John P. McCall, "The Trojan Scene in Chaucer's Troilus"

McCall, John P. "The Trojan Scene in Chaucer's Troilus." ELH. Vol. 29, No. 3 (Sep. 1962). pp.263-275.

McCall defends Kittredge's basic premise that the Trojan background in Troilus and Criseyde creates an overall atmosphere of doom. However, McCall goes further, claiming that the experiences of Troy and those of Troilus are mirrored throughout the tale. After all, Troilus's name means "Little Troy." Both Troy and Troilus are gambling with Fortune, McCall claims. They have foolishly made everything dependent on their success defending a woman attained through underhanded means.

As Troilus and Criseyde advances from a period of good Fortune for Troilus (when the war is hardly spoken of) to one of bad Fortune (when the Greeks take an active part in the story), the city mirrors Troilus's condition. In Books 4 and 5, the sense of impending doom is unmistakable.

McCall's argument logically finds an incorporation for the ever nagging Trojan war and supplies an interpretation suggesting that Chaucer knew exactly what he was doing.

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