"Cyrano de Bergerac" and "Roxanne"

Paper Summary:

This paper explains that both the movie "Roxanne" and the play "Cyrano de Bergerac" tell the tale of a witty man with an enormous nose who loves but fears to woo a beautiful woman, Roxanne. The author points out that, while Rostand's 19th century French play is essentially tragic in its architecture albeit with many comic touches and funny lines, the 1987 America film starring Steve Martin offers a modern retelling that is much gentler and funnier in its construction largely because of the increasingly intimate connections between the sexes in modern life--an intimacy that exists on both a friendly as well as a sensual level. The paper relates that, in contrast to the play, the film "Roxanne" suggests that the most overwhelming obstacle faced by the large-nosed hero is not his face, but his own internal self-consciousness.

From the Paper:

"The main reason for this quicker reversal in the big-nosed fighter's romantic fortunes is undoubtedly Hollywood's love for at least comedic happy endings. However, the addition of 20th century sexuality to the modern update is another reason for this plot twist as well. After all, the characters of Rostand's play adore one another from afar. This is why letter writing is such a vibrant and integral part of "Cyrano de Bergerac." Roxane is the lone woman, idolized as a beautiful creature of a courtly love scenario, little more. Her feelings for Christian, even before she receives letters she thinks are from the handsome and empty-headed young man, are similarly idealistic. "Roxane: His face shines with wit and intelligence. He's proud, noble, young, fearless, and handsome."

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