In our class discusions we have throughly discussed Cressida. Cressida’s relationship with Troilus. Cressida’s relationship with Diomedes. And every other relationship she has in the story. Still today, I don’t quite know where stand with her. I wonder if she was evil and conniving from the start or whether her actions were shoved upon her upon the Trojan and Greek exchange. One thing I do know if that she is most definitely deceitful and manipulative. She too, is unsure of what she might become someday. She says, ” I have a kind of self resides with you;/ But an unkind self, that itself will leave to be another’s fool. / I would be gone. Where is my wit? I know not what I speak” (3.2 149-152). In today’s urban society one would classfiy Cressida as a “trick,” someone who deceives, lies, and is untrustworthy. You can look it up in at Urbandictionary.com if you need further connotation. 🙂
Cressida’s relationship with Troilus is rather interesting because neither of them pledged any vows to be with each other for the rest of their lives. We can furthermore classify their relationship as a lustful one, lasting as long as a 3rd grade romance. And by the end we see what love or lust as one can call it has done to Troilus. One thing I know I am definitely in Troilus’s side.
This kind of uncertainty about how to judge Cressida seems intrinsic to the play’s treatment of her, as we were saying in class. Even if you’re on Troilus’s side, can you see any ways in which the play exposes him to criticism as well?
I agree with you when it comes to Cressida, Raquel. Though I doubt she was deceitful from the start, this behavior is definitely seen when the play progresses and she essentially cheats on Troilus within a day’s time.
I see why you say you favor Troilus more, however he also has his share of unappealing traits. One in particular is that he appears to be lustful from the very beginning of the play, when he immediately falls head over heels in love with Cressida, when not having met her at all. One can argue that he is just like Cressida in that he lusts after her, in the same way she lusts after Diomedes, all within a very short period of time.
I would not be so quick switching to camp Troilus. First of all Troilus proclaims his love but he doesn’t propose marriage. What guarantees Cressida has that Troilus will be faithful to her, other than his oaths and promises? In addition, it is evident that his love is purely physical. It is based on lust as opposed to deep feelings and connection with the other person. Troilus proclaims his love to Cressida before they even meet and before he speaks with her. How “true” is that?
I think Cressida has some kind of feelings towards Troilus. She protests against going to her father and leaving her lover; she says to Pandarus: “No kin, no love, no blood, no soul so near me as the sweet Troilus”. (4.2, 98-99). She wishes she could stay and be with Troilus. At the same time he does nothing to keep Cressida in Troy.
Cressida is a very complicated character but I don’t think she is a bad person. In my opinion her life experiences made her the way she is. She is honest with Troilus when she reveals, ”I have a kind of self resides with you, But an unkind self that itself will leave To be another’s fool.”(3.2, 149-151). She understands that as a woman she is completely dependent on men. She cannot predict what she will have to do to please man in her life.
Cressida was left behind by her father at the early age. Her uncle, a pimp has been using her for his own purposes. Cressida had to take care of herself and in order to survive in the male dominated environment. She became witty and she learned to make her choices with her head not with her heart. Cressida pursues Diomedes because she feels that he will protect her, she calls him “Guardian”. I can understand why she is labeled a whore but I can also understand her motives.
To be fair to Pandarus, I don’t think he’s been practicing the profession of procurer until this opportunity to bring Cressida to Troilus surfaces. He clearly deteriorates in the course of the play. At the start, he’s rather a gossipy observer of the celebrity world to which he’s gaining access through Troilus.