365-Day Project: Day 37

Christopher Marlowe (1564–1593).?Edward the Second.

[Vol. 46, pp. 73-89 of The Harvard Classics]

"The reluctant pangs of abdicating royalty in 'Edward' furnished hints which Shakespeare scarcely improved in his 'Richard the Second,' and the death scene of Marlowe's King moves to pity and terror." -CHARLES LAMB.

(Christopher Marlowe born Feb. 6, 1564.)

Today’s reading is an excerpt from the play, Edward the Second, by playwright Christopher Marlowe.?The storyline of the play centers on the life, rule and murder of King Edward II.?This is considered a very violent play and I can understand why after reading the play’s final few scenes.

This is another play and as I noted the other day when I reviewed The Alchemist, where I found it difficult to appreciate this form of literature without seeing the acting that brings the text to life.?Also, Eliot only included the final four scenes from the last act (fifth) of the play, making it somewhat frustrating to read without having visibility to the overall storylines, characters, etc.

However, I have included a few direct lines from the play that caught my attention as I read.

The traitor, Mortimer to Queen Isabella.

“Base Fortune, now I see, that in thy wheel

There is a point, to which when men aspire,

They tumble headlong down: that point I touch’d,

And, seeing there was no place to mount up higher,

Why should I grieve at my declining fall?—

Farewell, fair queen; weep not for Mortimer,

That scorns the world, and, as a traveller,

Goes to discover countries yet unknown.”

?

Edward III about his traitorous mother, Isabella.

“Away with her, her words enforce these tears,

And I shall pity her if she speak again.”

While reading these final few scenes from Edward II, I thought about how many modern novels, TV shows and movies have probably been influenced by this and other great plays down through the ages.?The ending of the play seems familiar as I think about the Vito/Michael Corleone regime change in The Godfather, the political intrigue of House of Cards or the violence of The Tudors.

Human nature has not radically changed since the time of Marlowe.?We are entertained by the same story lines now as people have been for centuries or longer.?Rise to power, the lengths people go to take or maintain control, and basic good vs. evil are as applicable today as they were since the beginning of time.

?Matt

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Resources

Kindle version of The Harvard Classics ($1.99):?https://www.amazon.com/dp/B089K4RP1F/