Medieval Film Club: Edward II

Although no date has been established with certainty, it is generally considered that Edward II was written towards the end of the life of its author, Christopher Marlowe (1564–1593). It is not earlier than 1587, the year of publication of the second edition of Raphael Holinshed’s (c.1525–c.1580) Chronicles, Marlowe’s primary source for the play, and the early 1590s saw a number of other plays dealing with wars between English kings and their nobles (such as William Shakespeare’s Henry VI [1591]). Marlowe’s play focusses on the relationship between King Edward II of England (1284–1327) and Piers Gaveston (c.1284–1312) and on the deposition and murder of Edward on the orders of Roger Mortimer (1287–1330) with the support of Edward’s wife, Queen Isabella of France (1295–1358).

Derek Jarman (1942–1994) ‘revised, shuffled, and reshaped’ the play, setting it in ‘a version’ of the conservative and homophobic United Kingdom of his own time. He used the film as ‘a metaphor for the modern-day homophobia of contemporary British society’ and emphasised the homoeroticism and the politics of the play, demonstrating their interconnection and insisting on their relevance to the contemporary world. For example, members of the gay activist group OutRage!, with whom Jarman would attend marches, are seen in the film fighting the repressive forces who oppose the gay King. Overall, the director demonstrates how the connection of the ‘public politics’ and the ‘private sexuality’ are one of the distinguishing features of Marlowe’s play. The budget for the film was much smaller than what was initially expected. However, Jarman managed to turn that to the film’s advantage, coming up with ingenious solutions. Among these, not having a set but, instead, four moving blocks of walls; or playing with light and shadow in the scene in which the Archbishop asks the King to sign the document. As has been noted, this ‘minimalist’ setting allows the audience to ‘really listen’ to Marlowe’s words. Jarman’s regular Tilda Swinton (b.1960) plays Queen Isabella.

Part of the Medieval Film Club, for more information please visit the Centre for Late Antique & Medieval Studies website.

This screening is open to all and free to attend. No booking required.

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