Cresseid
Cresseid is the daughter of Calchas, guardian of the temple of Venus. She is considered to be a faithless woman after she blasphemes Cupid and Venus for cruelly playing with her feelings for Diomedes. As such, she is cursed and becomes a leper and eventually swindles into prostitution. Eventually she dies as a beggar.
Diomedes
Diomedes is an Achaean hero who is known for his heroic role in the Trojan war. Though a great soldier, she is a morally questionable person. He plays with Cresseid’s feelings but soon loses interest and banishes her. He seems to not care what happens to her and moves on with his life.
Troilus
Troilus is Cresseid’s true love and the main hero of the poem. He loved Cresseid a lot but was caste aside by her in favour of Diomedes. However, he does not forget her, and even when she is a beggar and completely unrecognisable, he still recognises her and bestows help to her.
