Troilus and Cressida was probably written around 1602, although scholars are not entirely sure of the exact date. Around the time of its creation, the play was not widely performed, and was not rediscovered until the beginnings of the 20th century. In modern times, however, it has received more critical attention and more performances than in all of its previous history. This could be, as the statement stresses, due to the fact that many parallels can be drawn between the concerns raised by Shakespeare and issues raised by modern social commentators and the media. Indeed, in his own time Shakespeare communicated concerns about the rapid change of his own era through what is described by R.A. Foakes as the 'parody of the grand Homeric legend of the Trojan War'.

Critics have generally labelled Troilus and Cressida as one of the 'problem comedies', or 'dar

Observe degree, priority, and place..."

Helen is another female in the play upon which a value is placed. In truth, she is little more than a 'trophy wife' for Paris, and the only scene in which she appears degenerates into absurdity through Shakespeare's use of bawdy language. Helen is also presented as a commodity, and it could also be said that she is raised above her worth, and is turned into a 'fetish object'. However, this cannot be seen as totally the fault of the females, as it seems that they are forced into these roles by the conventions of a patriarchal culture, which, it could be argued, still exists today.

'When thou hast hung thy advanced sword in i'th'air,

Act 2 Scene 2 is important again here. Hector does little more than conduct an economic assessment of the war in terms of common lives and royal ones. Priam describes the war as 'this cormorant war'. The cormorant is noted for it's greed, and so connections with concern over capitalism are already being formed. Value is discussed in terms of 'common' men and royalty, and it becomes apparent that Shakespeare is attempting to comment upon Elizabethan concerns over capitalist expansion. Once again, this can be easily applied to 'crises' of today, with concern over the delicate balance of global markets, the loss of stable values in favour of the acquisition of hard currency. So, it is easy to relate the historical events of the start of the 17th century with that of the 21st century.

'Lo, Jupiter is yonder, dealing life!'

Ourself the merchant, and this sailing Pandar

So, it is my belief that the statement in question is quite true in that the issues raised by Troilus and Cressida are still applicable to contemporary society. Robin Headlam Wells described the play as; "a story of love's betrayal set against the background of a futile war waged by proud and childish men whose analytic powers have outstripped their common sense".

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Approximate Word count = 1604
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page double spaced)