Episode 48 - Troilus and Cressida

Troilus and Cressida is one of Shakespeare's least popular, least performed plays, and there are a multitude of reasons why that might be. None of the characters are particularly likeable. The various plots are mercenary, cruel, and violent. And it's certainly not the easiest play to classify, and it has baffled scholars since Shakespearean scholars first emerged: it is absolutely one of Shakespeare's "problem plays", defying all attempts at categorization.

But does it deserve to be cast aside and ignored as it has been for these reasons?

Today we discuss the various issues in this play and try to discover if there is redemption for one of Shakespeare's most confusing plays. Is it a postmodern masterpiece? Does it have anything to tell us about capitalism? Is our inability to pigeonhole this play one of its strengths?

Ancient Bickerings

Can this play be salvaged? Or does it even need to be salvaged?

Notes:

- Some scholars list The Merchant of Venice as a problem play, so technically Lindsay misspoke when she called this the first problem play we have discussed.
- Troilus and Cressida in quarto form (British Library)
- Geoffrey Chaucer's "Troilus and Criseyde" (Project Gutenberg)
- "Troilus and Cressida: A Modern Perspective" by Jonathan Gil Harris
- BBC Troilus and Cressida (1981) listing at IMDb
- Aidan absolutely wrote a screenplay version of Troilus and Cressida around the time the "sword and sandals" genre was taking over theatre screens. He may still have a copy kicking around in an outdated version of Microsoft Word. He may be willing to share it with you if you email him. thebickspod[at]gmail[dot]com.