Troilus and Cressida: Analysis of Major Characters
"Troilus and Cressida" is a play by William Shakespeare that explores themes of love, betrayal, and the complexities of human relationships against the backdrop of the Trojan War. The major characters include Troilus, the idealistic son of Priam, who experiences disillusionment after losing Cressida, the daughter of Calchas. Cressida, initially depicted as beautiful and regretful, ultimately succumbs to fickleness by accepting Diomedes as her lover. Hector, the noble defender of Troy, is portrayed with a mix of valor and excessive clemency, while Achilles, the Greek champion, is characterized as self-centered and ruthless. Ulysses and Nestor represent the rational Greek perspective, with Ulysses conducting manipulative actions against Troilus and Cressida. The play also features other notable figures such as Pandarus, the comical go-between, and the prophetic Cassandra, enhancing the themes of love and fate. Overall, Shakespeare's portrayal of these characters provides a rich, albeit critical, exploration of motivations and moral complexities within the context of war and romance.
Troilus and Cressida: Analysis of Major Characters
Author: William Shakespeare
First published: 1609
Genre: Play
Locale: Troy
Plot: Tragedy
Time: Trojan War
Troilus (TROY-luhs), the heroic young son of Priam. An idealistic and trusting young lover, he first wins Cressida with the aid of Pandarus, then loses first her presence and afterward her faith. He becomes bitter in disillusionment. He is a good fighter, showing no compassion toward his enemies.
Cressida (KREHS-ih-duh), the daughter of Calchas. She is a beautiful woman but not gifted with the power to say “no.” She yields to Troilus after a certain amount of coyness, and she shows real regret when she has to leave him to go to her father with the Greeks. She swears eternal truth to him, but in her fickleness she soon accepts Diomedes as her lover. William Shakespeare's Cressida is much less complex and less appealing than Geoffrey Chaucer's Criseyde. Ulysses in the play finds her contemptible, and audiences do not greatly disagree with him.
Pandarus (PAN-duh-ruhs), the uncle of Cressida and the go-between for Troilus and Cressida. Much simplified and considerably degraded from his complex original in Chaucer's fine poem, he is an off-color jester, especially in the presence of the lovers. He speaks a particularly unpleasant dirty epilogue, which a number of scholars have ascribed to some unknown play-dresser instead of to Shakespeare.
Hector (HEHK-tohr), the greatest of Priam's sons and chief defender of his country. He has better judgment than most of his fellows, but he yields to pressure and consents to Helen remaining in Troy instead of being sent back to the Greeks. Troilus accuses him of excessive clemency to fallen foes. In keeping with the medieval tradition of Hector as one of the Nine Worthies, he is given great prowess. His death at the hands of Achilles and his Myrmidons is depicted as the murder of an unarmed man by numerous opponents.
Achilles (uh-KIHL-eez), the most famous of the Greek champions. Painted from the point of view of the legendarily Trojan-descended English, he is a most unpleasant character, self-centered, stupid, arrogant, and ruthless. He avoids combat partly because of pique and partly because of desire for Polyxena, one of Priam's daughters. He returns to combat partly out of jealousy of Ajax but perhaps chiefly because of the death of his friend Patroclus. Although allowed a respite by Hector when they first meet, he has Hector murdered while he is unarmed. He instructs his men to run through the Grecian camp shouting, “Achilles hath the mighty Hector slain.”
Thersites (thehr-SI-teez), a cowardly, foul-mouthed Greek. He ranges through the play as a sort of chorus, making impudent or vile comments on all whom he sees. When Hector, meeting him on the field of battle, asks him if he is a worthy opponent, he characterizes himself truthfully as “a rascal, a scurvy railing knave, a very filthy rogue,” thereby saving his life. He seems to be accepted by his cohorts as an “all-licens'd fool.”
Ulysses (yew-LIHS-eez), the shrewd Greek hero. He delivers a much-admired speech on order. He and Nestor are usually in agreement and are experienced practical psychologists. Despising Cressida, during a truce he conducts Troilus to a spot from which he can see and hear Cressida and Diomedes making love.
Nestor (NEHS-tohr), the venerable old man of the Greek forces. He confers frequently with Ulysses and represents with him the rational outlook.
Diomedes (di-oh-MEE-deez), or Diomed, the unprincipled warrior sent to escort Cressida to the Greek camp. After seducing her, he fights an indecisive match with Troilus.
Ajax (AY-jaks), a Greek champion related to the Trojan royal family. Slow and bearlike, he is as stupid as Achilles and as much filled with self-love, but he is a much less unpleasant character. He meets Hector in single combat but agrees to call off the battle because of their kinship.
Priam (PRI-am), the king of Troy. He appears very briefly to preside over the council to determine the fate of Helen and to try to dissuade Hector from tempting fate.
Paris, the son of Priam and lover of Helen. He insists on keeping Helen instead of returning her to her husband; his selfishness, having caused the War of Troy, continues it. He is supported heartily by Troilus, the lover, and very reluctantly by Hector, the warrior.
Helen, the wife of Menelaus and mistress of Paris, fair outside but hollow within. She and Paris are guilty of causing the Trojan War. Pandarus exchanges ambiguous pleasantries with her.
Andromache (an-DRO-muh-kee), Hector's wife. She pleads piteously, but in vain, for her courageous husband to remain inside the walls on his fateful day.
Cassandra (kuh-SAN-druh), the daughter of Priam, a prophetess. Considered mad by all her family, she prophesies Hector's death but is unable to prevent his going into combat.
Calchas (KAL-kuhs), a Trojan priest, taking part with the Greeks. He insists on having his daughter Cressida sent to the Grecian camp in exchange for a Trojan captive, Antenor.
Agamemnon (a-guh-MEHM-non), the Greek general. He is a royal figure of great dignity.
Menelaus (meh-nuh-LAY-uhs), Helen's husband and Agamemnon's brother. He and Paris meet on the battlefield with Thersites as a scurrilous cheerleader, but the combat is indecisive.
Patroclus (pa-TROH-kluhs), the youthful companion of Achilles. Hector kills him.
Aeneas (ee-NEE-uhs), a Trojan commander. He delivers the message to Troilus that Cressida is to be sent to the Greeks. In the battle, he is rescued by Troilus.
Antenor (an-TEE-nohr), another Trojan commander. After being captured by the Greeks, he is exchanged for Cressida.
Deiphobus (dee-IH-fuh-buhs) and Helenus (HEHL-ehnuhs), sons of Priam.
Margarelon (mahr-GAR-eh-lon), a bastard son of Priam. In the final battle, he frightens Thersites into flight.
Alexander, the servant of Cressida.