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For the Chaucer poem, see Troilus and Criseyde. Troilus and Criseyde (circa 1380-87 is Geoffrey Chaucer 's Poem in Rhyme royal ( rime royale) re-telling the tragic love story of
For William Walton's opera, see Troilus and Cressida (opera). Sir William Turner Walton, OM ( March 29, 1902 &ndash March 8, 1983) was a British Composer and Troilus and Cressida is the first of the two Operas by William Walton.
A Scene from Troilus and Cressida (1789) by Angelica Kauffmann
A Scene from Troilus and Cressida (1789) by Angelica Kauffmann

Troilus and Cressida is a tragedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written in 1602. Maria Anna Angelika/Angelica Katharina Kauffmann ( October 30, 1741 &ndash November 5, 1807) was a Swiss-Austrian painter. William Shakespeare ( baptised The play (also described as one of Shakespeare's problem plays) is not a conventional tragedy, since its protagonist (Troilus) does not die. In Shakespeare studies the term " problem plays " normally refers to three plays that William Shakespeare wrote between the late 1590s and the first years of the seventeenth The play ends instead on a very bleak note with the death of the noble Trojan Hector and destruction of the love between Troilus and Cressida. In Greek mythology, Hectōr ( "holding fast" or Hektōr, is a Trojan prince and one of the greatest fighters in the Throughout the play, the tone lurches wildly between bawdy comedy and tragic gloom, and readers and theatre-goers have frequently found it difficult to understand how one is meant to respond to the characters. However, several characteristic elements of the play (the most notable being its constant questioning of intrinsic values such as hierarchy, honor and love) have often been viewed as distinctly "modern", as in the following remarks on the play by author and literary scholar Joyce Carol Oates;

Troilus and Cressida, that most vexing and ambiguous of Shakespeare's plays, strikes the modern reader as a contemporary document—its investigation of numerous infidelities, its criticism of tragic pretensions, above all, its implicit debate between what is essential in human life and what is only existential are themes of the twentieth century. Joyce Carol Oates (born June 16 1938) is an American author and the Roger S [. . . ] This is tragedy of a special sort—the "tragedy" the basis of which is the impossibility of conventional tragedy. [1]

Contents

Textual Questions

The Quarto edition labels it a history play with the title The Famous Historie of Troylus and Cresseid, but the First Folio classed it with the tragedies, under the title The Tragedie of Troylus and Cressida. Traditionally the plays of William Shakespeare have been grouped into three categories tragedies, comedies, and histories. Mr William Shakespeares Comedies Histories & Tragedies is the first published collection of William Shakespeare 's plays The confusion is compounded by the fact that in the original pressing of the First Folio, the play's pages are unnumbered, and the title has obviously been squeezed into the Table of Contents. Based on this evidence, scholars believe it was a very late addition to the Folio, and therefore may have been added wherever there was room.

Sources

Cressida by Edward J. Poynter
Cressida by Edward J. Poynter

The story of Troilus and Cressida is a medieval tale that is not part of Greek mythology; Shakespeare drew on a number of sources for this plotline, in particular Chaucer's version of the tale, Troilus and Criseyde, but also John Lydgate's Troy Book and Caxton's translation of the Recuyell of the Historyes of Troye[2]. Greek mythology is the body of stories belonging to the ancient Greeks concerning their gods and Heroes the nature of the world and the origins and significance Geoffrey Chaucer (c 1343 – 25 October 1400? was an English author poet Philosopher, bureaucrat, courtier and Diplomat. Troilus and Criseyde (circa 1380-87 is Geoffrey Chaucer 's Poem in Rhyme royal ( rime royale) re-telling the tragic love story of John Lydgate of Bury (c 1370 – c 1451 was a Monk and Poet, born in Lidgate Suffolk, England.

The story of the persuasion of Achilles into battle is drawn from Homer's Iliad (perhaps in the translation by George Chapman), and from various medieval and Renaissance retellings. The Iliad ( Greek: Ἰλιάς (Ancient Ιλιάδα (Modern is together with the Odyssey, one of two ancient George Chapman (c 1559 &ndash May 12 1634) was an English Dramatist, Translator, and Poet.

The story was a popular one for dramatists in the early 1600s and Shakespeare may have been inspired by contemporary plays. Thomas Heywood's two-part play The Iron Age also depicts the Trojan war and the story of Troilus and Cressida, but it is not certain whether his or Shakespeare's play was written first. Thomas Heywood (early 1570s&mdash 16 August[[ 641]] was a prominent English playwright actor and miscellaneous author whose peak period of activity falls between In addition, Thomas Dekker and Henry Chettle wrote a play called Troilus and Cressida at around the same time as Shakespeare, but this play survives only as a fragmentary plot outline. Thomas Dekker is the name of Thomas Dekker (writer (1572&ndash1632 Elizabethan poet and dramatist Thomas Dekker (actor (born 1987 Henry Chettle (c 1564 &ndash c 1607 was an English Dramatist and miscellaneous writer of the Elizabethan era.

Date and Text

Title page of one of the two 1609 quarto editions of the play
Title page of one of the two 1609 quarto editions of the play

The play is believed to have been written around 1602, shortly after the completion of Hamlet. Hamlet is a Tragedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written between 1599 and 1601 It was published in quarto in two separate editions, both in 1609. It is not known whether the play was ever performed in its own time, because the two editions contradict each other: one announces on the title page that the play had been recently performed on stage; the other claims in a preface that it is a new play that has never been staged. The play was entered into the Register of the Stationers Company on February 7, 1603 by the bookseller and printer James Roberts, with a mention that the play was acted by the Lord Chamberlain's Men, Shakespeare's company. The Worshipful Company of Stationers and Newspaper Makers (better known as the Stationers' Company) is one of the Livery Companies of the City of London Events 457 - Leo I becomes emperor of the Byzantine Empire. 1074 - Battle of Montesarchio in which the Prince The Lord Chamberlain's Men was the Playing company that William Shakespeare worked for as Actor and Playwright for most of his career No publication followed, however, until 1609; the stationers Richard Bonian and Henry Walley re-registered the play on Jan. 28, 1609, and later that year issued the first quarto, but in two "states. The size of a specific Book is measured from the head to tail of the spine and from edge to edge across the covers " The first says the play was "acted by the King's Majesty's servants at the Globe;" the second version omits the mention of the Globe Theatre, and prefaces the play with a long Epistle that claims that Troilus and Cressida is "a new play, never stal'd with the stage. The Globe Theatre was a Theatre in London associated with William Shakespeare. . . . "[3]

Some commentators (like Georg Brandes, the Danish Shakespeare scholar of the late nineteenth century) have attempted to reconcile these contradictory claims by arguing that the play was composed originally around 1600-02, but heavily revised shortly before its 1609 printing. Georg Morris Cohen Brandes ( 4 February 1842 - 19 February 1927) was a Danish critic and scholar who had great influence on Scandinavian The play is noteworthy for its bitter and caustic nature, similar to the works that Shakespeare was writing in the 1605-8 period, King Lear, Coriolanus, and Timon of Athens. King Lear is a tragedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written between 1603 and 1606 and is considered one of his greatest works Coriolanus is a Tragedy by William Shakespeare, based on the life of the legendary Roman leader Gaius Martius Coriolanus. The Life of Timon of Athens is a play by William Shakespeare about the legendary Athenian misanthrope Timon (and probably influenced In this view, the original version of the play was a more positive romantic comedy of the type Shakespeare wrote ca. 1600, like As You Like It and Twelfth Night, while the later revision injected the darker material – leaving the result a hybrid jumble of tones and intents. As You Like It is a Pastoral Comedy by William Shakespeare believed to have been written in 1599 or early 1600 and first published Twelfth Night Or What You Will is a Comedy by William Shakespeare, based on the Short story "Of Apolonius and Silla" by

Performance history

The play's puzzling and intriguing nature has meant that Troilus and Cressida has rarely been popular on stage, and neither during Shakespeare's own life time nor between 1734 and 1898 is there any recorded performance of the play. In the Restoration, John Dryden rewrote it. The English Restoration, or simply The Restoration began in 1660 when the English monarchy, Scottish monarchy and Irish monarchy were restored John Dryden (– was an influential English poet Literary critic, Translator and playwright who dominated the literary life of Restoration England Dryden announces that he intended to uncover the "jewels" of Shakespeare's verse, hidden beneath a "heap of rubbish" (not only some "ungrammatical" and indecorous expressions, but also much of the plot. ) In addition to his "improvements" to the language, Dryden streamlined the council scenes and sharpened the rivalry between Ajax and Achilles. Dryden's largest change, though, was in the character of Cressida, who in his play is loyal to Troilus throughout.

It was also condemned by the Victorians for its explicit sexual references. It was not staged in its original form until the early twentieth century, but since then, it has become increasingly popular, especially after the First World War, due to its cynical depiction of people's immorality and disillusionment. World War I (abbreviated WWI; also known as the First World War, the Great War, and the War to End All Its popularity in the United States reached a peak in the 1960s when public discontent with the Vietnam War increased exponentially. The Vietnam War, also known as the Second Indochina War, or the Vietnam Conflict, occurred in Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia The play's main overall themes about a long period of war, the cynical breaking of one's public oaths, and the lack of morality among Cressida and the Greeks resonated strongly with a discontented public and led to numerous stagings of this play since it highlighted the gulf between one's ideals and the bleak reality. For other uses see Cressida (disambiguation. Cressida (also Criseida, Cresseid or Criseyde) is a character

Characters

Facsimile of the first page of Troilus and Cressida from the First Folio, published in 1623
Facsimile of the first page of Troilus and Cressida from the First Folio, published in 1623

Trojans

Greeks

Synopsis

Troilus and Cressida is set during the latter years of the Trojan War, faithfully following the plotline of the Iliad from Achilles' refusal to participate in battle to Hector's death. Mr William Shakespeares Comedies Histories & Tragedies is the first published collection of William Shakespeare 's plays This article is about the Roman hero For other uses see Aeneas (disambiguation. In Greek mythology, Andromache ( Ancient Greek:) was the wife of Hector and daughter of Eetion, and sister to Podes. This article is about the historical sculptor For the mythological figure see Antenor. In Greek mythology, Calchas ("bronze-man" son of Thestor was a Argive Seer, with a gift for interpreting the flight of birds that he received For other uses see Cressida (disambiguation. Cressida (also Criseida, Cresseid or Criseyde) is a character Alexander is a common male first name Origin The name in English is taken from the Greek name Ἀλέξανδρος (Alexandros In Homer 's Iliad, Pandarus or Pandaros is a famous archer and the son of Lycaon. In Greek mythology, Priam ( Greek Πρίαμος Priamos) was the king of Troy during the Trojan War and youngest son In Greek mythology, Cassandra ( Greek: Κασσάνδρα "she who entangles men" (also known as Alexandra) was the daughter of King In Greek mythology, Hectōr ( "holding fast" or Hektōr, is a Trojan prince and one of the greatest fighters in the Troilus (also Troilos, Troylus) ( Ancient Greek: Τρωίλος Troïlos Latin: Troilus is a legendary character associated with the story See List of King Priam's children Paris ( Greek:; also known as Alexander or Alexandros, c List of King Priam's children In Greek mythology, Deiphobus was a son of Priam and Hecuba. Helenus was a Trojan soldier and prophet in the Trojan War. In Greek mythology, Helenus was the son of King Priam and Queen In Greek mythology, Agamemnon (very resolute / ( ancient Greek:) is a hero, the son of King Atreus of Mycenae "Achilleus" redirects here For the emperor with this name see Achilleus (emperor. "Aias" redirects here For other uses of this name see AIAS and Ajax. Diomēdēs or Diomed ( Greek: Διομήδης English translation: "God-like cunning" or "advised by Zeus" is a Hero grc-Latn Odysseus or la Ulysses ( Greek grc-Latn Odysseus; Latin: la Ulixes or more commonly Ulysses) oʊˈdɪsiəs In Greek mythology, Menelaus ( Ancient Greek:) was a king of Ancient Sparta, the husband of Helen, and a central figure in the This article is about the mythological figure Helen of Troy For other uses see Helen (disambiguation and Helen of Troy (disambiguation. In Greek mythology, Thersites, son of Agrius, was a rank-and-file soldier of the Greek army during the Trojan War. In Greek mythology, as recorded in the Iliad by Homer, Patroclus, or Patroklos (Gr In Greek mythology, the Trojan War was waged against the city of Troy by the Achaeans after Paris of Troy stole Helen from her The Iliad ( Greek: Ἰλιάς (Ancient Ιλιάδα (Modern is together with the Odyssey, one of two ancient "Achilleus" redirects here For the emperor with this name see Achilleus (emperor. In Greek mythology, Hectōr ( "holding fast" or Hektōr, is a Trojan prince and one of the greatest fighters in the

Essentially, two plots are followed in this play. In one, Troilus, a Trojan prince (son of Priam), woos Cressida, another Trojan. Troilus (also Troilos, Troylus) ( Ancient Greek: Τρωίλος Troïlos Latin: Troilus is a legendary character associated with the story Troy ( Greek: grc Τροία Troia, also, Ilion; Latin: Trōia, Īlium, Hittite: Wilusa or In Greek mythology, Priam ( Greek Πρίαμος Priamos) was the king of Troy during the Trojan War and youngest son For other uses see Cressida (disambiguation. Cressida (also Criseida, Cresseid or Criseyde) is a character They have sex, professing their undying love, before Cressida is exhanged for a Trojan prisoner of war. As he attempts to visit her in the Greek camp, Troilus glimses Diomedes flirting with his beloved Cressida, and decides to avenge her perfidy. Diomēdēs or Diomed ( Greek: Διομήδης English translation: "God-like cunning" or "advised by Zeus" is a Hero

While this plot serves as an eponym for the Troilus and Cressida, it accounts for only a small part of its run time. The majority of the play revolves around leaders of the Greek and Trojan forces; the former attempt to get the proud Achilles to return to battle and face Hector, who sends the Greeks a letter telling them of his willingness to engage in one-on-one combat with a single Greek soldier. Ajax is originally chosen as this combatant, but makes peace with Hector before they are able to fight. Achilles is only prompted to return to battle after his beloved friend and debated male lover, Patroclus, is killed by Hector before the Trojan walls. In Greek mythology, as recorded in the Iliad by Homer, Patroclus, or Patroklos (Gr A series of skirmishes conclude the play, during which Achilles catches Hector baresark, and has the Myrmidons kill him. The conquest of Troy is left unfinished, as the Trojans learn of the death of their hero.

Themes and motifs

Perhaps unsurprisingly, given that the titular plot hinges around sexual relations during war, (and the whole war revolves around who has the right to sleep with Helen) sex and battle are linked constantly within the play. This article is about the mythological figure Helen of Troy For other uses see Helen (disambiguation and Helen of Troy (disambiguation. For example, a frustrated Troilus moans at the beginning: "I cannot fight upon this argument / It is too starved a subject for my sword" — "sword" being an obvious phallic symbol. The word phallus can refer to an erect Penis, or to an object shaped like a penis Similarly, the word "unarm" appears frequently in relation to the fighting; slang for losing an erection. When Troilus is about to have sex with Cressida, he fears the experience will be such bliss that "I shall lose distinction in my joys; / As doth a battle, when they charge on heaps / The enemy flying. " This comparison makes sex seem a loveless, physical, almost brutal activity.

From the very beginning of the play, the audience's expectations are constantly thwarted. Despite a Prologue claiming the emphasis of the play is militancy, it opens with a procrastinating Troilus calling for someone to "unarm" him. Despite being called "Troilus and Cressida", Cressida rarely appears. Despite being set in the Trojan War, there is virtually no fighting for the first four acts; just political maneuvering and petty squabbles. The Greek and Trojan heroes depicted are markedly different from their portrayals in the Homeric epics. Homer ( Ancient Greek:, Homēros) is a legendary ancient Greek epic Poet, traditionally said to be the author of the epic poems the Troilus is little like the betrayed lover in Chaucer. Having got used to the philosophy and punning comedy of the first four acts, we do not expect a harsh, unglamourized battle in the fifth. This experience of the audience is mirrored by most of the characters. Agamemnon tries to rouse his disillusioned generals by telling them that expectations are always thwarted: "the ample proposition that hope makes / In all designs. In Greek mythology, Agamemnon (very resolute / ( ancient Greek:) is a hero, the son of King Atreus of Mycenae . . / Fails in the promis'd largeness".

Adaptations and cultural references

In his semi-autobiographical novel My Brother Jack, George Johnston refers to his second wife as Cressida, implying that he himself is Troilus. My Brother Jack is a classic Australian novel by Writer George Johnston. George Henry Johnston (20 July 1912 &ndash 22 July 1970 was an Australian Journalist and novelist This 'sets the stage' for their relationship, which is tumultuous and unconventional.

The First Doctor Doctor Who Episode The Myth Makers has one of the Doctor's companions, Vicki, meet and fall for Troilus. Doctor Who is a British science fiction television programme produced by the BBC. The Myth Makers is a serial in the British Science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was first broadcast in four She remains behind after the Doctor leaves, and renames herself Cressida.

Musical Adaptations

The story has been adapted as an opera, Troilus and Cressida, by William Walton in 1954. Troilus and Cressida is the first of the two Operas by William Walton. Sir William Turner Walton, OM ( March 29, 1902 &ndash March 8, 1983) was a British Composer and

References

  1. ^ Oates, Joyce Carol (1966/1967). The Tragedy of Existence: Shakespeare's Troilus and Cressida. Originally published as two separate essays, in Philological Quarterly, Spring 1967, and Shakespeare Quarterly, Spring 1966.
  2. ^ Palmer, Kenneth (ed. ) (1982). Troilus and Cressida (Arden Shakespeare: Second Series). Methuen: London.
  3. ^ Halliday, F. E. (1964). A Shakespeare Companion 1564-1964, Penguin: Baltimore, pp. 501-3.

External links

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