Troilus and Cressida

Troilus and Cressida is a tragic play written by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written around 1602. The play is based on the ancient Greek legend of Troilus and Criseyde, as told by Boccaccio in his "Il Filostrato". The story takes place during the Trojan War and follows the doomed love affair between Troilus, a Trojan prince, and Cressida, the wife of Diomedes, a Greek warrior. The play explores themes of love, loyalty, betrayal, and the destructive nature of war. The plot revolves around the deception and betrayal of Cressida, who is manipulated by both Troilus and Diomedes, leading to their downfall. The play ends with the fall of Troy and the deaths of many of its characters, including Troilus and Cressida themselves. Throughout the play, Shakespeare explores the complexities of human emotions and the destructive nature of war, raising questions about the morality of conflict and the fragility of human relationships in times of turmoil.

By William Shakespeare · First published 1609 · Genre: Tragedy, Drama, Historical · 24 chapters

Contents

• SCENE I
• SCENE I
• SCENE I
• SCENE I
• SCENE I
• SCENE II
• SCENE II
• SCENE II
• SCENE II
• SCENE II
• SCENE III
• SCENE III
• SCENE III
• SCENE III
• SCENE III
• SCENE IV
• SCENE IV
• SCENE V
• SCENE V
• SCENE VI
• SCENE VII
• SCENE VIII
• SCENE IX
• SCENE X

More by William Shakespeare

• Shakespeare's Sonnets (1609)
• The Tragedy of Macbeth (1606)
• The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet (1595)
• The Merchant of Venice (1596)
• The Tragedy of Othello (1603)
• Hamlet (1623)
• King Lear (1606)
• Antony and Cleopatra (1607)
• All works by William Shakespeare