Troilus and Cressida · Chapter
Scene III explained
In the Greek camp, Calchas requests the exchange of the Trojan prisoner Antenor for his daughter Cressida.
What happens
In the Greek camp, Calchas requests the exchange of the Trojan prisoner Antenor for his daughter Cressida. Agamemnon agrees and sends Diomedes to arrange the swap. Meanwhile, the Greek commanders, following Ulysses' plan, snub Achilles to provoke him out of his pride and inaction. Ulysses warns Achilles that his reputation is fading and that Ajax is being celebrated in his stead. Achilles, stung by the slight and Ulysses' revelation that his love for Polyxena is known, resolves to send Thersites to invite Hector to his tent after the combat.
Themes in this chapter
Honor and Glory
Achilles' concern for his reputation and Ulysses' argument that honor must be actively maintained through deeds.
Deception and Manipulation
Ulysses orchestrates the snubbing of Achilles and uses flattery and revelation to manipulate him.
Time and Mortality
Ulysses' speech on time as a devourer of past deeds and the need for constant renewal of honor.
Characters to notice
- Calchas
Requests the exchange of Antenor for his daughter Cressida, leveraging his service to the Greeks.
- Agamemnon
Agrees to Calchas' request and leads the Greek commanders in snubbing Achilles.
- Ulysses
Devises the plan to ignore Achilles and later confronts him about his pride and love for Polyxena.
- Achilles
Feels slighted by the Greek commanders' coldness and is provoked by Ulysses' words to consider action.
- Diomedes
Tasked with carrying out the exchange of Antenor for Cressida.
- Ajax
Mentioned as the champion chosen to fight Hector, and is mocked by Thersites for his vanity.
- Patroclus
Urges Achilles to rouse himself from inaction and love, and participates in the mockery of Ajax.
- Thersites
Provides a comic and cynical commentary on Ajax's behavior and is sent as Achilles' ambassador.
Key passages
“Pride hath no other glass To show itself but pride, for supple knees Feed arrogance and are the proud man’s fees.”
Pride can only see itself reflected in others' pride, and flattery only makes arrogance grow.
Ulysses explains why the Greek lords should ignore Achilles to humble his pride.
“Time hath, my lord, a wallet at his back, Wherein he puts alms for oblivion, A great-sized monster of ingratitudes: Those scraps are good deeds past; which are devour'd As fast as they are made, forgot as soon As done.”
Time carries a bag of forgotten deeds, where past accomplishments are quickly consumed and forgotten.
Ulysses warns Achilles that past glories are soon forgotten without continued action.
“One touch of nature makes the whole world kin, That all with one consent praise new-born gawds, Though they are made and moulded of things past, And give to dust that is a little gilt More laud than gilt o'er-dusted.”
A common human trait makes everyone praise new things, even if they are just old things dressed up, valuing a little shine over tarnished gold.
Ulysses observes that people are naturally drawn to novelty, explaining why Ajax is now favored over Achilles.
