Edward II

It is no surprise that the court of Edward II—as is the case with any political bureaucracy—is a hotbed of maneuvering and scheming. The most salient political point in Edward II, however, is how easy it is to get people to surrender their principles to mere flattery. Edward practically lives on compliments and praise. He can forgive anyone for anything so long as they have a kind word to say about him and the way he lives his life. His followers are referred to as “flatterers” by his opponents more often than any other epithet. Everyone but Edward II can see that flattery is his primary weakness, which is a disturbing trait in the ruler of a nation. 

Edward II is often read as a text about homosexuality. The relationship between Gaveston and Edward II is immediately assumed to be romantic and sexual, even though the nature of their relationship is never overtly stated. The irony is that the lords who oppose their relationship do not seem to mind the fact that they may be lovers. Rather, it is the flaunting obliviousness with which Edward showers Gaveston with riches and titles that disturbs them to the point of rebellion.