The Shakespeare Book

296

T

he medieval poet Gower

acts as the narrator relating

the story of Pericles, Prince

of Tyre. His story begins with King

Antiochus whose daughter’s suitors

must answer a riddle in order to

win her hand. Pericles solves the

riddle, which exposes Antiochus’s

incestuous lust and forces Pericles

to flee back to Tyre for safety. King

Antiochus sends the villainous

Thaliart to murder Pericles. Pericles

hears of Thaliart’s murderous plans

and escapes on a ship to Tarsus,

leaving his trusted counselor

Helicanus to govern Tyre.

PERICLES, PRINCE OF TYRE

Arriving in Tarsus, Pericles

relieves the famine-struck city

with corn, earning the gratitude

of the governor Cleon and his wife

Dioniza. After setting sail again in

a storm, Pericles is shipwrecked on

the shores of Pentapolis, losing all

his possessions except his armor.

He is rescued by fishermen and is

taken incognito to the court of

King Simonides, who is celebrating

his daughter Thaisa’s birthday

with a tournament. Pericles wins

the jousting competition and the

king grants him the hand of

Princess Thaisa.

DRAMATIS

PERSONAE

John Gower The narrator,

who also delivers the epilogue.

Pericles, Prince of Tyre

Husband of Thaisa, father

to Marina.

Thaisa Daughter of King

Simonides, wife to Pericles,

and mother to Marina.

Antiochus King of Antioch,

intent on having Pericles

killed when Pericles discovers

Antiochus’s incestuous

relationship with his daughter.

Thaliart Villain hired by

Antiochus to murder Pericles.

Helicanus Loyal advisor

to Pericles.

Simonides King of Pentapolis

and father to Thaisa. Allows

Pericles to marry his daughter.

Marina Daughter of Pericles

and Thaisa, born at sea.

Dogged by misfortune, her

virtue and chastity ensure

her safety.

Cleon Governor of Tarsus.

Indebted to Pericles, he

pledges to protect and

raise Marina.

Dioniza Wife of Cleon, she

is jealous of Marina and plots

to murder her.

Cerimon A physician in

Ephesus who helps restore

Thaisa to life when she

washes up on the shore.

Lysimachus Governor

of Mytilene.

Diana Goddess of chastity.

5

7 & 9

1

3

11

Still fleeing from Thaliart,

Pericles is shipwrecked,

washing up on the shores

of Pentapolis.

Gower narrates the

story of Pericles,

beginning with the

incestuous King

Antiochus. Pericles

works out Antiochus’s

riddle but the king

secretly orders

his murder.

The hired villain Thaliart

arrives in Tyre to poison

Pericles, who manages

to escape to Tarsus.

Thaisa seemingly

dies giving birth en

route to Tyre. The

superstitious sailors

insist that her body be

thrown overboard.

Disguised for fear of his

life, Pericles takes part

in a tournament for

the suitors of King

Simonides’ daughter.

After winning the

tournament, Pericles

marries Thaisa.

Scenes 1–5 Scenes 7–11