Shakespeare's plays are some of the finest examples of tragedy and comedy in the English literary canon. The reason his works are so touching and thoughtful is the use of both emotions to advance the other. In his interpretation of Troilus and Cressida, the traditional story of tragic love and loss is peppered with irony and satire to address current issues such as gender roles, government action/inaction, and hero worship through juxtaposition and humor. The character of Troilus before Shakespeare's play can be seen as a perfect archetype for the tragic romantic. His love is predestined by the gods from the beginning. The love story and relationship with Cressida are elevated to that of a noble crusade. Then, as if Sophocles himself dictated events, we see success, conflict, and eventual downfall. As with many of Shakespeare's works, we see that tradition and myth are great platforms for satire and irony. The noble and honorable Troilus approaches Cressida and in place of the tragic hero we meet the melodramatic comedian. Epic expressions of devotion and purpose are taken to the point of ridicule and hyperbole. While they may initially be seen as in line with the traditions of Roman and Greek tragedy, the addition of flat and even openly sarcastic responses from Cressida makes the reader wonder whether Troilus is noble and devoted in his actions or obsessive and pathetic . Where there was fate and honor we now see neurosis and narcissism. Dialogues taken from traditional tales such as: For he is the source of loyalty, the foundation of truth, mirror of appearance, Apollo of ingenuity, stone of security, root of virtue, troubadour and leader of happiness, Through whom all my pain is lessened, then, I love it more, and... middle of paper... admirable when women are given a choice and motivations that go beyond that of a trophy? What is the difference between honor/heroism and selfish ignorance? How does this affect those who are not directly involved? Works Cited Aristotle, Samuel Henry Butcher, and Francis Fergusson. Aristotle's poetics. New York: Hill and Wang, 1994. Print.Chaucer, Geoffrey and Nevill Coghill. Troilus and Chryseis;. Harmondsworth: Penguin, 1971. Print. Frye, Northrop and Robert Sandler. Northrop Frye on Shakespeare. New Haven: Yale UP, 1986. Print.Orgel, Stephen and Sean Keilen. Shakespeare and gender. New York: Garland Pub., 1999. Print.The Royal Family. "The Tudors." www.royal.gov.uk. National Archives of the United Kingdom, 2008/9. Network. December 10, 2013.Shakespeare, William, Barbara A. Mowat, and Paul Werstine. Troilus and Cressida. New York: Washington Square, 2007. Print.