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jane04's review against another edition
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
gregoreads's review against another edition
Dr Faustus remains my favourite of Kit Marlowe’s plays, but Edward II is a close second. For one, it’s explicitly gay—Edward’s biggest fault is his blind love for Gaveston. They make no secret of their feelings for each other, and Edward is cast sympathetically. It’s always clear that even if Edward makes bad decisions sometimes, he is the one who is meant to be king. Lots of beautiful lines throughout the play, as always, and lots of conniving and insulting and lying, as is characteristic of history plays. I recommend this above The Jew of Malta and Tamburlaine.
saratonin___'s review against another edition
4.0
Used the Libri vox recording to follow along, very good. Love how subversive this play is, Marlowe is fantastic.
davehershey's review against another edition
3.0
So I just started reading Shakespeare's histories, having finished King John. I learned that Edward III is next, though its authorship is disputed. Then I saw this one as fitting in chronologically, and since Marlowe and Shakespeare were friends, I thought I'd give it a try. Interestingly, this same Edward II is the son of Edward the Longshanks, made famous in the movie Braveheart! Once I knew that, I couldn't help, for better or worse, but to picture him as the pushover son in that movie. Here we see him obsessed with Gaveston, his friend (lover?), whom pretty much all the English nobles hate. Edward is a weak king, but also a tragic figure (I think). It was satisfying to see Mortimer get his comeuppance at the end. It was also neat to see the similarities and differences in style between Marlowe and Shakespeare.
On to Edward III!
On to Edward III!
eb00kie's review against another edition
3.0
When the more you mix, the more the ingredients separate - a mayonnaise fail, basically.
One way to describe this play is a collage: the beginning is a soap opera with homosexual leads, the middle is a civil war reenactment and the end is courtly drama with a whiff of "My Wife is Totally Ok with My Other Lovers" Agamemnon.
Tone-wise all over the place, but with good strong themes, complex characters and, most importantly, a plot with some twists and turns.
Here's the genius of Marlowe, and it's not as bad as it sounds, but look, there is absolutely no one designated for the audience to sympathise with, but at the same time, no one is one-dimensional or boring.
For example, theoretically, the MCs should be the king and his best friend Gaveston, just going by screentime. But they were a bit inept at using the royal power to win. At the same time antagonists were trying so hard and they kept getting back up, every time, that by the end I was actually crossing my fingers for Gaveston to die, just so they could catch a break!
I mean, screw true love and moral values, they were putting their soul into it!
Tone-deaf, absolutely irreverent to the notion of fanservice and refreshingly original.
One way to describe this play is a collage: the beginning is a soap opera with homosexual leads, the middle is a civil war reenactment and the end is courtly drama with a whiff of "My Wife is Totally Ok with My Other Lovers" Agamemnon.
Tone-wise all over the place, but with good strong themes, complex characters and, most importantly, a plot with some twists and turns.
Here's the genius of Marlowe, and it's not as bad as it sounds, but look, there is absolutely no one designated for the audience to sympathise with, but at the same time, no one is one-dimensional or boring.
For example, theoretically, the MCs should be the king and his best friend Gaveston, just going by screentime. But they were a bit inept at using the royal power to win. At the same time antagonists were trying so hard and they kept getting back up, every time, that by the end I was actually crossing my fingers for Gaveston to die, just so they could catch a break!
I mean, screw true love and moral values, they were putting their soul into it!
Tone-deaf, absolutely irreverent to the notion of fanservice and refreshingly original.
gardenwall's review against another edition
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
4.0
gillothen's review against another edition
4.0
Marlow really into his stride, responding to the fashion for chronicle plays, but this is so much more complex - sexuality, loyalty, what ruling means, friendship/love as well/instead of romantic love. Powerful and challenging. So much promise. An in less than a year he was dead.
mjones14's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I enjoyed it but I found Edward II too annoying which did inhibit a higher rating. Also Isabella is iconic!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder and Death
Moderate: Homophobia
Minor: War
pinkcait's review against another edition
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0