Role of Gaveston
Perhaps the most distinctive feature of Marlowe’s Edward II is that it is not a one-character play, that
is a drama which is dominated by the presence of one important character. The tragedy of king Edward
arises out of his insane and infatuation for his ‘minion’, Gaveston and it is this fond attachment for
Gaveston that involves him in a struggle with the barons leading to his ultimate defeat and death.
It has been said that the dramatist’s centre of interest in the play, Edward II, is the relationship between
the week Edward and his favourite Gaveston. Gaveston in the play attains a distinctive individuality by
his intelligence, imagination, crafty speeches and claver action. Gaveston has not only a convincing
dramatic presence but also one who plays a very prominent part to play in the drama. It appears that the
tragic fate of Edward’s own words to Gaveston: “Knowest thou not who I am/ Thy friend, thy self
another Gaveston.” The tragic irony of this utterance unmistakably shows Gaveston’s place in the heart
of Edward and his consequent role in giving dramatic direction to the crisis which leads to the tragedy
of both Edward and Gaveston.
Gaveston has been rightly regarded as ‘a base self-seeking hedonist. He has achieved prosperity and
power by fawning on the king’ of whom he is a hot favourite. He is not only proud of his position as
the favourite of the king but also knows how to cash in on the king’ s infatuation for him. He therefore,
confesses, “What greater bliss can hap to Gaveston/ Than live and be the favourite of a king.” At the
beginning of the play, therefore, Gaveston who is the ‘minion’ of the king, betrays some of the
weaknesses of the barons. Like the barons he seems to be engaged in a battle to control the king and
make him according to his wishes.
But the barons, on the other hand, are strongly opposed to Gaveston who appears to be largely
responsible for the reckless and rush behaviour of the king. They all look down upon him as a person
who is wholly unworthy of royal love and affection. But the king has a very different idea of Gaveston
who is dear to him as his heart, and therefore, indispensable to him: “Thy worth, sweet friend, is for
above my gift/therefore, to equal it receive my heart.” But the barons have completely different
conception about Gaveston’s character. So, Lancaster describes him as ‘that base and obscure
Gaveston.’ To Warwick, he is “an ignoble vassal that like Pheston/Aspirest unto the guidance of the
sun.” Mortimer junior regards him as ‘base Gaveston’ ‘dapper Jack.’
But Gaveston’s strength of character can hardly be underestimated in the view of the fact that he is
strongly loved by the king and bitterly hated by the barons. It is evident that Gaveston has mastered the
art of winning the king over to his side by casting almost a seductive spell on his personality. He has
fully exploited Edward`s sensuality to achieve his own purpose of gaining prosperity and power.
Gaveston may be regarded rightly as something of a Machiavellian self-seeker who intends to
manipulate the pliant king as he chooses.
But the most prominent and redeeming feature of Gaveston’s character is his affection for the king,
however, perverted or motivated it might seem. No doubt, therefore, that Gaveston performs a very
significant dramatic role in the action of the play. It is he who leads the king into voluptuous pleasures
and riotous excess, it is he who alienates the king from his royal duty and love for the Queen and it is
he who is both instrument in whipping up the rage of the rebellious barons who combine to wreak
vengeance on the king and himself. Thus, Gaveston becomes the cause for precipitating a crisis which
gathers farther momentum when Edward and Gaveston enter into a sort of unholy alliance which
becomes ultimately responsible for bringing about the tragic end.
