Shakespeare | Troilus and Cressida | A review
Shakespeare’s ‘Troilus and Cressida’-A review
Troilus and Cressida is a complex play by William Shakespeare that is not frequently performed or studied as his other plays. It is often classified as a problem play because it defies easy categorization as a tragedy, history, or comedy. Written around 1602, Troilus and Cressida is set during the Trojan War and explores themes of love, honor, power, and betrayal.
The plot of the play revolves around the Trojan War and the love story of Troilus, a Trojan prince, and Cressida, the daughter of a Trojan priest. The two are deeply in love, but Cressida is forced to leave Troy and go to the Greek camp in exchange for her father’s release from captivity. Once there, she is courted by the Greek warrior Diomedes, while Troilus is left heartbroken.
The play also features many other characters from Greek and Trojan mythology, including Achilles, Agamemnon, Hector, and Ulysses. These characters engage in political and military scheming, betrayals, and power struggles that add depth and complexity to the play.
One of the most notable aspects of Troilus and Cressida is its depiction of the characters as flawed and complex individuals. Unlike Shakespeare’s other plays where characters are either entirely good or entirely bad, the characters in Troilus and Cressida are a mix of both. They are driven by their desires and motivations and often make decisions that are morally questionable. This creates a sense of ambiguity and moral complexity that is absent in many of Shakespeare’s other works.
The play also showcases Shakespeare’s use of language and his skill in crafting dialogue. The play is full of witty wordplay and clever quips that showcase Shakespeare’s ability to use language to convey humor, irony, and sarcasm. This is especially evident in the scenes involving the Greek commanders, who engage in verbal jousting and political maneuvering.
Despite its many strengths, Troilus and Cressida is not without its flaws. The play is often criticized for its lack of a clear structure and its meandering plot. Some critics have also argued that the play’s mixture of tragedy and comedy is jarring and does not work well.
In conclusion, Troilus and Cressida is a complex and thought-provoking play that defies easy categorization. It explores themes of love, honor, power, and betrayal and features complex and flawed characters who are driven by their desires and motivations. While it may not be as popular as some of Shakespeare’s other works, it is still a valuable contribution to his body of work and is worth studying and appreciating. 0 0 0.
Shakespeare | Troilus and Cressida | A review
N. B. This article ‘Shakespeare | Troilus and Cressida | A review’ originally belongs to the book ‘Reviews on William Shakespeare’s Works‘ by Menonim Menonimus.
Books of Literary Criticism by M. Menonimus:
- World Short Story Criticism
- World Poetry Criticism
- World Drama Criticism
- World Novel Criticism
- World Essay Criticism
- Indian English Poetry Criticism
- Indian English Poets and Poetry Chief Features
- Emily Dickinson’s Poetry-A Thematic Study
- Walt Whitman’s Poetry-A Thematic Study
- Critical Essays on English Poetry
- Tawfiq al-Hakim’s Novel: Return of the Spirit-An Analytical Study
- Tawfiq al-Hakim’s Novel: ‘Yawmiyyat Naib Fil Arayaf’-An Analytical Study
- Analytical Studies of Some Arabic Short Stories
- A Brief History of Arabic Literature: Pre-Islamic Period (500 AD-622 AD)
- A Brief History of Arabic Literature: Early Islamic Period (622 AD-661 AD)
- Reviews on William Shakespeare’s Works …
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