Prince Edward/Edward III Character Analysis

The son of Edward II and Isabella. Prince Edward is absent for the first half of the play, which makes sense given his young age: the real Edward III was fourteen at the time of his coronation, and multiple characters in Marlowe's play reference his youth. Nevertheless, Edward III proves surprisingly astute and competent in the play's final scenes, where he reveals his knowledge of Mortimer and Isabella's crimes before assuming the full responsibilities of his position as king. This suggests he will be a more effective ruler than his father was, although Edward III himself frames his execution of Mortimer and his imprisonment of Isabella as the restoration of Edward II's legacy.