Pericles Summary
William Shakespeare

In the following essay, originally delivered as a lecture in 1981, Meszaros explores the significance of music in Pericles. In The Shakespearian Tempest (1932) and The Crown of Life (1947), G. Wilson ... Read more

In the following essay, Muir surveys the text of Pericles, locating evidence of Shakespeare's authorship in the language, imagery, and thematic qualities of the work. Whether we accept Mr Phili... Read more

In this essay, Dickey analyzes the characters of Pericles and Gower and the peculiarities of their dramatic and metadramatic relationships. Criticism of Pericles traditionally has been attracted eithe... Read more

In the following essay First published in 1987, Nevo presents a psychological overview of Pericles, focusing on the work's chaotic symbolism and dream-like aspects. A thing which has not been ... Read more

In the following essay, Kiefer explores the thematic links of art/nature and father/daughter in Pericles. As a metaphor the book of nature elucidates the realms of art and nature in Shakespeare'... Read more

In this essay originally presented in 1981 at the second Congress of the International Shakespeare Association, Dunbar examines the stage imagery of Pericles, maintaining that the "visual prese... Read more

In the essay below, Lewis focuses on the thematic implications of the relationship between sexuality and eating in the imagery of Pericles. The problems which have, historically, plagued critics of Pe... Read more

In the following essay, Cutts argues that the outer disharmony Pericles encounters reflects the inner disharmony of his own character. F. D. Hoeniger, in the introduction to his edition1 of Pericles, ... Read more

In the following essay, Lynch argues that Gower serves as the “surrogate author” of Pericles, claiming that Shakespeare's use of Gower “involves a double strategy: a confes... Read more

In the following essay, Wood uses the theme of flattery as it appears in the second act of Pericles to support an argument for Shakespeare as the play's sole author, and as the basis for the as... Read more

In the following essay, Solway examines the dreamlike qualities of Pericles. Some to the Lute, some to the Viol went, And others chose the Cornet eloquent. These practising the Wind, and those the Wir... Read more

In the following essay, Hoeniger outlines the plot of Pericles, noting the play's appeal to live audiences and paying special attention to the figure of Gower. The critic maintains that at cert... Read more

In the following essay, Dean contends that Pericles is a pilgrimage tale, and outlines several literary works that may have influenced Shakespeare's creation of the drama, including two from th... Read more

In the following essay, Hopkins considers the treatment of geographical locations in Pericles, concluding that the travels depicted in the play are symbolic of an exploration of the characters'... Read more

In the following essay, Semon argues that Pericles conveys a world where moral rules do not apply and where most of the characters respond to events with a sense of unexplained wonder. According to th... Read more

In the following essay, Hillman compares Pericles to John Gower's Confessio Amantis. The critic maintains that the character of Pericles shares many traits with the character Amans in the Confe... Read more

In the following review of the Joseph Papp Public Theater/New York Shakespeare Festival production of Pericles, directed by Brian Kulick, Isherwood faults the weak cast and stylistic treatment, but gr... Read more

In the following excerpted review of the Royal Shakespeare Company production of Pericles, directed by Adrian Noble, Potter praises both the cast and the production's visual and musical splendo... Read more

In the following essay, Mullaney argues that Pericles represents a dramatic experiment in which Shakespeare attempted to dissociate the dramatic art form from its popular context and instead re-imagin... Read more

In the following essay, Saenger argues for the dramatic integrity of Pericles, insisting that the “flaws” are not really flaws, but rather Shakespeare's ingenious manipulation of ... Read more

In the following essay, Alvarez argues that Pericles's journey to understanding moves from external to internal as he realizes that the harmony of the soul is achieved through the union of thre... Read more

In the following excerpt, Clapp maintains that Adrian Noble's Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) production of Pericles downplayed the unevenness of the play and notes that its setting reflected e... Read more

In the following excerpt, Wilson comments on Yukio Ninagawa's thematic fusion of Western and Japanese cultures in his interpretation of Pericles's odyssey, stressing its spiritual compon... Read more

In the following excerpt, Kellaway applauds the audacity of Neil Bartlett's artistic vision in his Lyric, Hammersmith, staging of Pericles, noting that the sparse hospital-like setting foregrou... Read more

Stuart M. Kurland, Duquesne University Critics have generally found the story of Perieles, Prince of Tyre, interesting—if at all—for the strange and marvelous adventures that befall th... Read more

Pericles' unmatched skills as a politician gave him the ability to truly take the helm of Athenian government and steer Athens in the direction of his vision. Under Pericles Athens reached it greatest... Read more

Pericles was a renowned and influential statesman, speaker and general of Athens. He was born during 490 BC from the Alcmaeonidae family and died on 429 BC from plague at 61 years of age. His father w... Read more