# Troilus — Troilus and Cressida character guide > Troilus in Troilus and Cressida by William Shakespeare. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Prince Troilus, young Troilus, Troilus Hector, Troilus Cressid, Troilus O Cressida, Troilus Good Pandarus, Troilus armed, Troilus Brother, Troilus Fly, Troilus Hark, Troilus The Greeks, Troilus Fie, Troilus Fool, Troilus Ajax, Brother Troilus, Troilus Grecian, Troilus Sirrah, Troilus Thou, Exeunt Troilus **First appearance:** 0003-act-i-scene-i ## Snapshot A young Trojan prince who trades the battlefield for the bedroom, hopelessly lovesick for Cressida while his brothers win glory outside the walls. ## Who they are Troilus is Priam's youngest warrior son, expected to fight but too distracted by desire to keep his heart in the field. He confesses to Pandarus that he is 'weaker than a woman's tear,' sighing at his father's table and burying his grief in a smile so Hector won't see it. His longing sets the play's romantic engine running, and his impatience with delay — the grinding, bolting, leavening of Pandarus's cake metaphor — defines the anxious middle act. ## Relationships ### [Ajax](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/troilus_and_cressida_se/characters/ajax) _rivalry_ Ajax and Troilus are fierce opponents on the battlefield, with Ajax representing Greek brute force against Troilus's Trojan valor. ### [Pandarus](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/troilus_and_cressida_se/characters/pandarus) _psychological_ Pandarus acts as a manipulative go-between and uncle figure, engineering Troilus's romantic pursuit of Cressida for his own amusement and gain. ### [Helenus](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/troilus_and_cressida_se/characters/helenus) _family_ Helenus is Troilus's brother, a Trojan prince and prophet, sharing a familial bond within the royal house of Priam. ### [Cressida](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/troilus_and_cressida_se/characters/cressida) _romantic_ Troilus and Cressida are passionate lovers whose relationship is marked by intense devotion but ultimately betrayed by Cressida's infidelity. ### [Diomedes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/troilus_and_cressida_se/characters/diomedes) _rivalry_ Diomedes is Troilus's direct romantic rival and enemy, winning Cressida's affections and clashing with Troilus in battle. ### [Hector](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/troilus_and_cressida_se/characters/hector) _family_ Hector is Troilus's older brother and fellow Trojan prince, sharing a protective but strained sibling relationship due to differing views on honor. ### [Priam](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/troilus_and_cressida_se/characters/priam) _family_ Priam is Troilus's father and king of Troy, a relationship of filial duty and royal lineage. ### [Agamemnon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/troilus_and_cressida_se/characters/agamemnon) _rivalry_ Agamemnon, as Greek commander, is Troilus's enemy by virtue of the war, though they rarely meet directly. ### [Servant](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/troilus_and_cressida_se/characters/servant) _professional_ The servant serves Troilus as a messenger and attendant, facilitating his romantic and military affairs. ### [Cassandra](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/troilus_and_cressida_se/characters/cassandra) _family_ Cassandra is Troilus's sister, a prophetess whose warnings about Troy's fall are ignored by her brother. ### [Alexander](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/troilus_and_cressida_se/characters/alexander) _professional_ Alexander is a servant or attendant to Troilus, providing minor support in the narrative. ### [Ulysses](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/troilus_and_cressida_se/characters/ulysses) _rivalry_ Ulysses, the cunning Greek strategist, opposes Troilus intellectually and politically, representing Greek guile against Trojan passion. ## In the story ### [Scene I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/troilus_and_cressida_se/chapters/act-i-scene-i) Expresses his inner turmoil and lovesick despair, unable to fight due to his obsession with Cressida. ### [Scene II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/troilus_and_cressida_se/chapters/act-i-scene-ii) Praised by Pandarus as the prince of chivalry; seen passing with a bloodied sword and hacked helmet. ### [Scene II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/troilus_and_cressida_se/chapters/act-ii-scene-ii) Passionately defends keeping Helen for honor and glory, dismissing reason and Cassandra's prophecies. ### [Scene I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/troilus_and_cressida_se/chapters/act-iii-scene-i) Mentioned as sending a message via Pandarus; his secret love for Cressida is hinted at. ### [Scene II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/troilus_and_cressida_se/chapters/act-iii-scene-ii) Expresses his intense love and impatience to meet Cressida; vows eternal truth and fidelity, declaring 'As true as Troilus' as a future standard. ### [Scene I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/troilus_and_cressida_se/chapters/act-iv-scene-i) Mentioned as having lodged with Cressida; his anticipated grief over her departure is noted by Aeneas and Paris. ### [Scene II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/troilus_and_cressida_se/chapters/act-iv-scene-ii) Bids Cressida farewell at dawn, then learns of her forced exchange. ### [Scene III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/troilus_and_cressida_se/chapters/act-iv-scene-iii) Agrees to bring Cressida to Diomedes, likening the act to a sacrificial offering of his own heart. ### [Scene IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/troilus_and_cressida_se/chapters/act-iv-scene-iv) Bids a painful farewell to Cressida, expressing deep love and jealousy; warns Diomedes to treat her well. ### [Scene V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/troilus_and_cressida_se/chapters/act-iv-scene-v) Present as Hector's brother, described by Ulysses as a valiant but restrained knight; later asks Ulysses to take him to Calchas's tent to see Cressida. ### [Scene I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/troilus_and_cressida_se/chapters/act-v-scene-i) Follows Diomedes to Calchas' tent, guided by Ulysses. ### [Scene II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/troilus_and_cressida_se/chapters/act-v-scene-ii) Witnesses Cressida's betrayal and struggles to reconcile his love with her infidelity. ### [Scene III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/troilus_and_cressida_se/chapters/act-v-scene-iii) Dismisses Cressida's letter as mere words; urges Hector to show no mercy in battle. ### [Scene IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/troilus_and_cressida_se/chapters/act-v-scene-iv) Pursues Diomedes in battle, seeking revenge for the sleeve. ### [Scene VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/troilus_and_cressida_se/chapters/act-v-scene-vi) Fights Ajax and Diomedes, then vows to rescue Aeneas. ### [Scene X](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/troilus_and_cressida_se/chapters/act-v-scene-x) Grieves Hector's death and vows revenge against Achilles. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/troilus_and_cressida_se/characters/troilus - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/troilus_and_cressida_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/troilus_and_cressida_se/characters