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    Troilus and Cressida

    tragedy

    Troilus and Cressida is one of Shakespeare's strangest and most bitter plays, set in the seventh year of the Trojan War. Inside besieged Troy, the prince Troilus falls in love with Cressida, and they swear to be true to each other, only for her to be handed over to the Greek camp days later. Around their doomed romance, famous heroes like Achilles and Hector behave like sulking, scheming men rather than legends. Nothing is resolved, and the play ends on a sour, mocking note.

    ▸PROLOGUE▸SCENE I. Troy. Before Priam's palace.▸SCENE II. The Same. A street.▸SCENE III. The Grecian camp. Before Agamemnon's tent.

    ▸SCENE I. A part of the Grecian camp.▸SCENE II. Troy. A room in Priam's palace.▸SCENE III. The Grecian camp. Before Achilles' tent.

    ▸SCENE I. Troy. Priam's palace.▸SCENE II. The same. Pandarus' orchard.▸SCENE III. The Grecian camp. Before Achilles' tent.

    ▸SCENE I. Troy. A street.▸SCENE II. The same. Court of Pandarus' house.▸SCENE III. The same. Street before Pandarus' house.▸SCENE IV. The same. Pandarus' house.▸SCENE V. The Grecian camp. Lists set out.

    ▸SCENE I. The Grecian camp. Before Achilles' tent.▸SCENE II. The same. Before Calchas' tent.▸SCENE III. Troy. Before Priam's palace.▸SCENE IV. Plains between Troy and the Grecian camp.▸SCENE V. Another part of the plains.▸SCENE VI. Another part of the plains.▸SCENE VII. Another part of the plains.▸SCENE VIII. Another part of the plains.▸SCENE IX. Another part of the plains.▸SCENE X. Another part of the plains.

    Characters

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    TroilusTrojan prince, Cressida's loverCressidaTrojan woman, Troilus's loverPandarusCressida's uncle, arranges the lovers' meetingThersitesGreek scurrilous commentator

    Famous Quotes

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    “Take but degree away, untune that string, And, hark, what discord follows!”

    Ulysses — Act 1, Scene 3

    “O, when degree is shaked, Which is the ladder to all high designs, Then enterprise is sick!”

    Ulysses — Act 1, Scene 3

    “Time hath, my lord, a wallet at his back, Wherein he puts alms for oblivion.”

    Ulysses — Act 3, Scene 3

    Further Reading

    Best Lines by Shakespeare: Quotes on Life, Love and More

    A curated collection of Shakespeare's most famous lines, organised by theme, from love and loss to daily wisdom, sport and celebration. Each quote includes the play it comes from and why it still resonates.

    Who Was William Shakespeare? A Complete Life and Biography

    The life of Shakespeare: born in Stratford 1564, the Globe, his death in 1616, and the First Folio. The facts, checked.

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