Success In Edmund Rostand's Cyrano De Bergerac

“To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment” (Ralph Waldo Emerson). In Edmund Rostand’s Cyrano de Bergerac, Le Bret insults Cyrano, suggesting that he should stop acting so heroic and quixotic, and change himself to conform to society’s idea of success. Cyrano reacts to his statement at first with sarcastic mockery, before composing himself and shifting to a more grateful tone.

Le Bret upsets Cyrano by remarking with exasperation that he would be able to “wing up to the top” if only he tried to achieve Le Bret’s definition of success (line 4). Cyrano’s view of success is the antipode to Le Bret’s; he believes that success is to be “careless of glory, indifferent to the bane or boon of fortune, … [and] free” (lines 58-9 and 75), while Le Bret believes that one must “seek condescension, favor, influence, introductions” (lines 46-8), as Cyrano sarcastically puts it. Le Bret alludes Cyrano’s

He utilizes an anaphora, repeating the phrase “No, thank you” to convey his disapproval of Le Bret’s recommendation that he should change himself to fit others’ ideals. The first half of Cyrano’s speech includes sarcastic exaggerations, assisting Cyrano in making his point and revealing how ridiculous it seems to do whatever it takes in order to get “up to the top” (line 5). An allusion to “The Odyssey” demonstrates ______________. In Cyrano’s time period, many other artists would rely on “powerful protectors [or] potent patrons” for their income (lines 6-7). They would do whatever was required to maintain their patrons’ favor. Repudiating the customs of these people, Cyrano believes that they “[c]ling […] [c]rawl […] [f]awn, [and] whine [their] way up” (line 8). Cyrano remains poor and perishes tragically as a result of defying society’s expectations, but he keeps his independent spirit to the end (Penguin Books — Teacher’s