# Marina — Pericles character guide

> Marina in Pericles by William Shakespeare.

**Role:** major

**Also known as:** Marina Alack, Marina Whither, Marina Prithee, Marina Sir, Marina Patience

**First appearance:** 0012-act-iii

## Snapshot

Born at sea and raised by strangers, she survives a brothel with her virtue intact and her parentage unknown.

## Who they are

Marina grows up in Tarsus as a governor's ward, gifted enough that her guardian's wife begins to see her as a threat to her own daughter's prospects. Sold into a Mytilene brothel, she refuses every customer with such eloquence that she converts would-be clients and infuriates the owners who cannot profit from her. Her resemblance to a woman she has never met becomes the thread that could pull a shattered king back into the world.

## Relationships

### [Bawd](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pericles_se/characters/bawd)

_professional_

The Bawd owns Marina as a prostitute in the brothel, exploiting her for profit.

### [Leonine](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pericles_se/characters/leonine)

_rivalry_

Leonine is hired by Cleon to murder Marina, acting as her would-be assassin.

### [Pericles](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pericles_se/characters/pericles)

_family_

Marina is Pericles' long-lost daughter, and their reunion brings him back from despair.

### [Helicanus](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pericles_se/characters/helicanus)

_social_

Helicanus meets Marina after her reunion with Pericles, recognizing her as the lost princess.

### [Cleon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pericles_se/characters/cleon)

_rivalry_

Cleon, entrusted with Marina's care, grows jealous of her virtues and orders her murder.

### [Thaisa](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pericles_se/characters/thaisa)

_family_

Thaisa is Marina's mother, separated at birth and reunited at the play's end.

### [Pericles](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pericles_se/characters/pericles)

_family_

Marina is Pericles' long-lost daughter, and their reunion brings him back from despair.

### [Pericles](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pericles_se/characters/pericles)

_family_

Marina is Pericles' long-lost daughter, and their reunion brings him back from despair.

### [Helicanus](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pericles_se/characters/helicanus)

_social_

Helicanus meets Marina after her reunion with Pericles, recognizing her as the lost princess.

### [Helicanus](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pericles_se/characters/helicanus)

_social_

Helicanus meets Marina after her reunion with Pericles, recognizing her as the lost princess.

### [Leonine](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pericles_se/characters/leonine)

_rivalry_

Leonine is hired by Cleon to murder Marina, acting as her would-be assassin.

### [Thaisa](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pericles_se/characters/thaisa)

_family_

Thaisa is Marina's mother, separated at birth and reunited at the play's end.

## In the story

### [Scene I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pericles_se/chapters/act-iii-scene-i)

Born during the storm; Pericles decides to leave her in Tarsus for safety.

### [Scene III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pericles_se/chapters/act-iii-scene-iii)

Infant daughter of Pericles, left in the care of Cleon and Dionyza.

### [Scene I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pericles_se/chapters/act-iv-scene-i)

Innocent and pleading for her life; recounts her birth during a storm; is abducted by pirates.

### [Scene II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pericles_se/chapters/act-iv-scene-ii)

Captured by pirates and sold to the brothel, Marina defiantly vows to keep her virginity, invoking Diana's protection.

### [Scene V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pericles_se/chapters/act-iv-scene-v)

Though not present on stage, her preaching of divinity within the brothel has transformed the gentlemen's attitudes.

### [Scene VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pericles_se/chapters/act-iv-scene-vi)

Marina defends her chastity with eloquent speech, converts Lysimachus, and negotiates with Boult to teach rather than be a prostitute.

### [Scene I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pericles_se/chapters/act-v-scene-i)

Brought to Pericles to heal him with her music and words; she reveals her identity as his daughter.

### [Scene II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pericles_se/chapters/act-v-scene-ii)

Fair Marina, betrothed to Pericles, awaiting the fulfillment of his vow.

### [Scene III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pericles_se/chapters/act-v-scene-iii)

Recognized by Pericles as his daughter and kneels to Thaisa, expressing joy at being reunited with her mother.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pericles_se/characters/marina
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pericles_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pericles_se/characters