This is one of the earliest examples of "citizen comedy" plays set in London and dealing with the dominant concerns of metropolitan society—class mobility, sexual intrigue, and the pursuit of wealth and status. Thomas Dekker uses the colorful and vivid backdrop of London's streets, taverns, and public buildings to expose urban existence—its folly and corruption.

This is one of the earliest examples of "citizen comedy" plays set in London and dealing with the dominant concerns of metropolitan society—class mobility, sexual intrigue, and the pursuit of wealth and status. Thomas Dekker uses the colorful and vivid backdrop of London's streets, taverns, and public buildings to expose urban existence—its folly and corruption.