How would you evaluate the character of
Queen Isabella in Edward II ?
A general charge against Marlowe’s dramatic
artistry is that his women are not dramatically living. In fact his earlier
plays are rather deprived of substantial feminine characters. But in his play
Edward II, he has presented a female character as an important link in the
whole action. This is Isabella, the queen, who is much instrumental to the
tragic fall of the weak king. In this respect alone, Edward II can be safely
deemed as superior to his plays.
Isabella, as presented by Marlowe, has a
change in her character with the advancement of the play. She changes, in the
course of time, into a hypocritical, vengeful, ambitious and even cruel woman.
Isabella, in the earlier scenes of the play, is rather an object of pity. She
is the queen but neither has she had the queen-like personality nor does she
enjoy the honour of a queen. Her husband is rather cold cruel to her. He
slights her and exploits her only to serve his base passion for his favourite
Gaveston. The king’s favourite proud Gaveston even insults her openly. She is,
in fact, subjected to much torment and insult because of her unnatural husband.
The queen, nevertheless, remains extremely submissive and loyal and is ready to
do anything to get the favour of her husband. She prefers to bear her own
sorrow silently to spare him from troubles and worries.
