"Lean, Mean, Extreme-Machine" -- This essay is on how Cyrano de Bergerac is able to exceed every man in the realms of art, battle, and love by the extremes.

Essay by Potata5High School, 10th grade December 2002

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In today's world, it is accepted that, no matter the ability of an individual, somebody has a greater gift than him. Whether power, knowledge, or character, any person can equally find a talent to compare with another's. In Cyrano de Bergerac, however, one man has more skill in everything than anyone he faces. Cyrano, with his gentle spirit and vibrant swordsmanship, proves to surpass mankind by taking his actions in art, battle, and love to the extremes.

A brilliant poet, Cyrano appreciates the beauty of the art that surrounds him. However, to maintain this splendor, he will pay any price - literally. During Act I, Cyrano throws a purse of his month's "paternal pension" onstage in order to cancel a play (Rostand 37). When his motives are questioned, he answers how he cannot stand performances by "lamentable actors" and surrenders his money to hinder Monfleury from remaining onstage (Rostand 25).

Cyrano also expresses himself artistically through his fighting, shown when he swordfights against Valvert. Instead of simply killing the man, Cyrano delivers an entire ballade of the combat and, in the end, "thrusts home" to defeat his opponent (Rostand 35). Even by Act V, Cyrano remains adamant in his poetry, yet using it this time to express his grief. Blaming "falsehoods" in general for losing Roxane, Cyrano not only writes against dishonesty but people who act on such, reaching to extremes to "attack... in short, everyone" (Rostand 195, 177). Going out of his way in the name of beauty, Cyrano strikes at his enemies in an artistic and original matter, proving his cleverness is untouchable to any man.

Not only does Monsieur de Bergerac have an amazing mind, but possesses an unstoppable physical stature as well. The obviousness of this is shown in the opening Act when Cyrano battles...