Character Analysis of Piers Gaveston in Christopher Marlowe's "Edward II"
King Edward’s “French
minion”, Gaveston is a remarkably well delineated Marlovian character. It
is important from the point of view of the conflict in the play – the conflict
between the sovereign and the barons of the realm. He is the central of all
ruptures. But it’s not Gaveston alone who ignites the trouble; there is
something in the nature of Junior Mortimer which flames and sets it on
conflagration. The character of Gaveston has limited individual drawbacks,
which have been exaggerated by the opposition.
In structure the character of Gaveston is simple and not of complex in the sense.
His faults and foibles float on the surface. Had King Edward bestowed his mad
affection on him we would hardly have been recognized on the street. He is
proud, egoistic and with a vein of hatred for the barons.
According to the historical source, Gaveston came of a blue blood family. His father
Arnold Gaveston was a Gascon Knight in the realm of Edward I. In an early age,
Gaveston was banished from the kingdom for exercising corrupt influence on the
Prince (Edward II). But when Edward II had become the King he recalled his
once-bosom friend, Gaveston. Titles were heaped upon him. He was made the Earl of Cornwall and was married to
King’s niece Margaret de Clare. The infuriated barons killed him finally in
June 1312, for they could hardly break the rise of a mere upstart.
Whatever we may say against the King and his minion
it cannot be denied that the two were genuinely
responsive as friends. They were iron and magnet as they were in sphere in the
mutual attraction. They were two bodies no doubt but one soul. Gaveston pines
for the King with a note of earnestness:
“Renowned Edward, how thy name
Revives
poor Gaveston.”
Gaveston is the
most hated personality in the play. No one views him sympathetically except
the king. Mortimer Junior regards him peevishly: “swol’n with venom of
ambitious pride.” Warwick calls him “ignoble vassal”. Lancaster calls him “base
and obscure Gaveston”. Queen Isabella calls him “villain” for robbing her
husband from her. Bishop of Coventry wishes him to be “dead”. Even Senior
Mortimer regards him “traitor Gaveston”. It is significant to note that
Gaveston himself has hatred within him:
“The Earl of Lancaster I do abhor.”
Thus we find that hatred is not a one way traffic in
the play but tow way traffic. Hatred breeds hatred and this is the crop that
they reap in Edward II. Hatred coupled with egoism becomes the sole cause of
the ruin of those who are involved in it.
The egoism
and haughtiness of Gaveston is the remarkable trait of his character. He
does not care anybody else except the King. He frankly states “My knee shall
bow to none but to the king”. He jeers and boos at the persons of the exalted
rank, who in turn take umbrage at his behavior. But such thing does not deserve
the sword to be drawn for killing him. Does he deserve death for being an
incorrigible egotist? The answer surely would be a big “no”. He has been more
sinned against than sinning.
Gaveston is the
man of poetic fancy and so is the king. By nature they are frolic loving souls. As a friend
Gaveston knows the taste and temperament of the king and wants to entertain
him:
“I must have wanton poets, pleasant wits,
Musicians,
that with touching of a string,
May
draw the pliant king which way I please.”
From
the perspective of portrayal, Gaveston’s character can be easily called a flat character. He remains the same
from the beginning to the end. But in spite of being flatness his character is
not dull. It is because of his being intensely drawn by Marlowe.
Is
Gaveston a ‘base’ character often
accused by Junior Mortimer in the play? There is hardly any baseness in him.
Really the base character is that of Mortimer himself. A little introspection
on his part would clearly reveal the fact. To be ambitious is not base, but he
is not more ambitious than Mortimer. Who does not love status and wealth? It is
a common human weakness to which he is prone.
To
sum up, the character of Gaveston has been drawn in a way so as to form the
crux of the events. Again his character shed light on the character of the king.
The events are ignited by the fuel added by Gaveston. The barons may hate them
and the Queen too, but the readers and the audience do not. Though the
character of Gaveston cannot be called an ideal one for his hubris, yet it does not mean he is given
death sentence. If the barons could be proud of their power and pelf, why not
Gaveston who has the privilege of the love of the King?
~~~~~@~~~~~
1 Comments
A good article with some easy terms, which can be understood easily.
ReplyDeletePost a Comment