Abstract:
This thesis examines three texts – the Historia Apollonii Regis Tyri, Book VIII of Gower’s Confessio Amantis, and Shakespeare’s Pericles – which tell a single story, the story of Apollonius of Tyre. The earliest text, the Latin Historia, is the major source for Gower’s version of the story, which is in turn the main source for Pericles. Using the Historia as the basis for my initial observations, I then look at the
ways in which Gower made use of and adapted the Historia and how Shakespeare then adapted Gower’s text. I employ a variety of methods in examining the texts,
including considering the historical background behind the Confessio Amantis and Pericles, and making use of a psychoanalytical approach, considering the texts in the
light of both Oedipal theory and ‘seduction theory’. The themes which emerged as concerns for the three authors were incest,
patriarchy and kingship. These themes can be found in all three works, but the importance of each theme and the way in which it is handled varies greatly amongst
the three. The Historia places the least emphasis on these themes overall: it condemns
incest and patriarchal excesses, but it does not dwell on these issues or question the
institutions of its society. Gower does question the validity of the patriarchal social
structure, by concentrating on the evils of father-daughter incest and by giving the women in his tale more control over decision-making. He also emphasizes the need
for the rule of law, rather than tyrannical kingship. Incest is a major theme in Pericles,
but the play is less concerned with issues around patriarchy. Instead, Pericles devotes
more time to considering the role of kingship.
