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Married toFather toTROILUS AND CRESSIDA
same way that the war itself has
become a legendary quarrel about
Helen of Troy. Familiarity with the
story makes the scene in which the
lovers pledge eternal faithfulness a
moment of ironic foresight. Troilus
swears to be so constant to his
love that the analogy “as True as
Troilus” shall be coined. In turn,
Cressida vows that, should she
break her promise, she will inspire
future generations to cry “as false
as Cressid.” Pandarus seals the vow
by exclaiming: “[...] let all pitiful /
goers-between be called to the
world’s end after my / name: call
them all panders. Let all constant
men be / Troiluses, all false women
Cressids, and all brokers- / between
panders. Say ‘Amen’” (3.2.196–200).
Although these outcomes are
inevitable, Shakespeare offers the
characters the chance to change
their fates. Pandarus deliberatelyinvolves himself in the affairs of his
niece and Troilus, even when they
wish him gone. At no point is he
forced or cajoled into becoming
their go-between. Troilus chooses
to hand over Cressida to Diomedes:
something he does not have to do.
As a warrior and prince, he ought
to be more concerned about his
kingdom than his lover, like Hector
who actively chooses battle over
the pleas of his wife, Andromache.Aeneas
His commanderPriam
KingHelenus
Son, a priestTrojanGreekTrojans v Greeks
Deiphobus
SonTroilus
SonParis
SonHector
SonAndromache
WifePandarus
A lordCressida
His nieceAntenor
His commanderAgamemnon
His commanderMenelaus
KingAchilles
WarriorUlysses
WarriorAjax
WarriorNester
A sageDiomedes
LeaderPatroclus
Companion to
AchillesFriendsHelen
Menelaus’s wife, kidnapped
by the Trojans, living with ParisThersites
A commentatorCalchas
Cressida’s father who
joined the Greeks, leaving his
daughter in TroyCassandra
Daughter, a
prophetessGo between