The Royal Shakespeare Company is showcasing Christopher Marlowe's play 'Edward II', which depicts the complex relationship between King Edward II and his favored companion Piers Gaveston. Historically interpreted as mere friendship, modern analysis embraces the likelihood it was a romantic one. Marlowe, who is also believed to have had queer inclinations, infused the play with rich themes of love and masculinity, raising questions about gender and power dynamics in Medieval England. As audiences return, the play foregrounds the historical significance of queer narratives within literature.
In the play, Gaveston proclaims that the King's 'amorous' invitation to return 'Might have enforc'd me to have swum from France… So thou wouldst smile, and take me in thine arms.'
Historically, a number of academics have attempted to paint Edward and Gaveston's relationship as a bromance, however in more recent years historians have been increasingly transparent about the likelihood the two were actually engaged in a romance.
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