This paper’s aim is to analyse and compare the kings Edward II and Richard II as depicted in Marlowe’s and Shakespeare’s plays with special attention to their relationships to their favourites. It cannot, however, take the historical figures of Edward II and Richard II into consideration as this would exceed the paper’s focus.
There are many parallels between the two plays. Each is about a king who is deposed and murdered, and in each the barons accuse the king’s favourites of having manipulated the sovereign to serve their own political advantage. In both plays, the issue of homosexuality comes up: Edward has a homosexual relationship with his favourite Gaveston, Henry Bolingbroke accuses Bushy and Green of having seduced Richard politically as well as sexually and of thus having misled him as a ruler and destroyed the king’s marriage.
The question comes up if both kings’ relationships to their peers really are – as we understand it today – of a homosexual nature. If so: were the favourites accused of having a negative influence on the kings because of their homosexuality? Is homosexuality in itself a charge heavy enough to depose a king? To answer this, chapter two will explain the Elizabethan view on homosexuality, which differs significantly from our own contemporary understanding. Even though the historical settings of both plays are in the Middle Ages, they will be examined from an early modern point of view since they were both written by Elizabethan playwrights for a contemporaneous audience. Subsequent chapters will examine and compare homosexuality within both plays and analyse which role it plays in connection with questions of power and the barons’ revolts.
Table of Contents
1 Introduction
2 Homosexuality in Early Modern Times
3 Edward II
4 Richard II
5 Conclusion
Objectives and Topics
This paper examines and compares the portrayals of King Edward II and King Richard II in the plays of Marlowe and Shakespeare, specifically analyzing the political implications of their relationships with their favourites. It explores whether the theme of homosexuality in these works is a historical reflection or a political tool used to challenge the authority of the monarchs.
- Analysis of the representation of homosexuality in early modern literature and society.
- Examination of the political power dynamics between monarchs and their favourites in Edward II and Richard II.
- Comparison of the "King's Two Bodies" theory in relation to the characters' personal and political failings.
- Investigation into how accusations of improper relationships were used by barons to justify political rebellion.
- Evaluation of the differences in how the two playwrights frame the downfall of their respective kings.
Excerpt from the Book
3 Edward II
Marlowe’s play, which was written around 1592 (Wiggins xiii), shows many parallels to Richard II due to the fact that the former had been written three years earlier and was therefore certainly familiar to Shakespeare. Both plays present “a weak and youthfully wilful monarch dominated by self-serving, upstart favourites and opposed by senior nobles who represent tradition, stability and, mostly, wise counsel” (Forker 159–160). Both plays show a king who is rather unsympathetic in the beginning but who gains sympathy during the course of action when his opponents capture, depose, humiliate, and, eventually, kill him. The barons, whose cause for rebellion at first seems understandable and sympathetic, turn out to be in part ruthless and overly ambitious. Which role does homosexuality play in this context and how is Edward being portrayed as being homosexual and effeminate?
From the very beginning of Edward II it is clear that the king and Gaveston, his favourite, are lovers. After having received Edward’s invitation to London, Gaveston says: “Not that I love the city or the men, / But that it harbours him I hold so dear, / The King, upon whose bosom let me die . . .” (1.12-14). He is truly in love with the king, however, he also seeks his own political advantage and knows how to manipulate Edward, namely through erotic entertainment: “I must have wanton poets, pleasant wits, / Musicians, that with touching of a string / May draw the pliant King which way I please.” (1.50-52). In early modern times, homophobia and xenophobia were thought to be related because sodomy was especially attributed to the Italians. Gaveston as a Frenchman who likes Italian masques represents “contaminating Continental influence that has infiltrated the body of the nation”, as well as “the body of its King” (Wiggins xiv).
Summary of Chapters
1 Introduction: This chapter outlines the paper's aim to compare Marlowe’s Edward II and Shakespeare’s Richard II, focusing on their relationships with favourites and the political context of their depositions.
2 Homosexuality in Early Modern Times: This chapter discusses the contemporary understanding of homosexuality, clarifying that it was not a defined identity in the early modern period but often conflated with deviant behavior or political subversion.
3 Edward II: This chapter analyzes the explicit homosexual relationship between King Edward II and Gaveston, exploring how it leads to political instability and the disregard for social hierarchies.
4 Richard II: This chapter investigates the ambiguous nature of Richard II’s relationships with his favourites, concluding that accusations of homosexuality are likely political tactics rather than literal descriptions.
5 Conclusion: This chapter synthesizes the findings, asserting that while homosexuality is a theme in both plays, the fundamental driver of the kings' downfalls is their failure to navigate political demands effectively.
Keywords
Edward II, Richard II, Marlowe, Shakespeare, Homosexuality, Favourites, Early Modern Times, Politics, King's Two Bodies, Barons, Deposition, Power, Effeminacy, Sovereignty, History Plays.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this research paper?
The paper focuses on analyzing and comparing the portrayals of King Edward II and King Richard II in their respective plays, specifically regarding their relationships with their favourites and the subsequent political impact.
What are the central thematic fields explored?
The central themes include the representation of homosexuality in early modern literature, the theory of the "King's Two Bodies," the dynamics of political power, and the historical use of favourites as scapegoats for baronial rebellion.
What is the primary research goal of this study?
The goal is to determine how the theme of homosexuality operates within these plays and whether it constitutes a primary cause for the kings' downfall or acts as a proxy for underlying political conflicts.
Which scientific methodology is applied in this analysis?
The author uses literary analysis, examining the primary texts (plays) through the lens of early modern socio-political contexts, historical definitions of sexuality, and critical secondary literature.
What topics are covered in the main body of the text?
The body covers historical definitions of homosexuality, a detailed analysis of Edward II's explicit relationship with Gaveston, an evaluation of the ambiguous loyalties in Richard II, and the role of the queen in both narratives.
Which keywords best characterize the work?
Key terms include Edward II, Richard II, Homosexuality, Power, Favourites, King's Two Bodies, and Political Instability.
Does the paper argue that Richard II was homosexual?
No, the paper concludes that there is no explicit evidence for a homosexual relationship in Shakespeare's play and suggests that such accusations were political tools used by his opponents.
How do the portrayals of the queens differ between the two plays?
In Edward II, the queen is a rival to the favourite and plays a central role in the king's deposition, whereas in Richard II, the queen is depicted as a loving, loyal figure without political influence.
- Quote paper
- Henriette Plienow (Author), 2009, The King's Favourites, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/127560
