Edward 2 by Christopher Marlowe
EDWARD SECOND – CHRISTOPHER MARLOWE
The drama opens with Gaveston reading a letter. This gives us to know the past. It enables us to understand the present and also
Edward I has passed away
As soon as Edward succeeds his father, he calls back his friend, Gaveston from exile.
Gaveston was sent to exile by King Edward I.
Gaveston was luxurious and pleasure–seeking short. He loved the king, but he had a deep contempt for the nobles.
The nobles did not approve of his friendship with Edward II.
Gaveston was the son of garcon knight. He was brought up with Edward II. He was brave but greedy and had no foresight
Edward I believed that he was getting spoiled in the company of Gaveston so he banished him
The elder and younger Mortimer, Warwick Lancaster and other lords are in front of the king's palace. They were discussing how the king was being diverted from the welfare of the country. There was a strong dislike for Gaveston among the lord, ga misbehaved with the bishop.
The difference of opinion between the people was going deeper
In between, Queen Isabella and young Mortimer were coming closer. Queen Isabella was ignored by the king, so she was having strong feelings for Mortimer
The rebel lords move towards Lambeth
The rebel lords, in spite of the king’s order, decide to put Gaveston to exile again.
The king requests Isabella to forego the banishment of Gaveston she agrees but she also wanted his banishment.
Young Mortimer is seem over ambitious. His fall is also certain. It is said, “Pride is never tolerated by the moral that rules the universe”
The plot gradually moves to the climax.
It seemed as if all will go well between the rebel lords and the king after the banishment of Gaveston recalled.
The Scotts captured the uncle of Mortimer.
The king refused to pay the ransom. The Mortimer was asked to pay themselves
The treasury was being drained out to meet the luxury and undue expenses of Gaveston.
Preparation started for the marriage between Gaveston and the niece of the king.
Isabella is disappointed. She expected the king would change. But the king showed no obligations.
The barons were all disappointed as they saw the king neglecting his duties.
The scene moves before the Tynemouth castle.
Duke of Kent was the brother of the king
He warned the king that his blind love for Gaveston would prove fatal. But the king ignores this.
The Duke of Kent was insulted by the king. So he left him to join with the rebels.
The Duke of Kent wanted the welfare of his country. He wanted to change his brother. He was not against the king. He remembered that he was the king.
The young Spencer was also one of the favourites of the king.
They come to know that the barons were furious and that they may rebel.
Hearing this, the king with Gaveston manages to escape.
Gaveston comes to Scarborough Castle. He is pursued by the barons.
Gaveston was an evil in the life of the king
Gaveston was feeling safe. But just then the barons arrived.
Isabella had given the clue about Gaveston
For Gaveston beheading was honourable he knew he was to die. He said to the barons, “After all you want my death, what does it matter whether death is caused by hanging or beheading? Both mean the same to you.
The barons agree for beheading
Further, we see the civil was raging
Gaveston is in custody Warwick plays a trick he tells Gaveston that he will take him to the king Warwick takes Gaveston under his custody. On the way, he plans to put an end to his life.
Later the barons ask the king to remove the younger Spencer from his company. Now Spencer had become his favourite.
The scene moves to the borough of bridge fortune is a fickle goddess. The barons are taken prisoner in battle. the king turns out his brother, Kent, from the royal personage Kent, had said the hard truth against Gaveston.
Prince Edward and Isabella go to France to meet the king. The king was the brother of Isabella. They wanted help.
king of France refused to help his sister, Isabella is disappointed.
The king refused to help his sister, Isabella, because Edward II had asked him not to help her.
The barons come into power again. Now the king and Spencer had to go to a safer place
Kent was passing on a London street near the tower of London. He met Mortimer. He was in disguise. Mortimer had managed to escape from the prison.
Queen Isabella was in Paris. She was disappointed that her brother did not know where to go. Sir John of Hain offers to help her.
King Edward receives a letter from France. It is informed that the queen was refused of any help.
The king was sure that no one would help Mortimer to get out of the country.
Mortimer escaped. Then the king had to escape to Gloucester and then to Wales.
Kent repents as to why he joined hands with the rebel barons.
Mortimer was ambitions. Somehow he wanted to usurp the power of the king
The king decides to fight against his rebels. He preferred to die rather than fly away.
He would fight to the death.
For a real hero, battle ‘ is a bed of honour.
In spite of all his weaknesses, the royal blood sparks out and he decides, to take up arms.
The soliloquy of Kent reveals that he is against the nature of the king. He was not against his life. He had no selfish motive.
So he suffered from both sides – the rebels and the king as well.
On the other side, Mortimer had selfish motives. He is off the drama. He had the strong desire to usurp the power, by any means- deceit, conspiracy, trick.
Prince Edward had an affectionate concern for his father
We find that he takes strong action against his father’s murderers
The scene moves towards the abbey of Neath. The king enters the abbey in disguise.
But he is recognized. He is betrayed and captured.
Prince Edward is put on the throne.
But the kingdom is ruled by Mortimer.
The queen and Mortimer are in an illicit relationship with each other.
These two conspire to kill the king
The king is treated in a very cruel way.
The king, like royal blood, does not succumb to inhuman cruelty. So a murderer is hired.
Matrevis and Gurney attempt to be as cruel as possible.
Then Mortimer sends light born, an expert in a such heinous crime
But nemesis soon followed.
Prince Edward comes
He orders Mortimer to instant execution as a traitor.
Queen Isabella is imprisoned in the tower.
In the end, sympathy goes with Edward II.
The Earl of Leicester takes Prince Edward III to the Killingworth castle
The prince says that when a wild deer is hit by an arrow, it can easily soothe its wound by running up to a plant and applying the same herb for relief.
But when the same goes with the lion, who is a king of the forest, it is not so but tears his wound with its paws. He does this out of anger and humiliation
Prince Edward is hurt by the behaviour of his mother. She seems to be an ‘unnatural queen’.
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