Comment on the significance of the reference of Leander in "Edward II".

In the opening scene of the play, "Edward II" by the Elizabethan playwright Christopher Marlowe, the reference of Leander is used to suggest Gaveston's acute longing to visit his early childhood friend, Edward II.

       "Hero and Leander" is the famous poem of Marlowe which was finished by Chapman. Leander used to swim across the Helespont to meet his beloved Hero. One night Leander was overtaken by a stormand drowned. Gaveston wants to say that he has such an effusion of love for the king Edward II when he received the affectionate letter that he would have swum across the English channel like Leander at the risk of his life, had there not been any ship to bring him to England.

        It is believed that there was a homosexual relationship between Edward II and Gaveston. The reference of Leander traces on this belief. Gaveston was so impatient to meet the king that he would cross the English channel at the risk of his life. Actually he thinks that his love for the king is as strong as Leander's love for Hero was.