxane. It is always there, looming, either mocked or marveled at in hushed silence. For Cyrano, it symbolizes his great failure.

Symbol -the leaves falling

In Act V, Roxane and Cyrano watch leaves fall to the ground. The leaves falling symbolizes death, decay, and the cycle of life, and foreshadow the imminent demise of Cyrano.

Motif - letter-writing

Throughout the text, letters are frequently exchanged between characters, but while these letters can sometimes speak truth, they are often disingenuous or misinterpreted.

Symbol -De Guiche's mask

De Guiche wears a mask when he comes to take Roxane away. The mask symbolizes De Guiche's hypocrisy, subterfuge, and general fakeness. He uses his wealth and social stature to represent himself as a great man, but in reality is immoral and reprehensible.

Symbol -De Guiche's plume

De Guiche's white plume would make him a target for the enemy, but in his cowardice he gets rid of it. It thus symbolizes his lack of courage and his dishonorable nature; conversely, in its purer essence it would symbolize courage and nobility (but, again, De Guiche discards it).