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Troilus’s Sleeve
In act 4, scene 4, just as he is about to deliver Cressida to the Greeks, Troilus gives her a sleeve as a token of his love. In the costume of the day, sleeves were a detachable part of a garment, which made it common for them to be worn as favors or tokens—much like the glove that Cressida gives to Troilus in return. But though given as a symbolic gesture of his love and fidelity, Troilus’s sleeve soon becomes a symbol of Cressida’s unfaithfulness. After she’s taken to the Greek camp, she becomes involved in a romantic relationship with Diomedes. Watching from the shadows, Troilus witnesses a scene in which Cressida gives her new lover his sleeve. She immediately regrets the gift and tries to take it back. However, Diomedes snatches it away and declares he’ll affix it to his helmet so that the man who gave it to her might challenge him on the field of battle. The Greek soldier doesn’t yet know that the sleeve belonged to Troilus, but Troilus knows that Diomedes plans to wear it on his helmet. Thus, in the end the sleeve transforms into a symbol of Troilus’s vengeful wrath.
Cressida’s Letter
In act 5, scene 3, Pandarus comes to Troilus to deliver a letter sent to him from Cressida. This letter arrives after Troilus has secretly witnessed the scene of her infidelity. The trauma of her betrayal has already led him to arm for battle, where he is eager to track down and challenge her new lover, Diomedes. At this point in the play, Troilus knows to distrust Cressida’s words. In earlier scenes, she has repeated pledged her undying loyalty to him. And, as if already distrusting her vows, he has repeatedly asked her to confirm her loyalty. Now that he’s witnessed her infidelity firsthand, he considers her words worthless. In this way, Cressida’s letter symbolizes the cynicism that comes with experience, and which teaches that words and actions are emphatically not the same. Interestingly, we never learn what the letter says. After reading it silently to himself, Troilus tears it apart and, heartbroken, declares: “Words, words, mere words, no matter from the heart” (5.3.119).
The Anonymous Soldier’s Armor
In the final scenes of act 5, Hector pursues an unnamed Greek soldier, kills him, and lays claim to his armor. Hector announces his intention upon first spotting the soldier in scene 6: “I like thy armor well. / I’ll frush it and unlock the rivets all, / But I’ll be master of it” (5.6.31–33). In making such a formal boast, Hector conducts himself honorably. Equally honorable is his intention to take the soldiers armor as a spoil of war. Such trophies were commonly seen as symbols of heroism in the context of ancient wars. However, the armor soon takes on a darker symbolism. Two scenes of cowardice immediately follow: one where Achilles gathers his Myrmidons to attack Hector, and another where Thersites evades a fight with a “Bastard.” Thus, when a now unarmed Hector reflects on his trophy in scene 9, his words darkly foreshadow the dishonorable conditions of his death: “Most putrefied core [i.e., corpse], so fair without, / Thy goodly armor thus hath cost thy life” (5.9.1–2). At this very moment, Achilles and his gang appear and overpower Hector. In context, then, the anonymous soldier’s armor symbolizes not just the death of the Trojan hero, but perhaps the death of heroism altogether.
