How did Diomede court Criseyde to win her love in “Troilus and Criseyde”?

Answer

How did Diomede court Criseyde to win her love? [2020, 2016] ✪✪✪

Geoffrey Chaucer’s (1340-1400) “Troilus and Criseyde” (1385) is a story of love, fate, and betrayal. When Criseyde is sent to the Greek camp, her new life begins. There, Diomede, a clever Greek knight, slowly courts her with words, gifts, and patience until she surrenders her heart.

Meeting in the Greek Camp: After leaving Troy, Criseyde feels alone and helpless among strangers. Diomede sees her sorrow and begins to comfort her. Diomede uses soft speech and sympathy to make her trust him. He praises her beauty and nobility. He speaks kindly about Troilus. This shows he understands her pain. His gentle manners open her heart slowly.

Words Turn to Deeds: Day by day, Diomede grows bolder. He offers service, loyalty, and comfort. He acts politely and humbly. He even asks to carry her glove in his helmet during battle. This is a romantic symbol of devotion. Criseyde feels honored and begins to pity him. His clever flattery and respectful behaviour win her attention.

The Final Win: As days pass, Criseyde forgets her promise to Troilus. Chaucer writes,

“But caste him clene out of his lady grace, 

And on hir wheel she sette up Diomede;”

(But she (Fortune) threw Troilus completely out of his lady’s favour,

and placed Diomede high upon her wheel of fortune.)

She starts loving Diomede, who never stops showing care. One day, she offers the brooch to Diomede that Troilus once gave her. It proves that she has given away her last sign of loyalty. Diomede’s patience and skillful courtship triumph.

Thus, Diomede wins Criseyde’s love not by force but by flattery, care, and clever words. He uses the weakness of her lonely heart. Chaucer shows that Diomede is a man of strategy, and Criseyde, a woman of circumstance. His courtship marks the final betrayal of Troilus and the sad fall of true love.