Ralph Waldo Emerson once said “what lies behind us and what lies before us are small matters compared to what lies within us”. This quote means that the future and past are insignificant compared to what knowledge and wisdom are held inside our souls. You will learn more if you within then if you look for answers in the past or future. What happens in the future and what happened in the past will not change you if you stay steadfast on whom you are as a person. This statement is true because what is inside of you will stay with you and time will come and go. As long as you don't change what's inside events in the past and future won't affect you. In the Novel “Siddhartha” by Hermann Hesse and the play “Cyrano de Bergerac” by Edmond Rostand the authors used characterization and Irony to show how what you have within is more then what external events. What is within you is what matters most.
In “Cyrano de Bergerac” Rostand characterizedCyrano as Valeant and a great writer. In the play Cyrano is a well known poet and a man who people respect and fear. He is also self conscience of a large nose and believes no people judge him for it. He is also madly in love with his cousin Roxanne who he believes is the most amazing women. When she falls in love with Christian Cyrano coaches Christian and at times even speaking on his behalf the irony of the situation was Roxanne said she only loved Christian for his heart and soul. When the two where in battle fighting for France, Cyrano writes letters to Roxanne for Christian. When Christian dies Roxanne finds his final love letter and cherishes it and becomes a widower. Rostand characterized Cyrano as a good friend who that that even after the death of Christian he wouldn't break Roxanne heart and tell her the truth of the Situation. Finally at Cyrano's death Roxanne learns the truth. Cyrano finds out what happened in the past wasn't important and what may have happened never did. He realizes that all along he had what was important to Roxanne and he would have had her love if he had stayed true to himself. Throughout the book Cyrano's internal conflict took away from what could have been but he always stayed true to his love. He never looked to gain love by revealing what he and Christian had done so he died with a sense of achievement.
The Novel “Siddhartha” tells of the spiritual journey to Nirvana and inner peace experienced by Siddhartha. In the first part of the novel Siddhartha is a young Brahmin in search of more wisdom and knowledge which he can no longer obtain at home. Siddhartha then joins the Samanas which are holy men who fast and deprive themselves of earthly pleasures in order to escape the never ending cycle of life and death. He becomes Restless and decides to leave the Samanas for Gotama or as he is known to his followers as Buddha. He himself has been able to reach Nirvana and teaches how to listen to holy teachings. Once again Siddhartha became hungry for more experience and was compelled to continue his journey, but this time he would be without his best friend Govinda. This time he came upon Kamala who taught him how to love and how to have passion. In the town he also learned from the merchant Kamiswami. Through this expiernce Siddhartha became more self center and more materialistic. He then became sick with how he had changed. At the brink of suicide Siddhartha came to a river where he was about to jump in and kill himself. At that very moment the river spoke to Siddhartha. Through Vasudeva and the river Siddhartha learns to be patient and how to listen. This is also when he realizes how all things are connected in the world. When Siddhartha and Govinda finally where reunited he was overwhelmed to see his loyal friend. when Govinda kissed Siddhartha on his forehead he is flooded with a stream of faces showing how all people where connected. He saw his friends Siddhartha and Gotama who had both reached Nirvana. This is Ironic because Siddhartha had his whole life been searching for the way to achieve Nirvana and break of the cycle of life. He had deprived himself material and pleasure. He then experiences the teachings of Gotama. As well as love, pleasure and wealth. It was only when Govinda and Siddhartha where united through the kiss that Siddhartha's journey was over. Through all of Siddhartha's struggles it was only when he stopped and listened to the river that he was able to achieve his life's goal.
What is inside someone is more important then what is occurring outside in the world. As long as you stay true to your inner voice you will go farther then if you worry about the past and future. In “Siddhartha” by Hermann Hesse and “Cyrano de Bergerac” by Edmond Rostand both main characters realize that what's insude your heart and soul is more important then what happens to you over the course of your life. If you allow every bump in the road bring you down you will never achieve your goal. Its better to roll with what life throughs at you and stay strong inside
