Describe the character of Isabella in Edward II.

Marlowe's views of thinking are not presented in any of his characters, in other words, he does not speak through his characters, but makes his characters speak for themselves and reveal their characteristics attributes. Isabella is a character who has not been properly treated by Marlowe in "Edward II". As a matter of fact, Marlowe had never drawn a female character before.

    In the beginning of the drama, Queen is introduced as deserted and lonely who has failed in all her endeavours to attract her husband and free him from the spell of Gaveston. In a word, she is a model of wifely patience, specially in those scenes where Edward neglects her for Gaveston. She dotes on Edward and is forced to go " Unto the forest,...../ To live in grief abd baleful discontent." Even she is persuaded by Edward to appeal to the barons to recall Gaveston. Indeed she works hard to have the banishment revoked so that Edward may be pleased. Edward cruelly treats her and throws her out as a 'French strumpet'.

    The King is bewitched by Gaveston and is giving him the share of his wife's love also. He totally ignores and deserts her. She expresses her regrets by saying,
 "Like Frantic Juno will I fill the earth
  With ghastly murmur of my sighs and cries."
She wants to get love from Edward though she knows it is useless: "Yet I love in vain; he will never love me." She also asserts that the King has declared his hatred for her: "Now breaks the King's hate forth,/ And he confesseth that he loves me not."

    Isabella is also concerned to have peace between the King and the earls; thus she has a political awareness,  and a sense of reality, more mature than Edward himself. She is a devoted wife also. She is ready to sacrifice anything for the sake of the King because she does "love him more/than he can Gaveston." This us the part of Marlowe's imagination and there is no historical basis for the agonising triangular relationship if Isabella, King Edward and Gaveston.

    There is a drastic change in the character of the Queen. Though in the beginning she is pathetic, loving, faithful to her husband, in the later half of the drama, she is drawn towards Mortimer, though she does not express her love explicitly and in front of Mortimer, she just says about the King's accusation:
 "You know the King is so suspicious
  As if he hear I have but talked with you,
  Mine honour will be called in question;"
But as soon as Mortimer leaves, she confesses,
  "So, well hast thou deserved, Sweet Mortimer
  As Isabel could live with thee for ever."

    According to Levin, "Isabella is a split personality." She needs live and her love is rejected by her husband time and again. So she is drawn to the gallant Mortimer who consoles her in the day of her distress.

    The Queen then assists Mortimer and displays her marked characteristics of dissembling. She is completely Committed to Mortimer and is ready to do anything what he commands: "Sweet Mortimer, the life of Isabel,/ Be thou persuaded that I love thee well."

    The Queen and Mortimer murders the King and thinks that she would appease Prince Edward's queries regarding his father and convince him to wear the crown and lead the life peacefully with him and Mortimer but fate has destined something else for her. Prince Edward comes to know the truth and is activated to punish the culprits. Then Queen says,
 "Ah, Mortimer, the King my son hath news
  His father's dead, and we have murdered him."
And decalres : "Now, Mortimer begins our tragedy."