Formal analysis of the word “baiser” in Cyrano de Bergerac 💌
Here are most of the instances of the word “baiser” (to kiss) & derived forms throughout the play, pruned for relevance (Roxane & Cyrano’s relationship). Taken together, they suggest some interesting ideas…
The thesis:
Kisses & means of imparting them & receiving them other than by the lips, or via letters/words at least, to be more specific
Cyrano kissing a leaf of the jasmine vine that trembles because it’s touching Roxane, who is trembling at Cyrano’s words
Cyrano treating the word “kiss” as a proxy for the thing itself. Here he suggests, since the word alone is enough to set Roxane’s lips burning, what must the act itself be like…?
Then of course comes the famous kiss monologue, which I have omitted for brevity, in which Cyrano describes the sensation & concept of a kiss in such minute exquisite detail that it is as if Roxane, breathlessly hushing him, is already kissing him in all senses but the physical
Cyrano suggesting that Roxane is not kissing Christian himself but rather Cyrano’s words upon the medium of his lips! Considering the thesis, Christian is being positioned not as a lover but as a love letter, the medium by which Cyrano writes his kisses to Roxane & far more easily “read” by lips than a sheet of paper would be
Roxane kissing Cyrano’s letter, as foretold! Christian, dying in her arms right this moment, goes unkissed
Cyrano describing looking at Roxane when he thinks she’s not looking as “stealing kisses” from her gestures with his gaze
Roxane finally kissing Cyrano himself, not on the lips but on the forehead, the repository of all those wonderful thoughts & words & images that we have been swept up in over the last 5 acts. C.f. her line in Act II: “Il a sur son front de l'esprit, du génie…”
