Going into this one, I remembered nothing about it. I gathered that it was another one these semi-contested plays where Shakespeare had a collaborator/editor involved. The dude was clearly getting tired at this point in life. Also, it was en vogue to dig up older stories and revise/refresh them for new productions. There are in fact, deja-vu elements from The Comedy of Errors of all things.
As it turns out, I really enjoyed Pericles because who doesn't love a good ancient Greek tale about incest and sea storms and whorehouses and happy endings? Approximately half of this play felt nothing like Shakespeare's usual style, first because it contains a rather dry old poet prologue dude in every act and second because Shakespeare only wrote three acts (the first two were relegated to an "innkeeper" named George Wilkins; ironically, Shakespeare wrote the brothel scenes better than any whoremonger like Wilkins ever could)). This operatic-style tragedy was something new for Shakespeare to envision, and I like to think he got the kinks out before he moved on to his remaining plays.
As disjointed as Timon was, it felt a lot more like Shakespeare's voice. Pericles doesn't contain a whole lot of memorable quips or essentially beautiful prose or poetry, but the plot moves along at a good clip. I would have liked a bit more God interventions (only Neptune and Diana show up) but Clash of the Titans this is not.
Packer, in her book, suggests that this play adds to the list of late plays in which the male protagonist is redeemed by their maiden daughter in some manner. She attributes this to the myth of the Persian phoenix, which was especially popular in Elizabethan lit. Shakespeare's phoenix is female: King Lear, Cymbeline, The Winter's Tale, and The Tempest all involve prominent father/daughter relationships in which the girl/woman (often "fallen" or "destroyed" in some way) provides a much needed path of empathy for the audience to follow toward their confused father. This goes a long way to explain why Timon was so empty and tragic. If only he had a decent woman in his life, damnit.
ACT I
It opens with a Prologue recited by "Gower," who is the "ancient poet"--a contemporary of Chaucer--who originally wrote some shit about Pericles. He pleasantly and rhymingly introduces the story that everybody already apparently knows by heart, but I like the Latin phrase he uses:
Et bonum quo antiquius, eo melius.
"And the older a good thing is, the better." Very nice.
The scene is Antioch, Syria. We enter Antiochus' court, where the King is shtupping his own daughter because... who fucking knows:
This king unto him took a fere,
Who died and left a female heir,
So buxom, blithe, and full of face,
As heaven had lent her all his grace;
With whom the father liking took,
And her to incest did provoke:
Bad child; worse father! to entice his own
To evil should be done by none:
But custom what they did begin
Was with long use account no sin.
Fucking great. The King noticed how many suitors wanted his daughter, so he made a law that they would have to solve a riddle to get her and if they didn't guess it right, they'd die. Gower points out the severed heads displayed on the stage (WHAT) and then steps aside so the story can go from there. Like, damn, this is way juicy already.
Antiochus meets Pericles, who has arrived to attempt the riddle to win the Daughter (who frustratingly, has no goddamn name). She is compared to the Hespirides, Hesperus's daughters who are guarded by a dragon in their garden of golden apples. Pericles thanks the King for the lesson and the Daughter wishes him best of luck. Pericles is given the Riddle:
I am no viper, yet I feed
On mother's flesh which did me breed.
I sought a husband, in which labour
I found that kindness in a father:
He's father, son, and husband mild;
I mother, wife, and yet his child.
How they may be, and yet in two,
As you will live, resolve it you.
Pericles immediately knows the answer, because really, duh, it's talking about the secret incest going on under everybody's noses. He's disgusted and his lust dies. Pericles confidently and tactfully alludes to the unspoken situation:
Great king,
Few love to hear the sins they love to act;
'Twould braid yourself too near for me to tell it.
Who has a book of all that monarchs do,
He's more secure to keep it shut than shown:
For vice repeated is like the wandering wind.
Blows dust in other's eyes, to spread itself;
And yet the end of all is bought thus dear,
The breath is gone, and the sore eyes see clear:
To stop the air would hurt them. The blind mole casts
Copp'd hills towards heaven, to tell the earth is throng'd
By man's oppression; and the poor worm doth die for't.
Kings are earth's gods; in vice their law's their will;
And if Jove stray, who dares say Jove doth ill?
It is enough you know; and it is fit,
What being more known grows worse, to smother it.
All love the womb that their first being bred,
Then give my tongue like leave to love my head.
Antiochus craps his pants. He laughs awkwardly and says even though Pericles guessed incorrectly, he can be a guest in the household for 40 days to guess again. But Pericles is no dope. He knows this is just going to give the King time to murder him, so he resolves to skip town. Antiochus indeed plans to off the young man so the secret does not get out, just like he did with all the others. He orders Thaliard to poison Pericles when he gets a chance, but a Messenger says that Pericles is already gone. The King tells Thaliard to pursue him anyway and not to come back until Pericles is dead.
Back in Tyre, Pericles is disturbed by the nagging feeling of dread despite being safe at home. He reasons that great kings have a far and powerful reach and that's what bothers him. Pericles' Lords come in and Helicanus kneels to him, saying flattery is useless. Pericles sends all the Lords away except Helicanus, who thankfully is no kiss-ass:
Sit down: thou art no flatterer:
I thank thee for it; and heaven forbid
That kings should let their ears hear their
faults hid!
Pericles then spills the beans about what happened in Antioch and all the anxiety he has now. Helicanus advises Pericles to take off for a while until Antiochus gets over it. Pericles agrees and says he'll leave his kingdom in Helicanus' hands while he's away.
Thaliard finds the palace in Tyre and says he must kill Pericles or he will be executed himself. He wonders at the reason for Antiochus' desire to murder the guy, but figures he must have a really good reason. Helicanus, Escanes, and other Lordly dudes come in, talking about how they will carry on while Pericles is away. Thaliard presents himself and says he has a message for Pericles even though he understands he's not available at the moment. The men decide to have a feast before Thaliard has to leave.
The governor of Tharsus, Cleon, and his wife, Dionyza, wonder if they should gossip about other people's problems to feel better about themselves, and Dionyza replies wisely:
That were to blow at fire in hope to quench it;
For who digs hills because they do aspire
Throws down one mountain to cast up a higher.
O my distressed lord, even such our griefs are;
Here they're but felt, and seen with mischief's eyes,
But like to groves, being topp'd, they higher rise.
Cleon then reminisces about how great everything was for a while, how the economy was booming, and everyone was comfortable and prosperous, but recently everyone is starving because of the famine that has descended upon his town. A Messenger arrives, announcing that a fleet of ships are on their way. Cleon despairs, saying that "One sorrow never comes but brings an heir." But a Lord says the white flags mean they come in peace. It turns out to be Pericles, who has brought a shit-ton of food to lend Cleon's townspeople a hand. Cleon is super grateful and Pericles decides to hang around for a while.
ACT II
Gower pops up again to survey the scene and introduce a dumbshow: a Messenger from Helicanus delivers a letter to Pericles in Tharsus describing the shit going down, making Pericles decide to flee again but his ship gets caught in a storm and only he survives. Gower apologizes for taking so long to explain this.
Pericles washes up on shore and curses the heavens for its wrath and wishes to die, but three Fishermen find him, but they are none too helpful. One offers to take him home and feed him anyway and he thanks him. They say he is at Pentapolis, which is ruled by King Simonides. Pericles knows of him, and that he is a good guy. They tell him that there's a tourney for Simonides' daughter the next day. They draw up their nets and find they've dragged out Pericles' beloved (but now rusty) armour. Pericles says that if they give him his armour and lead him to the court, he will pay them back for their help. They agree and they head off.
Simonides and Thaisa, his daughter, prepare for the tournament. One at a time, knights from faraway places present themselves. Thaisa describes the images and mottos on their shields as they pass by. Pericles is the last and she comments on his "dejected state." Some Lords think Pericles a lowly man, but Simonides says "Opinion's but a fool, that makes us scan The outward habit by the inward man."
Fast forward to the feast, where Thaisa gives Pericles the wreath of victory. Pericles is humble, but Simonides says the day is his anyway he looks at it. Thaisa finds herself thirsting for Pericles, saying "All viands that I eat do seem unsavoury, Wishing him my meat." Simonides downplays Pericles' attractiveness because he looks to be of humble birth, but Thaisa thinks him a "diamond." Pericles tells himself that Simonides reminds him of his own father. They ask him his parentage and Pericles explains that he's a gentleman of Tyre and how he got to Pentapolis by accident. Simonides orders everyone to dance and then says they will determine Thaisa's marriage the next day.
Helicanus recounts to Lord Escanes about how Antiochus and his daughter have been struck by lightning, obviously because they pissed off the gods with their disgusting incest. Escanes nods and agrees. Some more Lords find them and beg to be told the fate of their Prince Pericles, for they know not if he's dead or alive or what. Helicanus suggests that they give Pericles twelve months to return, during which time Helicanus will continue to watch over the kingdom. They are fine with this.
Simonides meets with some Knights and announces that his daughter wants to stay locked up and will "wear Diana's livery" for a year, remaining a virgin without marriage in that span of time. The Knights throw up their hands and skedaddle, because what's the point. Simonides reads her letter, which says she will marry Pericles or die. Pericles shows up and Simonides asks him what he thinks of his daughter. Pericles says she's lovely. Simonides says Thaisa is smitten and even suggests Pericles has bewitched her, an accusation to which Pericles takes great umbrage. Thaisa comes then and admits that she's besotted and Simonides convinces Pericles to marry Thaisa, shoving them together like a Barbie and Ken doll until they kiss.
ACT III
From here, most scholars believe Shakespeare takes over the writing.
Gower drops in to say BRO! Pericles shagged his wife and she's pregnant already! A dumbshow depicts Pericles receiving a letter which he reads to Simonides and Thaisa, who is visibly pregnant, and everyone's happy so they leave. Gower continues to explain that the letter contained news of Antiochus and his daughter's death by Zeus and how Helicanus is refusing the crown so that Pericles has time to come back and claim it. They get on a ship and of course it runs into a storm AGAIN.
Pericles pleads with the storm to chill the fuck out:
Thou god of this great vast, rebuke these surges,
Which wash both heaven and hell; and thou, that hast
Upon the winds command, bind them in brass,
Having call'd them from the deep! O, still
Thy deafening, dreadful thunders; gently quench
Thy nimble, sulphurous flashes!
See, that's more like it! Go, Billy, go!
Lychordia delivers to him the baby girl, saying Thaisa has died of childbirth. Pericles is utterly heartbroken:
Now, mild may be thy life!
For a more blustrous birth had never babe:
Quiet and gentle thy conditions! for
Thou art the rudeliest welcome to this world
That ever was prince's child. Happy what follows!
Thou hast as chiding a nativity
As fire, air, water, earth, and heaven can make,
To herald thee from the womb: even at the first
Thy loss is more than can thy portage quit,
With all thou canst find here. Now, the good gods
Throw their best eyes upon't!
The Sailors come and say they must jettison the dead body, because dead bodies are bad luck. They put Thaisa in a casket they just happen to have and alter their course toward Tharsus, as Tyre is too far off and they need to save themselves.
A Lord Cerimon of Ephesus arrives home from the raging storm outside and orders his servants bring food and start a fire for him and some guests. They comment on the unusual strength of the storm as some Gentlemen arrive and also talk about how they had to leave their homes because of the ridiculous weather outside. Cerimon talks about how he's studied medicines and plants for a while now and has quite a good practice as a healer. His guests agree. His Servants bring in a casket that was tossed up by the sea. They open it and it smells sweetly of the woman they find inside, along with expensive spices. They read the scroll Pericles had left with it, which says that she is his queen and if she is found, that she please be buried properly. Cerimon says she looks still freshly dead, and he decides that he knows some physic that will bring her back to life. He goes about his work and revives her. She awakens and wonders WTF. Cerimon puts her up in his house to nurse her back to health.
Pericles, having handed over his daughter to Cleon and Dionyza, says he must be off before Tyre falls into ruin in his absence. He names his daughter Marina and asks that she be raised properly and they promise to treat her as if she were their own daughter.
At Cerimon's house, Thaisa recalls that she was on a ship and was giving birth, but fears both her child and husband are dead. She decides to become a priestess at Diana's temple for the rest of her life.
ACT IV
Gower pops in and says that Pericles is fine back in Tyre, as is Thaisa in Ephesus, so let's focus on Marina in Tharsus, because Cleon and Dionyza also have a daughter, and as they both grew up together, it became clear that Marina was the prettier, more talented girl, and this arouses murderous envy in Dionyza.
Dionyza meets up with the murtherer Leonine, who agrees to kill Marina, even though he admits she's way too pretty. Marina comes in, strewing flowers for her dead mistress Lychordia. Dionyza, under the pretense of protecting her, suggests she never walk alone and that Leonine will stay with her. Alone with Leonine, Marina tells the story of her storm-tossed birth. He tells her to say her prayers as he prepares to kill her for Dionyza. She asks why Dionyza would do such a thing and tries to appeal to his better nature but just as he's to do the deed, some pirates come and grab her, taking her away as booty. Leonine shrugs and says he'll just tell Dionyza that Marina has been thrown into the sea and is definitely dead.
In Mytilene, some pimps, Bawd, Boult, and Pander, hang out in a brothel and talk about how poor they are because they need to find more wenches. Boult leaves to do so and comes back with the Pirates and Marina, a perfect virgin for their business. They discuss how much money she could bring in, being so well-born and pretty, then go off to find some takers. Marina is left with Bawd and Marina says she wishes Leonine had just killed her. The men come back and say they found their highest bidder so they must get her ready for the transaction. Marina prays to Diana to help her keep her virginity.
Back in Tharsus, Cleon chews out Dionyza for hiring someone to murther Marina and he worries what he will say when Pericles returns. Dionyza shrugs and says it's no bother, and that Marina was pulling all the attention away from their real daughter, which could have robbed her of prime opportunities in life. Cleon prays to the heavens for forgiveness while Dionyza says that Marina's epitaph on her monument will be golden as all get out, so Pericles won't suspect a thing.
In front of Marina's monument, Gower appears to tell us that Pericles is dragging Helicanus to Tharsus to pick up his daughter, and their trip is uneventful for once. In dumbshow, Pericles arrives and Cleon shows him the monument. Pericles weeps and runs off in "mighty passion." He dresses in sackcloth and doesn't cut his hair and goes back to sea, where he rides out yet another tempest. Gower takes a moment to read the epitaph:
'The fairest, sweet'st, and best lies here,
Who wither'd in her spring of year.
She was of Tyrus the king's daughter,
On whom foul death hath made this slaughter;
Marina was she call'd; and at her birth,
Thetis, being proud, swallow'd some part o' the earth:
Therefore the earth, fearing to be o'erflow'd,
Hath Thetis' birth-child on the heavens bestow'd:
Wherefore she does, and swears she'll never stint,
Make raging battery upon shores of flint.'
To which Gower says "No visor does become black villany So well as soft and tender flattery."
In Mytilene, two customers at the brothel talk about how Marina so sweetly convinced them out of their lechery and how they will never whore again.
The three pimps who "hired" Marina now severely regret ever meeting her: "Fie, fie upon her, she's able to freeze the god Priapus, and undo a whole generation." LOL boner jokes. The Lord Lysimachus, a governor, comes to them in disguise, looking for a good lay. They bring him Marina, of course, and she questions how "honorable" a man he is if he's stalking around brothels. Marina and Lysimachus are left alone and she speaks so well that his heart is moved and his libido weakened so he gives her money despite the lack of adult transaction. Lysimachus curses the Bawds for holing Marina up in such a place and leaves. Boult yells at Marina for ruining their business again. Boult resolves to rape her and break her spirit but she fends him off and says he will give him the gold Lysimachus gave her if he would let her teach men to be scholars. He can't help but agree to her honeyed words.
ACT V
Gower, old pal! You're back with some more exposition, thank you so much, buddy. This time, he tells us that Marina escapes the brothels and silences scholars with her deep wisdom. Meanwhile, Pericles docks at Mytilene and Lysimachus goes to greet him.
Lysimachus boards Pericles' ship and inquires about his intentions. Helicanus explains that King Pericles has been onboard for three months, silent as a grave, in mourning for his daughter and wife. Lysimachus suggests Pericles visit this wise, healing maiden he knows in town, as she might be able to help him in his woe. He sends for Marina and she comes in and says she and her young maid must be left alone with the patient to sing him to health. Pericles pushes her away and she objects, saying that if he knew her parentage, he wouldn't treat her so. He notices that she resembles his wife and he insists she tell him her background. She says her name is Marina and he thinks he is being mocked. She goes on to spill the beans about how she was born and it all matches up with Pericles' story. As she finishes, he weeps to realize who she is and how horribly she was treated by her foster parents.
The goddess Diana appears to Pericles and asks him to go to her temple in Ephesus and worship there. He calls Helicanus and says get in bitch we're going to Ephesus!
Gower introduces us to the priestesses hanging around Diana's temple in Ephesus. Pericles arrives and announces himself to the temple statue, bringing Helicanus and Marina and everyone else with him. Thaisa calls out to her husband in utter surprise. Cerimon explains how he found her half dead and brought her back to life. Pericles is overwhelmed with joy. Marina presents herself to Thaisa, everyone is elated and Pericles promises to make offerings to Diana. He even says he will "beautify" aka shave and wash himself for Marina's marriage to Lysimachus (sure, why not?). Thaisa randomly drops the info that Cerimon had a letter saying Simonides is dead, so Pericles prays that the heavens make him a star in the sky. How sweet of him.
Gower pops in one last time to tie everything up in a nice bow:
In Antiochus and his daughter you have heard
Of monstrous lust the due and just reward:
In Pericles, his queen and daughter, seen,
Although assail'd with fortune fierce and keen,
Virtue preserved from fell destruction's blast,
Led on by heaven, and crown'd with joy at last:
In Helicanus may you well descry
A figure of truth, of faith, of loyalty:
In reverend Cerimon there well appears
The worth that learned charity aye wears:
For wicked Cleon and his wife, when fame
Had spread their cursed deed, and honour'd name
Of Pericles, to rage the city turn,
That him and his they in his palace burn;
The gods for murder seemed so content
To punish them; although not done, but meant.
So, on your patience evermore attending,
New joy wait on you! Here our play has ending.
For me, the most notable thing about the BBC production I watched was that Clive Swift, better know as Hyacinth Bucket's long-sufffering husband Richard from Keeping Up Appearances, played Cerimon. And he did well. I half expected Hyacinth to pop in and try to convince him to send all his charity case friends and the comatose woman out of the house she just had cleaned.
Next up is Cymbeline, which I personally really like. I'm excited to re-visit the dramatic tale of young Imogen and her headstrong attitude and the triumphant return of female cross-dressing! W00T!
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