Power and suffering constitutes the leading theme of Marlowe’s play Edward II. The assertion and the exercise of power and authority are a recurrent theme in this play. Suffering – sometimes delayed – results directly from the exercise of power and authority. The subject of this play is the reignContinue Reading
In comparison to Doctor Faustus, Tamburlaine, or Barabas the Jew, Edward II is not a typical Marlovian hero. He is not portrayed as one with so much outer glory, intelligence, villainy, or ambition as has been bestowed to the other three. It might even be argued that, compared to theContinue Reading
The “Murder Scene” [V.v] of King Edward is the horrible climax of the “Deposition Scene” [V.i]. Here we find the king facing indescribable ignominy and humiliation. According to Charles Lamb, “The death scene of Marlowe’s king moves pity and terror beyond any scene, ancient or modern…” The king is shownContinue Reading
The play Edward II reaches its emotional climax in scene I, Act V where the king’s image as an irresponsible and weak person undergoes a total transformation, and he emerges as a tragic figure in his understanding of the worthlessness of a king stripped of power. The scene well representsContinue Reading
Christopher Marlowe (1564–1593) was a seminal figure in Elizabethan drama and a contemporary of William Shakespeare. Born in Canterbury and educated at Cambridge, Marlowe was not only a playwright and poet but also a scholar with rumored ties to espionage. His short but impactful career significantly influenced the development ofContinue Reading
