Shakespeare Birthplace Trust

Pericles, Prince of Tyre

The poet Gower introduces the story of King Antiochus who protects his incestuous love for his beautiful daughter by promising her in marriage to anyone who can solve a riddle. Many suitors die in the attempt, then young Prince Pericles guesses the truth but flees for his life, while Thaliard is instructed to murder him and follows him back to Tyre.

Pericles returns home and confides in Lord Helicanus, who advises the Prince to travel abroad so that he leaves before Thaliard arrives in pursuit.

At Tarsus, the governor, Cleon and his wife Dionyza bewail the state of famine before Pericles, having heard of their troubles, arrives with food relief for all.

Gower continues the story of how Helicanus sends news to Pericles, warning him of Thaliard so the Prince sets sail again, but is wrecked by storms at sea. He is cast ashore and recovers to find a group of fishermen from whom he learns of a forthcoming trial festival on the birthday of Thaisa, daughter of King Simonides. The fishing nets bring ashore a suit of armour which Pericles takes in order to contend for the princess.
Pericles wins over five knights in the contest and is feasted by Simonides and wins the love of Thaisa. He has no proof of his identity since his shipwreck but Simonides accepts him after some demur and threats. Pericles remains at court for several months after his marriage, until he hears news from Helicanus that Antiochus and his daughter are dead. In Tyre the lords have waited in the hope of their Prince’s return and now Pericles sets sail with Thaisa, to reclaim his throne.

During storms at sea Thaisa apparently dies giving birth to a daughter, Thaisa’s sealed coffin is cast overboard. Pericles changes course to land at Tarsus and leaves the baby he has named Marina, with her nurse Lychorida, in the care of his old friends Cleon and Dionyza.

Early next morning near the seashore of Ephesus the doctor Cerimon is brought a sealed box that the storm has washed ashore and Thaisa’s sleeping body is found inside, with jewels and a letter from Pericles. With the aid of medicine and music the princess is revived, but certain that her husband and baby have been drowned Thaisa goes to live in the nearby temple of the goddess Diana.

Gower explains that fifteen years pass as Marina grows up with Cleon’s daughter Philoten, but her beauty causes Dionyza to become jealous for Philoten, and she decides that Leonine should kill Marina to allow Philoten her rightful place. Just as Leonine, walking with Marina along the beach, is about to stab her pirates surprise them and capture the girl, carrying her off to Mytilene. There she is sold to a bawd and brought into a brothel by Boult and Pandar. Marina’s reported beauty attracts custom but she persuades everyone, including the Governor of Mytilene, Lysimachus, not to violate her virginity. Eventually, since she is ruining his business, Boult lets her leave to become a waiting maid, using her skills in singing, sewing and dance.

Pericles, and the now elderly Helicanus, return to Tarsus where they are shown ‘Marina’s tomb’ and, distraught by his daughter’s supposed loss Pericles resolves never to enjoy life again and takes to sailing the seas at random. When his ship arrives finally at Mytilene Lysimachus seeks to welcome him, and hearing of the Prince’s withdrawn depression he sends for the girl Marina, knowing that if anyone can cheer the Prince it is she. At first she is rejected by the silent Pericles, but in telling her name and the story of her birth at sea Pericles realises he has discovered the daughter he believed to be dead. Overcome by happiness he sleeps, and dreams of Diana’s temple at Ephesus. He resolves to go to give thanks there and sails with Marina, who is now betrothed to Lysimachus, to Ephesus and discovers his long-lost wife Thaisa there. The family are joyously reunited and return to Tyre, while Gower rounds off the tale with news that Cleon and Dionyza have been killed by an uprising against their treatment of Marina.

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