Monthly Archives: November 2011

Is Helen the Fairest of Them All?

Posted on November 3, 2011 by Chenda

We all know that Paris kidnapped Helen (who actually voluntarily went with Paris) because he fell in love with her.  He talks about how beautiful she is, how he’s head over heels for her, etc.  Even Pandarus comments about her marvelous white skin.  Thus, the Trojan War began for Helen’s return.

But is Helen really that beautiful?  In all Greek mythology, Helen is stated to be the most beautiful woman in the world yet it is only Paris who approaches her.  Of course she is the wife to King Menelaus but it seems that there are only these two men who are in love with her.  If you are the most beautiful woman in the world, wouldn’t you have countless suitors after your love?  Wouldn’t you have every man as your slave kissing your feet and tending to your every need?

Indeed she is flattered by others such as Pandarus: “What says my sweet queen, my very, very sweet queen?” (3.1.81-2).  She receives many other compliments but you would think they would also be after this very beautiful, sweet lady’s companionship.

I guess proclaiming a war over her is enough to state her utmost beauty.  But if she had a magic mirror on the wall, would it be able to reply that she is the fairest of them all?

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A Little Help

Posted on November 2, 2011 by Elizabeth Steele

I know there are some Hollywood changes to our lovely story, but this movie helps me keep most of the characters straight. (BRAD PITT!)

http://youtu.be/IKQhUzxlml8

 

Posted in Troilus and Cressida | 1 Comment

You Can Get Away With Murder

Posted on November 2, 2011 by Elizabeth Steele

I do realize that women aren’t treated respectfully in
Shakespeare’s plays, but they also aren’t exactly model citizens. We’ve seen
that the women act out in anger (hey there, Beatrice) and strike their sisters
(oh, Kate), and also have interesting ways of interacting with many of the men
in the plays. I think what allows these characters, specifically Cressida and
Helen, to get away with their very informal, and suggestive, behavior is that
they are known to be beautiful.

In an exchange with Pandarus, Cressida replies to his remark
about what position she defends herself by saying, “Upon my back, to defend my
belly” (1.2.273). One can imagine that she is alluding to a sexual position. It
would seem that because she is pretty and charming and very witty, that she is
able to get away with such candid talk, even if it is to a relative. I suppose them
being related does give a bit of an allowance of how she conducts her behavior.
If that is the case, what is her excuse with Troilus. When confessing her love
(somewhat contrived) she says, “And yet, good faith, I wished myself a man, Or
that we women had men’s privilege Of speaking first. Sweet, bid me hold my
tongue” (3.2.129-131). Again Cressida speaks her mind without any
consequences. In fact, because she spoke her mind freely she was able to get
what she wanted: Troilus.

In Act 3 Scene 1, Helen keeps up with Pandarus’ underlying vulgar
insinuations and flirts openly. Pandarus says, “What says my sweet queen? My
cousin will fall out with you” (3.1.81-81). Yet she is never chided by Paris
for her behavior. We don’t just see vulgar conversation from Helen; we also see
that she does not take direction well. When Pandarus asks her to leave he and
Paris alone she says, “Nay, this shall not hedge us out. We’ll hear you sing,
certainly” (3.1.62-63). Not once do we see her take direction from anyone in
this play.

My argument is that these women get away with it because of
their looks. In the same way that the deformed citizens like Thersites can say
what they want so are these women allowed to speak their mind. Sexism may be
alive and well in Shakespeare’s plays, but at least our beautiful female
characters get to have a little fun.

Posted in Gender matters, Troilus and Cressida | 1 Comment

Ulysses and Manipulation

Posted on November 2, 2011 by asmit

Ulysses is brilliant in manipulating Achilles in Act 3 Scene 3. Because of the way he treats Achilles, as well as other characters, we can see that he knows what he needs to say in order to get someone to go in the direction that he wants – whether it’s by fluffing up their ego, capitalizing on their worries, or bringing them down to shame.

If you’re a hero like Achilles, you want yourself to be remembered – you want your name to go down in history. What good is it, then, if no one remembers your deeds and your name is lost in the sands of time? Ulysses knows this, and takes advantage of this fact in order to manipulate Achilles. He tells Achilles, “Perseverance, dear my lord, / Keeps honor bright. To have done, is to hang / Quite out of fashion, like a rusty mail / In monumental mock’ry” (lines 150-153). In other words, Achilles must keep fighting in order to preserve his image as a hero and great warrior, but since he isn’t fighting, we will be useless – a remnant of the past, once great, but now rusty, like old armor. Ulysses’ speech is full of military metaphors – something he probably did on purpose since he knows Achilles would relate to them the most.

But Ulysses doesn’t stop at the metaphors: he knows Achilles is in love with a Trojan princess (one of Priam’s daughters), and uses that fact as blackmail against Achilles.

The final tactic that Ulysses uses to manipulate Achilles is telling him that “all the Greeks begin to worship Ajax” (3.3.181). This would clearly manipulate Achilles by making him jealous of Ajax. “Why is everyone worshipping this stupid oaf when I’m the real hero,” is something that comes to mind as what Achilles would think.

In this scene, Ulysses proves his reputation as a masterful tactician and manipulator by using the aforementioned methods to persuade Achilles to fight again.

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Helen vs. Cressida

Posted on November 1, 2011 by Mary Iannone

While you know from the beginning of Troilus & Cressida that the main love story is going to be, of course, between Troilus & Cressida, I couldn’t help but realize while reading Act III of the play that this is the first time we meet Helen.  After all, this war was instigated by her, and she is known as the most beautiful woman in the area – it seems natural that Shakespeare would write about the most beautiful woman, not a lesser beauty like Cressida. 

But when you compare Helen’s remarks in Act III, Scene I, to Cressida’s in Act I, Scene II, something about Helen falls flat in comparison to Cressida.  Whereas Cressida is constantly on her toes ready to go head to head with whomever she is speaking to, Helen resorts to bawdy jokes.

It’s also interesting to note that while Helen is the main reason this war is taking place, it is Cressida’s name in the title of the play.  However, throughout much of the play thus far, it has been Helen, and not Cressida, that has been driving much of the plot.  That is because the majority of the plot has been the talk of war, and the rivalry between Ulysses & Achilles.  This may be a weakness on Shakespeare’s part, but the romance that the title alludes to is not really picked up until Act III.  There are other pairings – Ulysses & Achilles, Pandarus & Troilus, Achilles & Patroclus – that are explored more deeply before we ever see Troilus & Cressida in love.

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