209
spend an evening together.
During the night, Calchas makes
a deal with the Greek leader
Agamemnon to exchange a Trojan
prisoner of war, Antenor, for his
daughter, allowing Cressida to join
her father at the Greek camp. A
messenger, Diomedes, brings news
of the exchange to Troilus who is
forced to hand over Cressida.
When she is returned,
Cressida is greeted, not
unwillingly, with kisses by
the Greek army. This prompts
Ulysses to conclude that she is a
flirtatious, dangerous woman.On the day of the duel, Ajax and
Hector fight, reaching an amicable
draw. Achilles takes a dislike to
Hector and swears to kill him. At
night, after the fight, Troilus follows
Ulysses to Cressida’s tent, where
she is also overheard by Thersites.
Before Troilus can reveal himself,
he spots Cressida and Diomedes
becoming intimate. Cressida offers
Diomedes a sleeve, which was a
token of love given to her by Troilus.
Heartbroken and disillusioned,
Troilus swears vengeance on
Diomedes and denounces Cressida
as false and unfaithful.THE LORD CHAMBERLAIN’S MAN
Act 3 Act 4 Act 5
The next morning, in spite of the
warnings of his wife and sister,
Hector fights Achilles. He wins
the battle, and the defeat wounds
Achilles’s pride, prompting him
to murder Hector with the
Myrmidons, his gang of Greek
soldiers. Troy is forced to watch
as Achilles drags Hector’s body
around the battlefield, and Troilus
resigns himself to seek revenge for
his brother’s murder. The play ends
as Pandarus is rejected by Troilus,
and is left a cynical old man who
promises to bequeath nothing but
diseases to future generations. ❯❯3.3
4.5 5.2 5.6
4.7 5.3 5.9
Calchas begs Agamemnon
to exchange Antenor for
Cressida. Diomedes is sent
to Troy to negotiate.
Troilus gives Cressida
his sleeve as a token of
faithfulness. In return
she gives him her
glove. Diomedes
takes Cressida away
from Troy, promising
Troilus to treat her as
she deserves.Diomedes and
Cressida meet and
are overheard by
Troilus, Ulysses, and
Thersites. Cressida
gives Diomedes
Troilus’s sleeve and
promises to meet
him the next night.Troilus fights with Ajax
and Diomedes. Hector and
Achilles fight.Hector and Ajax
fight in a duel of
honor, in which they
draw. Achilles is
angered. Troilus asks
Ulysses to take him to
Cressida’s tent.Troilus refuses to hear
Pandarus and tears up
a letter he brings
from Cressida.Hector is attacked and
killed by Achilles and
the Myrmidons.5.10
Troilus announces
Hector’s death and
claims that revenge
against the Greeks
will compensate for
their loss.