# Cressida — Troilus and Cressida character guide

> Cressida in Troilus and Cressida by William Shakespeare.

**Role:** major

**Also known as:** Cressida Hector, the Lady Cressida, Cressid, fair Cressid, sweet Cressid, Cressida O Jupiter, sweet niece Cressida, Cressida Sweet honey Greek, Cressida Prophet, Cressida Juno, Cressida Ay, Cressida Boldness, Cressida Good, Cressida Sir, Cressida Perchance

**First appearance:** 0004-act-i-scene-ii

## Snapshot

Calchas's sharp-tongued daughter, quick with a retort and wary of her own desire, who becomes the object of Troilus's feverish courtship.

## Who they are

Cressida trades barbs with her uncle Pandarus while carefully refusing to admit she favors Troilus, defending herself with wit, secrecy, and a mask. She mocks Helen's praise of his complexion and insists Troilus is simply himself, not Hector — a coolness that makes her eventual yielding feel hard-won. Her guardedness matters because it turns the courtship into a duel of language, and because her father's defection to the Greeks already hangs over her position in Troy.

## Relationships

### [Troilus](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/troilus_and_cressida_se/characters/troilus)

_romantic_

Troilus and Cressida are passionate lovers whose relationship is marked by intense devotion but ultimately betrayed by Cressida's infidelity.

### [Ajax](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/troilus_and_cressida_se/characters/ajax)

_social_

Ajax and Cressida have minimal direct interaction, likely as distant figures in the war narrative.

### [Helenus](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/troilus_and_cressida_se/characters/helenus)

_social_

Cressida and Helenus are acquaintances within the Trojan court, sharing a social connection as part of Priam's circle.

### [Pandarus](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/troilus_and_cressida_se/characters/pandarus)

_psychological_

Pandarus manipulates Cressida into a relationship with Troilus, acting as her uncle and panderer.

### [Troilus](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/troilus_and_cressida_se/characters/troilus)

_romantic_

Troilus and Cressida are passionate lovers whose relationship is marked by intense devotion but ultimately betrayed by Cressida's infidelity.

### [Troilus](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/troilus_and_cressida_se/characters/troilus)

_romantic_

Troilus and Cressida are passionate lovers whose relationship is marked by intense devotion but ultimately betrayed by Cressida's infidelity.

### [Ajax](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/troilus_and_cressida_se/characters/ajax)

_social_

Ajax and Cressida have minimal direct interaction, likely as distant figures in the war narrative.

### [Pandarus](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/troilus_and_cressida_se/characters/pandarus)

_psychological_

Pandarus manipulates Cressida into a relationship with Troilus, acting as her uncle and panderer.

### [Helenus](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/troilus_and_cressida_se/characters/helenus)

_social_

Cressida and Helenus are acquaintances within the Trojan court, sharing a social connection as part of Priam's circle.

## In the story

### [Scene I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/troilus_and_cressida_se/chapters/act-i-scene-i)

Mentioned by Troilus and Pandarus as the object of Troilus's desire, though she does not appear in the scene.

### [Scene II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/troilus_and_cressida_se/chapters/act-i-scene-ii)

Engages in witty banter with Pandarus, feigns indifference to Troilus, and reveals her strategic approach to love.

### [Scene I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/troilus_and_cressida_se/chapters/act-iii-scene-i)

Referenced indirectly as 'my cousin' and 'disposer' by Pandarus, suggesting Troilus's interest.

### [Scene II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/troilus_and_cressida_se/chapters/act-iii-scene-ii)

Confesses her love for Troilus after initial hesitation; vows that if false, her name will be used as a byword for falsehood.

### [Scene I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/troilus_and_cressida_se/chapters/act-iv-scene-i)

The subject of the exchange; she is to be sent to the Greek camp in return for Antenor.

### [Scene II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/troilus_and_cressida_se/chapters/act-iv-scene-ii)

Reluctantly parts from Troilus and vows never to leave him.

### [Scene IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/troilus_and_cressida_se/chapters/act-iv-scene-iv)

Grieves over her forced departure from Troy and Troilus, exchanges tokens and vows of fidelity.

### [Scene II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/troilus_and_cressida_se/chapters/act-v-scene-ii)

Gives a sleeve to Diomedes as a token, breaking her vows to Troilus.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/troilus_and_cressida_se/characters/cressida
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/troilus_and_cressida_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/troilus_and_cressida_se/characters