Troilus and Cressida is a tragedy. The source of its plot is from Iliad, the great Greek epic by Homer. The play is set during the years of the Trojan War. The story centers on the Trojan Prince Troilus’ wooing of Cressida, another Trojan.
Troilus was the son of Priam, the legendary king of Troy. He professed his profound love for Cressida. However, during the war between the Trojans and the Greeks, Cressida was exchanged as a prisoner of war. Troilus tried hard to meet Cressida; and when he finally succeeded realized that Cressida had deceived him. He went back to the war to fight even more determined.
While the story of Troilus and Cressida constitutes only a small part of the play, there are leaders of the war such as Agamemnon, Priam, Ajax, Hector and Achilles who appear and play vital roles in the play.
Troilus and Cressida are considered a special play by Shakespeare because of the treatment of the themes like love, honour and power.
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