"Troilus and Cressida" poses an intriguing challenge to literary critics due to its ambiguous nature, straddling the boundaries between tragedy, history, and comedy. It is often grouped with Shakespeare's "problem plays," like "Measure for Measure" and "All’s Well That Ends Well," due to its complex thematic elements and elusive classification. Written during a period when Shakespeare was producing his major tragedies, the play carries a somber tone unmatched by his earlier comedies.

A World Without Redemption

The tone of "Troilus and Cressida" reflects the moral ambiguities and chaos found in tragedies but offers no path to redemption. Unlike the world of "King Lear," where chaos is counterbalanced by the grandeur of its protagonist, "Troilus and Cressida" offers no such figure to challenge its disintegration. Shakespeare populates this world with egotists and cynics, allowing them to navigate their own ruin without guidance or redemption.

Influences and Departures

While Shakespeare might have drawn from contemporary Homeric narratives, his version diverges significantly from Chaucer’s "Troilus and Criseyde." Chaucer's narrative is imbued with hope and innocence, portraying Criseyde as a victim of weakness rather than vice. Shakespeare, however, crafts a world devoid of such optimism, where degradation and moral decline are inevitable. The innocence and hope in Chaucer's story are replaced by a drab, sordid reality.

The Betrayal of Noble Characters

Shakespeare begins with characters traditionally perceived as noble but subverts this expectation by unveiling their flaws without setting them up for a grand fall. The ideals of courtly love and Christian optimism that characterized earlier works are conspicuously absent, suggesting a disillusionment emblematic of the late Renaissance. In this sense, the play does not seem to be a reflection of Shakespeare's personal life but rather a commentary on the broader cultural malaise of his time.

Sensuality and Squalor

Shakespeare’s Troilus contrasts sharply with Chaucer's, lacking a redemptive arc or significant death. His passion is not noble but driven by base desires, leading him to continue fighting in a futile frenzy. Cressida's character also suffers degradation, descending from courtly heroine to a figure akin to a common prostitute. Shakespeare might have been influenced by Robert Henryson’s "Testament of Cresseid," which similarly portrays her as a fallen woman. Her immediate submission to Diomedes upon entering the Greek camp underscores her lack of virtuous restraint as depicted by Chaucer.

Homeric Heroes in Disarray

The setting of the Trojan War, which serves as a poignant backdrop in Chaucer’s narrative, is used by Shakespeare to highlight the disarray among the supposed Homeric heroes. Critics like Mark Van Doren have noted the role of characters like Pandarus and Thersites in degrading the lovers and cheapening the heroes. This degradation seems to come naturally to these figures, who require little provocation to reveal their folly.

The Irony of Rhetoric

Ulysses’ famed speech on order is undercut by its own excessive rhetoric, indicating a world disconnected from its supposed principles. The speech, though meant to inspire, instead draws attention to its empty bombast. Similarly, Achilles' words are filled with bitterness but lack the eloquence found in "King Lear." This Achilles is a far cry from a hero, characterized by pettiness and indulgence.

The Decline of Heroes

Characters like Agamemnon and Nestor are portrayed as mere windbags, their discussions dissolving into vacuous pomp. The meetings of both the Greeks and the Trojans, meant to decide on significant matters like the fate of Helen, devolve into empty rhetoric and heated bluster, further illustrating the play’s theme of decline.

Language as a Reflection of Chaos

The play’s language is marked by excessive diction and rhetorical flourishes that mirror the chaos and moral disintegration of its world. The characters’ inability to control their language signifies their loss of control over their environment and themselves. While "Troilus and Cressida" might seem tedious in performance, it remains a subject of fascination for critics, who find its exploration of a world devoid of moral resolve both intriguing and unsettling.