Edward II NM

Hailed in the last 20 years as a 'gay classic', recent critics have focused on the overtly sexual relationship between Edward and his favourite, Gaveston; earlier interpretations focused rather on the deposition by his subjects of a weak king. The introduction shows how the drama works to give the audience an equal emotional commitment to opposing points of view, and that this is what makes Edward II such an uncomfortable and challenging play.

Introduction
The author
Date, source and productions
Sexuality
Politics
Cruelty
Note on the text
Further reading
The playtext