‘In Her I See/All Beauties Frailty’: Mirroring Helen of Troy and Elizabeth I in Thomas Heywood’s The Iron Age and The Second Part of The Iron Age (c.1596/c.1610)

In this article I argue that Helen of Troy in Thomas Heywood’s The Iron Age & II can be read as a figure for Elizabeth during her final decade. Heywood appropriates multiple sources to emphasise images age, decay and death which connect by evoking concerns were prevalent the Queen aged. Whether we date plays late Elizabethan or early Jacobean, was writing at time when people thinking (in anticipation retrospection) about Elizabeth’s end Tudor line. II, shows lament loss fabled beauty she gazes into mirror sees an aged face resembles Elizabeth’s. With despair compounded guilt over Trojan War, turns suicide ends entire pentalogy with glance succession. Ultimately, his treatment Helen, subversively brings centre stage (and government) had tried quash opens up new forums political commentary London’s popular theatres.