Troilus and Cressida

William Shakespeare’s “Troilus and Cressida”, written in 1602, is frequently cited as one of his most complex plays, as its tone varies wildly, and the characters are presented in an opaque manner, rendering them difficult to analyse and understand.

The story opens several years into the Trojan War. Trojan prince Troilus falls in love with Cressida, as war rages around them. After vowing to be faithful, Cressida, the daughter of a Trojan priest who switched sides, is traded to the Greek camp, and she finds herself in the clutches of the Greek Diomedes. Troilus witnesses Cressida’s unfaithfulness and vows to put more effort into the war…

Meanwhile, the familiar story of the famous warriors Achilles, Hector, Ajax, and Ulysses fills in the lovers’ tragic narrative.