The play "Edward II" by Christopher Marlowe is a tragedy that depicts King Edward's reign, his forced abdication, and his death as well as the rise and fall of King Edward´s opponent Mortimer Junior. The respective relationships of these men play a major role in their development, which is why this paper focuses on the homoerotic relationship of King Edward and Gaveston as well as on the relationship of Queen Isabel and Mortimer Junior. Analyzed will be sexual and social transgressions as well as their effects which drive the plot forward.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. King Edward II and Gaveston
2.1. Sexual Transgressions
2.2. Social Transgressions
2.2.1. The Distribution of Power
2.2.2. The Monarch-Subject Bond
2.2.3. The Image of the King
3. Queen Isabel and Mortimer Junior
4. Conclusion
Objectives and Core Themes
This essay explores how Christopher Marlowe’s play Edward II portrays the destructive entanglement of private sexual matters and public political responsibilities. It investigates how transgressions—both sexual and social—drive the narrative and ultimately lead to the tragic downfall of the characters involved.
- The relationship between King Edward II and Gaveston as a catalyst for political instability.
- The interpretation of "transgression" within the context of Elizabethan social and legal norms.
- The shift from personal affairs to the subversion of the monarch-subject bond.
- The evolving roles of Queen Isabel and Mortimer Junior in the rebellion against the King.
- The analysis of how private desires influence and destabilize the public image of the monarchy.
Excerpt from the Book
2.2.1. The Distribution of Power
A sexual relationship between the King of England and “one so basely-born” (1.4.403) as Gaveston might be considered a breach, but would it be a relationship contained within the private sphere, it would be a nuisance the nobility would condone. This is illustrated by Mortimer Senior's statement that “[t]he mightiest kings have had their minions” (1.4.391) and the hope that “riper years will wean him from such toys” (1.4.401), suggesting that Edward's love for Gaveston might just be a phase the nobility could endure.
However, since the relationship transgresses the boundaries between private and public life resulting in favoritism concerning Gaveston, it cannot be accepted by the nobles. Edward declares Gaveston to be “Lord High Chamberlain, / Chief Secretary to the state and me, / Earl of Cornwall, King and Lord of Man” (1.1.153-155) as soon as he returns from exile to England. As Edward's brother Kent points out, “the least of these may well suffice / For one of greater birth than Gaveston” (1.5.157/8). The king also decides to give Gaveston a significant amount of wealth. Mortimer Junior states that “Gaveston hath a store of gold" (1.4.257) and “in his Tuscan cap / A jewel of more value than the crown" (1.4.414/415).
This sudden rise in power of a commoner provokes harsh reactions from Edward's closest noblemen: “Accursed Gaveston!” (1.2.4) and “villain” (1.2.11), they cry. Through these reactions, it becomes clear that the nobles condemn Gaveston and see his rise as a social transgression. Gaveston's characterization as a “villain” (1.2.11) is telling: The nobles consider his rise in power a criminal, or at least an unnatural, act, because it threatens the established social order.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: This chapter defines the theoretical framework of "transgression" and establishes the focus of the analysis on the entanglement of sexual and social issues in the play.
2. King Edward II and Gaveston: This chapter examines the central relationship of the play and how the King's personal preferences challenge the established social and political order.
2.1. Sexual Transgressions: This section explores the ambiguous nature of Edward and Gaveston’s relationship and its classification as a transgression within the Elizabethan context.
2.2. Social Transgressions: This section analyzes how the King's favoritism violates the boundary between private life and public governance.
2.2.1. The Distribution of Power: This subsection discusses the consequences of elevating a commoner to high political status and the reaction of the nobility.
2.2.2. The Monarch-Subject Bond: This subsection details how the King's negligence of his royal duties to pursue personal desires alienates his subjects and destabilizes the realm.
2.2.3. The Image of the King: This subsection analyzes how the King’s actions damage his reputation as a natural ruler and husband, leading to his eventual demise.
3. Queen Isabel and Mortimer Junior: This chapter investigates the secondary narrative of rebellion, focusing on the intersection of adultery and political conspiracy between the Queen and her lover.
4. Conclusion: This chapter synthesizes the arguments and concludes that the tragedy in Edward II stems from the disastrous collision of personal desire and public duty.
Keywords
Christopher Marlowe, Edward II, Transgression, Sodomy, Elizabethan England, Gaveston, Queen Isabel, Mortimer Junior, Monarch-Subject Bond, Political Power, Sexuality, Social Order, Rebellion, Adultery, Tragedy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this work?
The work provides a literary analysis of Christopher Marlowe’s play Edward II, focusing on how personal sexual relationships and their intersection with political power act as a driving force for the tragic events in the play.
What is the central research question?
The essay explores how the "problematic entanglement" of private sexual matters and public state affairs triggers various social and political transgressions that lead to the downfall of King Edward II.
How is the term "transgression" defined in this context?
Drawing on the Oxford English Dictionary, the work defines transgression as passing beyond the bounds of legality, duty, or right. It highlights that in Elizabethan times, this was often conflated with "sodomy," which encompassed a wide range of immoral or socially subversive acts.
What scientific methodology is applied?
The author employs literary analysis and close reading of the play's text, supported by secondary historical and critical sources to interpret the social and sexual dimensions of the characters' behaviors.
What is covered in the main part of the text?
The main part examines the relationship between King Edward II and Gaveston, the subsequent social outrage caused by their bond, the erosion of the monarch-subject relationship, and the parallel rebellion led by Queen Isabel and Mortimer Junior.
Which keywords best characterize the analysis?
Key terms include transgression, sodomy, power dynamics, monarch-subject bond, political rebellion, and the intersection of public and private life.
Why is the rise of Gaveston considered a social transgression by the nobles?
The nobility viewed Gaveston's rise to power as unnatural because it was based on the King's personal favoritism rather than social standing, thereby threatening the established hierarchy of the state.
How does the relationship between Queen Isabel and Mortimer Junior compare to that of the King?
While Edward’s transgression is rooted in personal love and neglect of duty, Isabel and Mortimer’s relationship is characterized by a shared hatred for the King, effectively blending their adultery with political conspiracy.
- Quote paper
- Silvia Schilling (Author), 2015, Christopher Marlowe´s Play Edward II (1594) between Sexual and Social Transgression, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/428437
