Mortimer Shows His Stripes

"No, 'tis for Mortimer, not Edward's head;/
For he's a lamb, encompassed by wolves,/
Which in a moment will abridge his life."
-V. i.

This act might as well have been from another play. It seems to me that there was more character, morality, and plotting here than in any other act. While that's a gross overstatement perhaps, it seems odd to me that the development of characters in this act is more stirring,a nd considerably less confusing. The character of Mortimer springs to mind as a prime example of this, his character is now revealed for what he always was, and overly ambitious would-be tyrant that was lusting after the throne all along. His conspiracies, his speeches with continual references to people fearing his name. It's as if the wolf has finally taken off his sheep's clothing and is finally a full-on bad guy, as opposed to being the morally ambiguous crusader against King Edward II. This act is full of just that kind of character ization, with virtually everyone openly turnign into some side or the toher, without the constant flip floping and outward fighting.
Like we discussed in class on Monday, the transmission of Edward from a fairly inept ruler to a woeful, depressed, sympathetic figure is extremely pronounced. His appearance right before his death is one that elicits such pity that one can not help but side with him and desire Mortimer's head. His speech at the openign of the act, debating over whether or not to surrender hte crown is just as compelling, and I believe is the best speech in the entire play at this point.