# Pericles — Pericles character guide > Pericles in Pericles by William Shakespeare. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Prince Pericles, Pericles of Tyre, King Pericles, noble Pericles, royal Pericles, princely Pericles **First appearance:** 0000-pericles ## Snapshot A prince who risks his life for a riddle's answer, then loses everything to the sea and keeps sailing anyway. ## Who they are Pericles enters Antioch as a confident suitor, willing to stake his life on a princess whose beauty is framed by a field of dead princes. The riddle he solves reveals a horror he cannot speak aloud, forcing him to flee his own kingdom and trade a prince's safety for a wanderer's exposure to storm, shipwreck, and grief. His readiness to endure is the engine of the play: every loss tests whether a good man can keep his integrity when fortune strips him of home, wife, and child. ## Relationships ### [Marina](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pericles_se/characters/marina) _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) _friendship_ Helicanus is Pericles' loyal and wise counselor, governing Tyre faithfully in his absence. ### [Thaisa](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pericles_se/characters/thaisa) _romantic_ Pericles and Thaisa are husband and wife, deeply in love before she is presumed dead in childbirth. ### [Cleon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pericles_se/characters/cleon) _friendship_ Cleon is initially a friend and host to Pericles, but later betrays him by harming Marina. ### [Lychorida](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pericles_se/characters/lychorida) _professional_ Lychorida is Marina's nurse, serving Pericles by caring for his daughter after Thaisa's apparent death. ### [Helicanus](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pericles_se/characters/helicanus) _friendship_ Helicanus is Pericles' loyal and wise counselor, governing Tyre faithfully in his absence. ### [Thaisa](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pericles_se/characters/thaisa) _romantic_ Pericles and Thaisa are husband and wife, deeply in love before she is presumed dead in childbirth. ### [Marina](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pericles_se/characters/marina) _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) _friendship_ Helicanus is Pericles' loyal and wise counselor, governing Tyre faithfully in his absence. ### [Marina](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pericles_se/characters/marina) _family_ Marina is Pericles' long-lost daughter, and their reunion brings him back from despair. ### [Cleon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pericles_se/characters/cleon) _friendship_ Cleon is initially a friend and host to Pericles, but later betrays him by harming Marina. ### [Lychorida](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pericles_se/characters/lychorida) _professional_ Lychorida is Marina's nurse, serving Pericles by caring for his daughter after Thaisa's apparent death. ## In the story ### [Scene I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pericles_se/chapters/act-i-scene-i) Boldly undertakes the riddle challenge, discovers the incest, and flees to avoid assassination. ### [Scene II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pericles_se/chapters/act-i-scene-ii) Struggles with melancholy and fear of Antiochus; confides in Helicanus about the incestuous secret and decides to travel to Tarsus. ### [Scene III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pericles_se/chapters/act-i-scene-iii) Mentioned as having left Tyre on travels due to Antiochus' displeasure. ### [Scene IV: The Relief of Tarsus](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pericles_se/chapters/act-i-scene-iv) Arrives with ships bearing corn to relieve Tarsus, offering help and friendship. ### [Scene I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pericles_se/chapters/act-ii-scene-i) Shipwrecked and destitute, Pericles is given shelter and his father's armor by fishermen, and decides to enter the tournament for the princess's hand. ### [Scene II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pericles_se/chapters/act-ii-scene-ii) Appears as the sixth knight, presenting a withered branch with a green top, symbolizing hope despite his dejected state. ### [Scene III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pericles_se/chapters/act-ii-scene-iii) Wins the tournament but sits melancholy, reflecting on his lost status; reveals his identity as a gentleman of Tyre. ### [Scene IV: The Counsel of Tyre](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pericles_se/chapters/act-ii-scene-iv) Absent from Tyre; his loyal subjects debate his fate and seek his return. ### [Scene V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pericles_se/chapters/act-ii-scene-v) Defends his honor against Simonides' false accusation, declares his noble intentions, and agrees to marry Thaisa. ### [Scene I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pericles_se/chapters/act-iii-scene-i) Grieves the death of his queen and struggles to protect his newborn daughter amid the storm. ### [Scene II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pericles_se/chapters/act-iii-scene-ii) Mentioned in the scroll found with Thaisa's coffin, revealing his loss and grief. ### [Scene III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pericles_se/chapters/act-iii-scene-iii) Bids farewell to Cleon and Dionyza, entrusts Marina to their care, and vows chastity until her marriage. ### [Scene IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pericles_se/chapters/act-iv-scene-iv) Arrives at Tarsus to fetch his daughter, falls into mourning upon seeing the false tomb. ### [Scene I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pericles_se/chapters/act-v-scene-i) Grief-stricken and silent for three months, he is gradually drawn out by Marina and ultimately recognizes her as his daughter. ### [Scene II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pericles_se/chapters/act-v-scene-ii) The king who is promised to marry Marina after completing his sacrifice to Diana. ### [Scene III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pericles_se/chapters/act-v-scene-iii) Confesses his identity and life story at Diana's temple, is reunited with Thaisa, and plans to marry Marina to Lysimachus. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pericles_se/characters/pericles - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pericles_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pericles_se/characters