SCENE 2.VI.

In this captivating scene from “Cyrano de Bergerac,” the interaction between Cyrano and Roxane unfolds with a blend of sentimental reminiscence and significant revelations. Cyrano, initially reveling in the delight of Roxane’s gratitude for his bravado against a suitor she disfavors, is soon drawn into a deeper, more intimate conversation that harkens back to their shared childhood and innocent games. Roxane, invoking the bond of their youth, seeks a confessional camaraderie with Cyrano, wherein she feels safe to disclose her deepest feelings.

As the dialogue progresses, the atmosphere is thick with nostalgia and unspoken emotion. Roxane’s mention of their playful past and the simplicity of their early bond—characterized by makeshift swords, doll hairstyles, and the innocent command she held over Cyrano—brings a gentle intimacy into the moment. This intimacy is further amplified when Roxane attends to a scratch on Cyrano’s hand, a tender gesture reminiscent of their youth, and a measure of her enduring care for him.

Roxane confesses she is in love, but with someone unaware of her affections. This revelation momentarily transports Cyrano to the peaks of hope and the abyss of despair as he navigates through his hidden feelings for Roxane. The dramatic irony is palpable—Roxane speaking of a love for another while Cyrano’s love for her is so profound yet unexpressed. The man she loves, unknown to Cyrano, is described in glowing terms that resonate with Cyrano’s own virtues, yet the emphasis on the suitor’s physical attractiveness—a trait Cyrano believes himself to sorely lack—plunges him into further despair.

The scene is a masterful depiction of romantic tension, unrequited love, and the complexities of human emotions, all set against the backdrop of their shared memories and the unspoken truths that lie between them. Cyrano’s responses, punctuated with “Ah!,” reflect a man torn between hope, fear, and a deep-seated self-doubt, while Roxane remains oblivious to the turmoil she inflicts upon him. The interplay of past innocence with present longing and despair crafts a poignant narrative that is both touching and tragic.