Edward II

Description

Considered by many to be Marlowe’s masterpiece, Edward II is one of the first dramas in English literature that discusses historical events and the playwright’s last drama as well.

The play attempts at presenting Edward II’s entire reign from the moment when Edward I dies and Edward II finally occupies the throne, up to the moment when his son, Edward III, has the murderer of Edward II executed. One of the first decisions the new King makes is to call Piers Gaveston back from exile. Gaveston is given lots of titles by Edward II and being very ambitious, he quickly becomes very influential at the court. However, his success is viewed badly by the nobles at the court (Gaveston himself is not of noble origins) and Edward finally banishes him to Ireland. Edward’s wife, Isabella of France does everything in her power to recall Gaveston and he does return one more time to England, but only to be captured and killed by the nobles.

He is, however, avenged by the king who has two nobles executed for the murder of Gaveston. The king then seems to move on and he finds himself another protégé, a man called Spencer. Isabella disagrees with the king’s choice and she goes to France to ask for military help from her homeland, but France would not help her. Isabella eventually gets the help she needs from Sir John of Hainault and the king is soon forced to run away. He refuges himself in Neath Abbey, but he is captured and imprisoned, then taken to Berkeley Castle where he is killed.

The play is about Edward II, but the king’s death is not the end of it: like in most Renaissance plays, especially in history dramas, everyone except for the new king dies. The last scene of the play ends with the son of Edward II occupying the throne of England and being crowned Edward III.
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