24 pages • 48 minutes read
Christopher MarloweEdward II
Fiction | Play | Adult | Published in 1593A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Themes
Flattery in Politics
It is no surprise that the court of Edward II—as is the case with any political bureaucracy—is a hotbed of maneuvering and scheming. The most salient political point in Edward II, however, is how easy it is to get people to surrender their principles to mere flattery. Edward practically lives on compliments and praise. He can forgive anyone for anything so long as they have a kind word to say about him and the way he lives his life. His followers are referred to as “flatterers” by his opponents more often than any other epithet. Everyone but Edward II can see that flattery is his primary weakness, which is a disturbing trait in the ruler of a nation.
Sexuality and Exhibitionism
Edward II is often read as a text about homosexuality. The relationship between Gaveston and Edward II is immediately assumed to be romantic and sexual, even though the nature of their relationship is never overtly stated. The irony is that the lords who oppose their relationship do not seem to mind the fact that they may be lovers. Rather, it is the flaunting obliviousness with which Edward showers Gaveston with riches and titles that disturbs them to the point of rebellion. If he had managed to be more circumspect about his demonstrations of affection, maybe Edward could have continued with Gaveston for as long as he chose. Likewise, it is not the fact that Isabella lusts after Mortimer that seems to bother Edward, but the fact that he has to be aware of it—that he can see it with his own eyes, making it impossible to ignore.
Betrayal and Trust
Edward II’s court is a pit of vipers. Nearly every character participates in the betrayal of another, and many characters betray themselves by blinding themselves to the reality of their actions. Isabella betrays her husband by putting the plot to depose him into motion, and he betrays her (and their marital vows) in return with his attention to Gaveston. Kent betrays his brother, Mortimer betrays nearly everyone, and Gurney betrays Lightborn. It raises the question of why anyone would want to be involved in politics at all. Where there is no trust among people who are willing to kill for their ambition, power is always in a tenuous state.
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