Ulysses

Play

Troilus and Cressida

Summary

The Greek strategist and the play's great political thinker, whose famous "Degree" speech articulates a vision of hierarchical order underpinning all civilization. Yet Ulysses is also a master manipulator who uses his philosophy instrumentally — his plot to shame Achilles back into action through Ajax's promotion is cold political calculation dressed as principle, revealing the gap between his eloquence and his practice.

Notable Quotations

"The heavens themselves, the planets, and this centre / Observe degree, priority, and place." *(I.iii)*

"Time hath, my lord, a wallet at his back, / Wherein he puts alms for oblivion." *(III.iii)*

"Perseverance, dear my lord, / Keeps honour bright." *(III.iii)*

Cross-references

• Troilus and Cressida — the play
• Tragedies
• character_achilles_tc — the warrior he schemes to motivate
• character_agamemnon — the Greek commander he advises
• character_nestor_tc — his senior counselor ally
• character_troilus — whose grief he observes with Trojan spies