Edward II by Christopher Marlowe5/10/2023 ![]() ![]() This scene is essentially repeated with Edward as the victim at the end of the play when he is dressed in tatters in the dungeon, stripped of his crown. A priest's vestments hold symbolic importance, and to lay hands upon them is a form of sacrilege that to the Bishop of Canterbury, as well as Elizabethan audiences, represents an act of violence against the Church itself. ![]() For example, when the Bishop of Coventry angers him for having signed the order banishing Gaveston from court the first time, Edward punishes the holy man by stripping away his vestments. In many cases, the intended function of these items is perverted by the king, in his mania for entertainment and self-indulgence. Images of the external marks of status appear over and over again throughout Edward II, such as the crown, battle ensigns (flags), ceremonial robes, jewelry, hats, and so on. Also, whether it's purely linguistic or in the form of actual items on stage, imagery can serve to remind the audience of the settings and paraphernalia that accompany a person's status. ![]() The images conveyed in the language of a play usually suggest or subtly foreshadow the general themes of the play. ![]()
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