The Distinction between Chaucer and Shakespeare’s Rendition of Their Troilus and Criseyde (Cressida)

This study analyses the distinction between Chaucer’s poem entitled Troilus and Criseyde and Shakespeare’s play entitled Troilus and Cressida using three-phase descriptive qualitative method. This study is supported by formalistic theory and feministic theory. The findings from the analysis of data show that the authors’ characterization results to distinct bearing of the select characters, the authors’ technique upshots to dissimilar style and structure in writing, and the authors’ women character portrayal results to different feminine insight, yet create understanding in relation to their respective period. This research further reveals that Shakespeare’ version has more complex characters compared to Chaucer’s. Moreover, it has been found that Shakespeare’s version is a play that is divided into five acts and is written in black verse with twenty-five characters; whereas Chaucer’s version is an epic poem that is divided into five books and is written in rime royal verse with thirteen characters. Lastly, Shakespeare’s version greatly differs in Chaucer’s in terms of women character portrayal in relation to their respective epoch: women are somewhat equal to men in Chaucer’s time; whereas in Shakespeare’s time, women are inferior and subservient to men. Based on the findings, it is concluded that the two masterpieces have distinctions in authors’ characterization, technique in writing, and women character portrayal.

Keywords – Characterization, distinction, technique, women characters