ISABELLA She wolf Background Daughter and later sister

ISABELLA She wolf?

Background • Daughter, and later sister, of the King of France. • Married Edward when very young. • Marriage is a political necessity, love does not come into it. • Friction will be caused due to the relative powers of England France. Edward is slowly losing lands overseas and in Scotland. He will bankrupt England.

First impressions • Scene 4: “Fawn not on me, French strumpet, get thee gone!” (ED) • On Mortimer, with whom, gentle Queen- (GAV) • “Witness this heart, that sighing for thee, breaks”. (IS) • She is shunned and it is insinuated that she is unfaithful. Her reply is dignified, rhetorical and indicates fidelity.

“the sister of the King of France” • Lancaster describes her thus – why? • The nobles are clear as to their plans, but Isabella will plead for Gaveston to get reprieved. Is this her securing her position since there is no plot/affair with Mortimer as yet? • In Sc 4 she converses with Mortimer rather than the other nobles. What do they move apart in 229 to say? By 238 Mortimer has changed his mind. Whose idea is the plot of 263? Does this point to Isabella as a plotter?

So, happy ever after? • NO • Edward is open that he only loves her to get Gaveston returned, the best she shall have is a share of his bed. Sc 6 sees more accusation and blame for her role in the failure of Edward’s kingship. • Thus shamed she eventually contemplates leaving for France to gather support (Sc 8 and no obvious hint of infidelity). It is not till Edward sends her in Sc 13 that she leaves. It is here that her relationship with Mortimer will grow.

Rebellion • She is deserted by Edward and by her family. Is it a surprise that she should follow Hainault and Mortimer? • Mortimer is all action rather than words at this point. • Young Edward is very reluctant to overthrow a living King… • “This Mortimer aims at thy life… kiss as they conspire” Sc 18 is the first real indication of the rebellion possibly being more than a kingdom cleaning exercise. • By Sc 18 27 ff she is being controlled by Mortimer who invokes Parliament as the ultimate decision makers – why?

love • Sc 21 Mortimer and Isabella share their thoughts – “now have we our desire”. You need to decide when this became their “desire”. • Notice the use of “rule” by Mortimer who seems to want Isabella to become a typical Elizabethan wife figure in this relationship. • She hands over all decision making to Mortimer, willingly.

END>>> • As Edward III gains power and removes Mortimer, who is showing frighteningly Gavestonesque tendencies with regards to power, Isabella resumes the rather weak, supplicating voice of earlier. • She is led away to be imprisoned. Her fate is uncertain. • Edward III is seen as a strong King

IS/ELISABETTA • Key worries over succession. Elizabethans were terrified of a “protector” scenario. • Elizabeth relied on favourites but was very quick to sever unsuitable links – cf Ed III in this play • Could Edward III be the Elizabeth figure at the end of the play? Consider the turmoil that preceded her reign.