Broken Promises, Battling Warriors: A Book Review of William Shakespeare's "Troilus and Cressida"

Kindle edition

What is really behind vows of love and marriage? Is it just words you speak into the air, or is it something more than that? Shakespeare attempts to answer questions surrounding these issues in his play Troilus and Cressida. Although it is not one of his most well-known plays, the story has some interesting and good lessons to take from it. 

SUMMARY

   Paris, prince of the mighty city of Troy, kidnapped Helen, Queen of Greece. Her enraged husband Menelaus and the High King Agamemnon gather an army of Greeks to take back Helen. The war has lasted for seven years, so far...

   While the above paragraph does not have too much to do with the story, it is an important piece of background history. Troilus is the younger brother of Paris and Hector, sons of King Priam and Queen Hecuba of Troy. Troilus loves Cressida, daughter of a Trojan priest. She secretly loves him, but her uncle Pandarus is trying to get her and Troilus together.

   The two are finally brought together and pledge their love to one another. Nothing can go wrong now, right? Wrong! The Trojan council is offered a deal: a Trojan warrior (currently a Greek prisoner) will be returned if Cressida is given to Diomedes, a Greek warrior. Cressida's father, a Trojan priest, has joined the Greeks and orchestrated the entire deal. The Trojan council makes their decision: Cressida will be traded for the Trojan. 

CONTENT

   There is not too much violence in the book. Of course, a war is going on and soldiers talk about how they wish to kill their enemies. The last act of the book especially has many battle scenes. The story is not about the war, though; it really is about Troilus, Cressida, and the predicaments they find themselves in.

   Sometime in the first half of Troilus and Cressida, the titles characters are sent to bed. While not described or specifically stated, it is implied that the two lovers have sex before they are married. Troilus' brother Paris makes an excuse for Troilus' absence from a feast. Also, towards the end of the play Cressida and Diomedes speak lovingly to one another, causing Troilus anger at the broken vows.

   I recall no foul language.

   The reader of Troilus and Cressida can walk away with some moral lessons concerning loyalty, love, honor, and keeping vows/promises. Readers are faced with a choice (if they look hard enough): will I be like Troilus and honor my vows, or will I be like Cressida and break my vows?

   The play is a classical piece of literature (and on some high school reading lists) and provides some insightful thoughts. Younger children will definitely not want to read this.

GENERAL INFORMATION

Number of pages: 179 (Kindle edition)

Author of book: William Shakespeare

Published in: 1602 (believed to be the original year)

Primary audience: Teens, adults