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The Folger Spotlight

Pericles Synopsis

Folger PericlesThe nautical tale of a wandering prince, Pericles is narrated by John Gower, a poet from the English past. Gower explains that Pericles, Prince of Tyre, hopes to win the hand of a princess in Antioch. When Pericles learns that she and the king, her father, are lovers, he flees for his life.

Pericles brings grain to Tarsus during a famine, but loses his ships and men ina storm. In Pentapolis, he wins a tournament and marries the king’s daughter, Thaisa. With Thaisa pregnant, she and Pericles sail for Tyre. Thaisa bears a daughter, Marina, at sea, but apparently dies. Her coffin drifts ashore at Ephesus, where she is revived and becomes a priestess of Diana.

Pericles leaves the baby Marina with the king and queen of Tarsus. Fourteen years later, Marina, kidnapped by pirates, is sold to a brothel, but her eloquence protects her. Told that she has died, a grief-stricken Pericles rediscovers her. Guided by a vision from the goddess Diana, Pericles and Marina reunite with Thaisa.

Read and download the full text of Pericles for free at Folger Digital Texts. 

Comments

Love theatre..your blog site is really good…will keep reading..Thanks for the virtual library..
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audiencescentral — January 3, 2016