Troilus and Cressida

The Tragedy of Troilus and Cressida is a complex play by William Shakespeare.

Scholars believe it was likely written around the year 1602. The play is set during the later years of the Trojan War. This conflict is a famous part of Greek mythology. It was famously documented in the Iliad by the poet Homer. The play is often categorized as a "problem play."

This term is used because the tone and characters are difficult to judge. The story moves between bawdy comedy and tragic gloom. Readers often struggle to decide how they should feel about the people in the story.

The play follows two distinct and overlapping plots. The first plot focuses on the romance between Troilus and Cressida. Troilus is a Trojan prince and the son of King Priam. Cressida is the daughter of Calchas, a Trojan priest.

They profess their undying love in an orchard. They even make solemn pledges to remain faithful to one another. However, Cressida is eventually exchanged for a Trojan prisoner of war. This forces her to leave Troy and join the Greek camp. While this romance gives the play its name, it is actually a small part of the total runtime.

The second, larger plot involves the military leaders of the warring sides. The Greeks are led by Agamemnon, the King of the Greeks. The Trojans are led by King Priam. This storyline follows the events of the Iliad quite closely. It begins with Achilles' refusal to participate in the battle.

Achilles is a great prince who stays in his tent due to his pride. This refusal creates a major crisis for the Greek leadership. The Greeks must find a way to handle the war without their greatest warrior.

Specific characters drive the tension within the Greek camp. Ulysses, the King of Ithaca, is a wise and strategic leader. He notices that the Greek army is suffering from a breakdown in authority. Instead of being united, the soldiers are divided into different factions. Ulysses suggests a clever plan to manipulate Achilles. He proposes that the Greeks choose Ajax to fight the Trojan hero, Hector.

This plan aims to goad Achilles into battle by making him feel his honor is at risk. Even if Ajax loses, the Greeks can claim Achilles would have won.

Inside the walls of Troy, the characters face their own internal debates. King Priam and his sons discuss whether to end the war by returning Helen. Helen is the wife of Menelaus who was taken to Troy by Paris. Hector, a prominent Trojan leader, argues that the war is too bloody. He believes the cost of keeping Helen is far too high. However, his brother Troilus argues that they must keep her to protect their honor.

The prophetess Cassandra warns that Troy will burn if they do not act, but her warnings are dismissed as madness.

The play reaches its climax through a series of violent skirmishes. The tension between the Greek and Trojan forces leads to direct combat. Eventually, the character Patroclus, who is the protégé of Achilles, is killed by Hector. This event serves as the turning point for Achilles. Driven by this loss, Achilles finally returns to the battlefield. He eventually catches Hector and allows his Myrmidons to kill him. The play concludes with the conquest of Troy left unfinished. The Trojans are left in despair after learning of their hero's death.

Troilus and Cressida serves as a bridge between classical mythology and Renaissance drama. It explores how personal passions, like love and pride, impact large-scale political conflicts. The play examines the breakdown of social order and the corruption of authority. By blending comedy and tragedy, Shakespeare forces the audience to look at the messy reality of human nature. It shows how the pursuit of honor can lead to both greatness and destruction.