Troilus and Cressida

by William Shakespeare

"Troilus and Cressida" by William Shakespeare is a play probably written in 1602. Set during the Trojan War, it follows two intertwining plots: a doomed love affair between Trojan prince Troilus and Cressida, who is sent to the Greek camp, and the Greek commanders' efforts to persuade the proud Achilles to fight the mighty Hector. The tone shifts between bawdy comedy and tragic gloom, creating deliberate ambiguity about how audiences should respond to its characters. This puzzling work has been labeled one of Shakespeare's "problem plays."