The entire confusion in the story of Cyrano De Bergerac centers around the conniving plan between Cyrano and Christian to obtain Roxanne. This plan becomes so convuluted that in the end, a situation that could have simply ended with a short-lived broken heart or toleration of a large nose for love instead ends in tragedy. The tragedy of Christians death has such a life-altering impact on Roxanne, for she truly believes that she has lost the one true love her life will ever know. She lives for years in isolation, mourning his loss while the character whose words she truly fell in love with is walking, breathing, hoping the entire time. Thus, when she finally makes the revelation that it was Cyrano all along, when she finally has a chance at happiness, it is once again too late, for Cyranos life is also ended. This makes her grief all the more poignant.
"I never loved but one man in my life, and I have lost him.. twice."
This line seems impossible out of context, but perfectly illustrates Roxannes situation and provides a perfect explanation for her feelings. She experienced a love with a man that was the epitome of perfection - handsome, intelligent, brave, eloquent. She was so deeply in love with the man that she thought to be Christian, and losing him in such a sudden and tragic manner at the height of their love for one another left her utterly brokenhearted. Perhaps she would not have been so greatly affected by the tragedy if she had known the truth behind Christians facade of love. She loved him so greatly that she confessed to him she would love him even if he were ugly. Christian heard this statement and knew that Cyrano should know the truth. Cyrano did not have to hide behind the good looks of another man to get to Roxanne - she would love him for his charm and personality alone. However, this message could not be returned to Cyrano because Christian perished shortly after hearing this revelation, resulting in unnecassary heartbreak on both sides.
"I have two deaths to avenge now.. Christians and my own"
This is a statement made by Cyrano shortly after Christians death right before he must return into battle. Clearly, the fact that he is simply speaking the line illustrates the paradox of this statement - Cyrano is alive! But in his mind his life has been lost along with Christians, because only through Christian was he able to live out his love for Roxanne. His life has completely revolved around his love for Roxanne for quite some time, but he never had a chance to even come close to her affections being returned until he was presented with the Christian situation. He knew or thought in his own mind that Roxanne could never love him for his appearance but through the letters he wrote to her for Christian and the reactions she gave to such letters made him see that if not for his appearance, Roxanne would be able to love him for she clearly finds his personality displayed through the letters appealing. She fell so deeply in love with Christian becuase of Cyrano's letters, and it turns out they were the sole reason she did love Christian. Initially, she did love Christian for her first impression of him; his looks, but when she began recieving the letters she loved him for his wit, his charm and his gallantry. When Christian dies, Cyrano sees it simply as the end of his imagined love affair with Roxanne when in reality, if he told her the truth behind their facade, they may have lived happily ever after. He did not tell her because he wanted Roxanne to live in peace with the notion that she had lost a great love rather than have her find out that the man she really loves is what he believes to be hideous.
Christian and Cyrano devised a plan to obtain Roxanne and it seemed utterly flawless. Christian had the looks and Cyrano had the charm: together there was no way anything could go wrong. But the plan became more complicated when the men had to go off to battle. Cyrano continued writing letters to Roxanne unbeknowest to Christian, thus increasing Roxannes love for Christian. When Roxanne shows up, things become completely out of control. He finds out that Cyrano truly does love Roxanne, and begins to think that perhaps they do belong together, after all Roxanne said she could love him even if he were ugly because of his beautiful letters. Perhaps if this news had gotten to Cyrano, all would have been well and this would be a love story rather than a tragedy. Unfortunately, the untimely death of Christian makes the situation go over the edge altogether. Roxanne is overcome with the loss of who she believes to be the one great love of her life, Cyrano is devestated that his game of obtaining Roxanne is over, and neither of them know that the other has the capacity to love them. The plan at this point leads the play into a point where paradox's are the only way to explain the complicated and devestating situation.
