At first, I chose the title to extend my first piece of sample writing. I explained how influential Cyrano was to my literary career, and this quote is one of my favorite lines of the text. It is Act II, Scene VII, and Cyrano is in not only a swordsman’s duel with de Guiche, the antagonist in some sense at this point of the play, but he is in a duel of literary wit. It is one of the most epic exchanges of dialogue in all the plays I have read. It caps a very lengthy speech, remarked for its poetic rhythm and its lasting appeal to readers everywhere. It gives us a very in-depth look within the play as to Cyrano’s attitude and views on linguistics, such a key role to the larger than life appeal as a character he has.
After giving further thought, however, I see how much this quote really refers back to myself. I definitely would not consider death or drastic punishment over changing grammar in my written work, but I realize I am very proud of my writing. I stick by the ideas that I write and defend them to the bitter end. I am reminded of an editorial I wrote in my high school newspaper defending the visiting President of Iran. I received much criticism for my approach and view towards a controversial figurehead. At no point did I consider retracting my opinion or clarifying it. It needed no clarity, I felt. My opinion was as written and I was going to defend it, protect it and exercise my right of freedom of the press.
Thus, my decision to title my blog as such can be seen as twofold. The quote is a memorable though minute piece of wonderful writing in a great literary work and expresses my love for the English language. Simultaneously, it expresses my feelings on writing clearly. I will be honest in my writing. I will be true to myself when I express my opinion. I will always support my opinion and leave nothing published, half-baked.
