“The Woman I Love”: The Underlying Motives for King Edward VIII’s Abdication

摘要

The human tendency to over-romanticize stories heard about politicians reflects our simple desire to cling to a ray of hope in a world where news is not always satisfying. This was the case with the supposed love story surrounding King Edward VIII, Wallis Simpson, and the Kingu27s subsequent abdication. A closer inspection reveals that the Kingu27s u22loveu22 for a married woman and his willingness to abdicate were no more than an escape from the life he never wanted. This paper will explore King Edward VIIIu27s political and personal motives for quitting the job he was destined to perform.