In Elizabethan England, Niccolo Machiavelli's Il Principe (The Prince, 1505) was regarded as a guidebook on the art of malevolent governance. It outlined how a shrewd ruler could seize and maintain authority over a region and its inhabitants using ruthless and aggressive tactics. Essentially, it served as a manual for tyranny, suggesting that "It is necessary for a prince wishing to hold his own to know how to do wrong, and to make use of it or not according to necessity." While The Prince encourages ethical conduct in a leader, it also advises an aspiring ruler to employ any methods necessary to safeguard the state, which might include resorting to immoral actions, supposedly for the greater good. Machiavelli argues that the use of force is a crucial skill for a leader: "A prince ought to have no other aim or thought . . . than war and its rules and discipline; for this is the sole art that belongs to him who rules."

Marlowe's Edward II explores two aspects of Machiavelli's theory: the misuse of power and the neglect of authority. Edward defies a key Machiavellian principle by abandoning his royal duties in favor of personal indulgences. The Prince warns, "When princes have thought more of ease than of arms, they have lost their states." Edward's neglect of his responsibilities as the nation's leader leads to dire consequences, as the nobles refuse to tolerate his abandonment of power.

Conversely, Mortimer does not allow love to interfere with his quest for power. Instead, his affection for Isabella aligns with his larger ambition to take control of the state. At first, he seems to exemplify Machiavellian leadership, willing to use any means necessary, including executing the king's companion, to restore order to the realm. However, Mortimer becomes a Machiavellian tyrant when he misuses his power by disregarding the young King Edward III and executing Kent, who could have been a valuable and loyal advisor to the king. Machiavelli emphasizes the importance of appearing as fair and just as possible to maintain the people's trust. Mortimer violates this trust by crossing the bounds of decency and political necessity, and his murder of Kent estranges him from the young king, who then resolves to gather forces against him.

Edward's fixation on Gaveston wouldn't concern the nobles if it didn't jeopardize the nation. His neglect of critical matters, like France's occupation of Normandy and the ongoing conflict in Scotland, compels them to commit the treasonous act of questioning their monarch. Early in his reign, Edward sent a letter to Gaveston, lifting his exile and proposing to share the kingdom with him. Although this act might appear harmless alone, Mortimer junior and senior had vowed to Edward I on his deathbed to prevent Gaveston's return at all costs. The dying king recognized that his son's infatuation would impede his ability to govern England effectively.

The titles Edward bestows upon his lover even astonish Kent, who comments, "Brother, the least of these may well suffice / For one of greater birth than Gaveston." Edward openly admits his sole concern is Gaveston. When the nobles compel him to sign a new exile order, he tries to persuade them with lands and titles, desiring only a "some nook or corner . . . to frolic with [his] dearest Gaveston." He is excessively generous with his gifts, not distributing them strategically for the state’s benefit but instead squandering them carelessly.

This extravagance and constant revelry drain the treasury, endangering the entire nation, as he lacks the funds to recruit, feed, and arm a military force. On two occasions, he expresses, using the same metaphor, his preference for seeing England submerged by the sea rather than parting with his favorite; his negligence almost sinks his kingdom. As a result of his behavior, respected peers and ambassadors have deserted his court, and his adversaries in Scotland, France, Denmark, and Ireland have taken advantage of his vulnerability to encroach upon his territories.