Cyrano de Bergerac Summary

In the heart of Paris in 1640, an exceptionally talented poet and fencer named Cyrano de Bergerac is smitten with his intelligent and beautiful cousin, Roxane. Cyrano, despite his talents, sports a remarkably large nose, causing him to believe that he is too unattractive to confess his feelings to Roxane. During a theatre performance, Cyrano creates a ruckus, leading to a duel with Valvert, a man chosen by Comte de Guiche to be Roxane's husband. Cyrano wins the duel with a grand display of his poetic and fencing skills, attracting attention from Roxane, who requests a meeting with him. Meanwhile, Cyrano learns of a plot to ambush his friend Ligniere, and he vows to protect him despite the odds.

The following day, Cyrano meets Roxane at a local pastry shop. He is on the verge of confessing his love when Roxane reveals that she is in love with Christian, a soon-to-be member of Cyrano’s guard unit. Despondent, Cyrano agrees to protect Christian, who later unintentionally insults Cyrano's large nose. Instead of retaliating, Cyrano embraces Christian and informs him of Roxane's feelings. Realizing Christian's lack of eloquence, Cyrano devises a plan to secretly write letters to Roxane on behalf of Christian. Eventually, Christian and Roxane are secretly married, but their bliss is short-lived as de Guiche sends their guard unit to the warfront with Spain in retaliation for his lost opportunity with Roxane.

Years later, at the warfront, Cyrano continues his correspondence with Roxane under Christian's name, even risking his life to deliver the letters. When Roxane visits the camp, Christian insists that Cyrano reveal the truth about the letters. Before Cyrano can confess, Christian is killed, and Roxane is taken to safety by de Guiche. Fast forward fifteen years, Roxane now lives in a convent and is regularly visited by Cyrano, who has been seriously injured in an ambush. In his last moments, Cyrano reads a letter supposedly written by Christian to Roxane, revealing through darkness that he was the true author. As Cyrano succumbs to his injuries, Roxane acknowledges her love for him, finally recognizing the soul behind the letters she cherished.