8/14/2019 Cyrano de Bergerac- 2 Examples of Good Language

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Eamon Barkhordarian

8/31/09Moyer

Period C

2 Examples of Good Language

CUT-PURSE

(Cringing)You found a hand.(Hurriedly)

Let me go I can tell you something

CHRISTIAN

(Still holding him)

Well?

CUT-PURSE

Ligniere that friend of yours

CHRISTIAN

(Same Buisness)

Well?

CUT-PURSE

Good as dead Understand? Ambuscaded. Wrote a song aboutno matter. Theres ahundred men waiting for him to-nightIm one of them.

Waiting for him to-nightIm one of them.(Page 19)

I find this quote not only interesting, but also as an appropriate example of good language

use. Cut purse is a pickpocket back in the day when people kept their change in their

pockets. As a robber and a thief, he should expect to be caught in the act and is prepared

for it. When Christian reaches into his pocket for his glove he catches the cut purse in the

act of stealing from him. Christian could have easily reported the thief for he was in a

large crowd, but the cut purse was ready. He warned Christian that his friend Ligniere

would be killed by a hundred men tonight because he was writing negative songs about

de guiche. Since Christian was a friend of Ligniere, he forgot about being pick pocketed

and ran out to save his friend. This was a very smart move on cut purses part.

8/14/2019 Cyrano de Bergerac- 2 Examples of Good Language

2/2

Eamon Barkhordarian

8/31/09Moyer

Period C

CYRANO

I may be silent!-

(His voice dominates the uproar. Momentary hush.)

And I offer one universal challenge to you all! Approach, young heroes-I will take your

names. Each in his turn-no crowding! One, two, three- come, get your numbers-who will

head the list-you sir? No-you? Ah no. To the first man who falls Ill build a monument!

Not one? Will all who wish to die, please raise their hands?I see. You are so modest,

you might blush before a sword naked. Sweet innocence!Not one name? Not one

finger?Very well, then I go on:

(Turning back towards the stage, where Montfleury waits in despair.)

Id have our theatre cured of his carbuncle. Or if not, why then-

(His hand on his sword hilt.)

The lancet!

I think this is a good use of language on Cyranos part. At this point, Monteflury

appeared on stage regardless of Cyrano strictly forbidding him to not step foot on the

stage for 2 weeks. This incident made the crowd really wild. People started making

noises and discussing the incident. Things began to get out of hand and Cyrano could not

control the audience. In an attempt to silence people he said this quote with much ferocity

and aggression daring anyone to speak out and he would teach them a lesson. In the end

he began to get control of the crowd and sent Monteflury off stage as a coward.