 The content of the "Silvae" is primarily dictated by the needs of Statius' patrons, and many of the addressees come from the wealthy, privileged class of landowners and politicians.Statius' flattery of these elites has been interpreted in two ways by scholars; some maintain that the collection is highly subversive and is a subtle criticism of Domitian and the Roman aristocracy.Others urge a reading of the "Silvae" as individual pieces that respond to specific circumstances with their own unique viewpoints.