Poem Analysis - Troilus And Cresida

Introduction: A Lament for Lost Love

Wordsworth's "Troilus and Cresida" is a poignant exploration of love, loss, and the torment of separation. The poem captures Troilus's intense grief and longing after Cresida's departure, painting a vivid picture of his emotional devastation. The tone is overwhelmingly melancholic, filled with despair and a desperate yearning for reunion. The mood shifts between lamentation, remembrance of happier times, and fervent pleas to divine powers for Cresida's return.

The Torment of Absence: Love as All-Consuming Pain

One of the primary themes in the poem is the all-consuming nature of love and the devastating pain of its absence. Troilus's sorrow is portrayed as physically and emotionally crippling. The poem describes how seeing Cresida's bolted palace makes his "sorrowful heart would break in two." The image of his heart turning "icy cold" illustrates the profound impact of her absence. Further, Wordsworth emphasizes how his memories of past joy only intensify his present suffering, showcasing love as a source of both extreme happiness and profound grief. Troilus’s inability to find solace in anything underscores how Cresida’s absence has robbed the world of its beauty and joy.

Memory and the Landscape of Loss

The poem profoundly uses memory as a vehicle to express Troilus's despair. He revisits places where he shared happy moments with Cresida, but instead of providing comfort, these memories amplify his pain. Wordsworth uses vivid imagery to evoke these past experiences: "Lo, yonder saw I mine own Lady dance," he recalls, only to be immediately reminded of his present desolation. Each specific place becomes a symbol of a lost connection, a reminder of what he has lost. The physical landscape of the town transforms into a landscape of emotional suffering, highlighting how closely Troilus's identity is tied to his relationship with Cresida.

Appeals to the Divine: A Quest for Consolation

Troilus’s appeals to the divine reveal another key theme: the search for consolation in the face of unbearable loss. He directly addresses the "blissful God of Love," begging for mercy and Cresida's return. These prayers, however, are tinged with a sense of futility. Troilus believes he is at the mercy of forces beyond his control. He also speaks to the Moon, Luna, asking her to hasten her cycle, in hope that Cresida will return with her. This act reveals a desperate hope that his love can prevail over forces beyond his control.

Symbolism: Palace, Star and the Unreachable Cresida

Several recurring symbols enrich the poem's meaning. The palace, initially described as "richly dight" and a "lamp of which extinguished is the light," symbolizes Cresida herself and the joy she brought to Troilus's life. Its now "desolate" state reflects his own inner emptiness. Furthermore, the "star" which Troilus refers to in his song, symbolizing Cresida, and the loss of her light, represents the profound darkness he feels in her absence. The image of Troilus’s ship sailing towards Charybdis because the star is gone, emphasizes how his love is the guiding force in his life, and without it he is doomed.

Conclusion: An Enduring Portrait of Lovesickness

In conclusion, "Troilus and Cresida" is a powerful depiction of lovesickness and the deep pain of separation. Through evocative imagery, a melancholic tone, and recurring symbols, Wordsworth captures the intensity of Troilus's grief and his desperate longing for reunion. The poem's enduring significance lies in its exploration of the consuming nature of love and its capacity to shape our experiences of the world around us, even transforming familiar places into painful reminders of what we have lost.