Introduction
Geoffrey Chaucer’s Troilus and Criseyde is a medieval poem that portrays a tragic love story between two central characters, Troilus and Criseyde. The poem is a moving commentary on human nature and the complexity of fate through the lens of love, politics, and warfare. Troilus is the youngest son of King Priam of Troy and a prince of the Trojans. He is characterized by intense feelings and a fiery disposition when it comes to heart issues. On the other hand, Criseyde is the daughter of the Trojan priest, Calchas, who betrayed his people and joined the Greek army. She has been demonstrated as intelligent and cunning, able to make tough choices such as betraying a lover. A representative scene that helps define Troilus occurs in Book II when he falls in love with Criseyde at first sight. This scene demonstrates Troilus’ intense feelings and his inability to manage them, as he is completely preoccupied with thoughts of Criseyde. Troilus and Criseyde share strong emotions despite having different levels of agency in their respective fates and how they control their feelings toward each other.
Discussion
While both Troilus and Criseyde struggle with their feelings of love, Troilus’ emotions are portrayed as more intense and all-consuming. Criseyde is motivated by her feelings and desires. However, how they deal with their emotions is a significant contrast between the two characters. Troilus is forthright about his love for Criseyde and wears his emotions on his sleeve. In contrast, Criseyde is cautious and reserved about how she feels for him. In Book I, when Pandarus suggests that she should consider Troilus as a potential lover, Criseyde responds,” God forbid that it mighte so befall/ So wisly God my soule bringe at reste! I love oon elles, and elles naught, I woot” (Chaucer 1.637-39). Criseyde declines Pandarus’ proposal and confesses her existing love for another. Despite the encouragement of her uncle and the potential advantages of a relationship with Troilus, she is unwilling to bet her heart on him. Their different perspectives on romantic commitment highlight their fundamental character differences (Mehl 180). While Criseyde is more logical and level-headed, Troilus acts impulsively and with strong feelings.
Troilus is presented as a character whose mood and temperament are primarily dictated by his emotions, while Criseyde is depicted as a character who is mainly pragmatic and calculated in her actions. The narrator describes Troilus as “the complete knight,” who “was of his love so dangerous and so nice” (Chaucer 1.80-81). This aspect of Troilus’ personality is highlighted in the scene where he first looks at Criseyde and falls hopelessly in love with her. Chaucer writes, “This Troilus, as he was wont to gide/ His yonge knyghtes, ladde hem up and down (Chaucer 1.215-221). Troilus is shown in this scene as a bored young guy who is only interested in the local women. In contrast, Criseyde is shown as more practical and calculated than Troilus. When Pandarus first suggests that she and Troilus start dating, Criseyde is cautious and dubious, saying she does not want a romantic relationship. She explains to Pandarus, “I have a fader, nay, as God above; and he my master, to whom I am but bounde” (Chaucer 2.33-36). Criseyde’s sense of duty and loyalty are highlighted here, rather than her feelings or desires.
Troilus and Criseyde are characterized by their willingness to love deeply, but they differ in how they handle the complications that arise from their love. Even though Criseyde is a widow and has only lately relocated to Troy, Book I introduces us to Troilus as a young man who has fallen profoundly in love with her. Troilus tells his companion Pandarus, “my herte and alle my lymes tremblen” because of his feelings for Criseyde (Chaucer 1.442). This text demonstrates that Troilus is emotionally open and willing to risk rejection to find love. On the other hand, Criseyde is wary of falling in love with Troilus at first because she knows she could lose everything if she marries a Trojan. In Book II, when Pandarus first broaches the idea of a potential romance between Criseyde and Troilus, Criseyde responds, “God forbede that it sholde falle/ That I consentide to sleeen ony wight!” (Chaucer 2.259-260). Here, Criseyde admits that she has moral qualms about loving someone who is, in fact, her enemy (Mehl 175). Troilus and Criseyde are driven by the need to feel loved and connected, but Criseyde is more careful in her approach.
Troilus and Criseyde share a strong sense of passion and desire, but their approach to love and relationships differs significantly. The character of Troilus is that of a naive romantic who is wholly consumed by his love for Criseyde. He is prepared to give his life for her, if necessary, to show her how much he loves them. As Pandarus offers to help Troilus win Criseyde’s heart in Book II, Troilus reacts with an impassioned speech, declaring that his love for her is all-consuming. Thus he claims, “For I am thyn, by God and by my trouthe, I noot, myn owene deere herte swete (Chaucer 2.417-421).” On the other hand, Criseyde is more practical and coldly analytical regarding things of the heart. She is smart enough to take advantage of the power imbalance between her and Troilus. By opening herself up to Troilus’ affection, she risks losing her newly acquired independence (Mehl 178). The differences between Troilus’ romantic idealism and Criseyde’s realism in relationships are highlighted by this comparison. As Troilus is motivated by his desires, Criseyde is more concerned with protecting herself and remaining autonomous.
Despite their differing circumstances, Troilus and Criseyde share a common flaw in their inability to control their emotions fully. Troilus heart breaks, and his temper flares in Book 3 when he learns that Criseyde has consented to be traded for Antenor. He lashes out at Pandarus, holding him responsible for his ills, and even wishes for his demise. He says, “Troilus gan sorwfully to sike, Leste she were falsed sothly to seyne. And thus he to hymself gan pleyne (Chaucer 3.1379-1385).” Ultimately, Troilus’ ruin can be traced back to his emotional attachment to Criseyde and his inability to control his outburst. Criseyde has similar problems regulating her feelings after parting ways with Troilus in Book 4. Her loyalty to her father and country and her love for Troilus leave her feeling torn and confused. For example, in Chaucer lines 4.286-290, she states, “And thus ful ofte a day she gan desyre, to chaungen hire, and thoghte, That I myghte.” Criseyde’s inability to control her emotions ultimately leads to her betrayal of Troilus and her decision to accept Diomede’s love, further emphasizing her tragic flaw.
Another critical similarity between Troilus and Criseyde is their capacity for love, which is a defining characteristic of both characters. Troilus is madly in love with Criseyde, and his passion is all-consuming, for he produces poetry, sings songs, and always thinks about her. For instance, when he first sees Criseyde, he is so emotionally overwhelmed that he becomes “dumb as a stone, and stood still as a tree” (Chaucer 1.391). Later, he writes her a letter declaring his love for her and offering himself entirely, concluding with the words, “Allas, that love sholde han so short a date!” (Chaucer 3.1160). The same goes with Criseyde; however, she is more cautious and restrained in how she shows her devotion. She is touched by Troilus’ poetry and his love for her, and finally, she returns the favor. She tells him, for instance, “God woot, I am not against you” (Chaucer 4.1116-1119). This demonstrates how much Troilus’ love has influenced her and that she is capable of experiencing the same emotions.
Troilus and Criseyde both display emotional vulnerability throughout the poem. In particular, Troilus’ feelings, especially his love for Criseyde, are presented as profoundly impacting his character. He is so overcome by his feelings that he is “dumb as stone, and stood still as a tree” (Chaucer 1.391) when he first lays eyes on her. Emotional outbursts are common for Troilus, as seen when he sobs hysterically upon learning that Criseyde has been exiled to the Greek camp (Chaucer 5.1364-1373). Troilus’s vulnerability as a character and the depth of his love for Criseyde is enhanced by his openness to feel. Criseyde is also sensitive, though she does not show it as openly as possible. When she hears of Troilus’ love for her, she is moved to tears, saying, “O sweet god, that, swich a sweighinge sente / From hir herte, that myn herte yaf assent (Chaucer 2.333-335)”. She demonstrates that she is sensitive to the feelings of others and is moved by Troilus’ emotions, even as she struggles to convey her own.
Additionally, Troilus and Criseyde share tragic circumstances that contribute to the plot development and the poem’s themes. When Pandarus, Troilus’ cousin, betrays him by arranging a meeting between them and breaking their confidence by telling others about their secret, Troilus’ fate is determined (Chaucer 5.1597-1603). The same thing happens to Criseyde when she is compelled to leave Troy and travel to the Greek camp as part of a prisoner exchange. She is obliged to marry another man despite her objections and her love for Troilus because she is helpless to stop her fate (Mehl 177). These terrible events underline how the individuals are entangled in greater forces that they are powerless to stop, producing an air of inevitable tragedy that permeates the entire poem.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Troilus and Criseyde are two characters from Chaucer’s Troilus and Criseyde who possess similar emotional intensity but different levels of the agency. They share significant similarities in developing the poem’s plot, theme, emotional vulnerability, and capacity for love. His intense feelings and passion mark Troilus, but Criseyde is distinguished by her capacity to make tough choices and take charge of her destiny. Both characters have to make tough moral decisions, but Criseyde demonstrates her agency by choosing to turn on Troilus and leave him for Diomede, while Troilus’ love for Criseyde causes him to be blind to the potential repercussions of his actions. Overall, the parallels and discrepancies between Troilus and Criseyde and the Trojan War show the complexity of love and fate.
Works Cited
Chaucer, Geoffrey. Troilus and Criseyde. Translated by Windeatt Barry, Oxford University Press, 2008.
Mehl, Dieter, editor. “The Audience of Chaucer’s Troilus and Criseyde.” Chaucer and Middle English Studies. Routledge, 2019, pp. 173-189. Web.