Imitated Desire in Shakespeare's Troilus and Cressida -- Mimetic Theory and Literary Study

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Date Posted: 05:36:42 01/28/08 Mon
Author: Betsy Peters
Subject: Imitated Desire in Shakespeare's Troilus and Cressida

In Shakespeare's Troilus and Cressida, Pandarus at first denies that he plays the role of the mediator, though he most certainly does:
While Troilus declares the tortures of his love-sick heart, Pandarus merely replies, �Well, I have told you enough of this; / for my part, I�ll not meddle nor make / no farther� (1.1.12-15). The pleas of Troilus continue, but Pandarus insists upon his inactive role: �Faith, I�ll not meddle in it.� (1.1.63). To conclude the scene, once again, Pandarus announces, �For my part, I�ll meddle nor make no more i�th�matter� (1.1.79).

Though Pandarus defends that he plays no role in drawing the two lovers together, he manages to contradict his own position in his reflections. Though Pandarus warns Troilus to foster patience in his pursuit of Cressida, he immediately appears to encourage him, �Well, she looked yesternight fairer than ever I / saw her look, or any woman else� (1.1.30-1). Meanwhile, he pushes reticent Cressid to consider Troilus over Hector, and indeed over the whole Trojan and Greek armies. As the troops parade, Pandarus repeatedly asserts, �But mark Troilus above the rest� (1.2.178), �Would I could see Troilus now� (1.2.207), and �I could live and die i�th�eyes of Troilus� (1.2.234). He plays the role of the double mediator as he couples the admiration of Helen for Troilus with his own reflections.

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