Pericles, Prince of Tyre Theme

Envy
Dionyza’s envy of Marina leads her to plan her murder and Antiochus’s desire to keep his daughter for himself has led to the murder of many. Both Dionyza and Antiochus are the overt villains as they are seen to be led by these negative qualities that allow selfishness and envy decide their actions. By contrast, Pericles is depicted as a modest and somewhat melancholic figure. He lives a moral life despite the numerous setbacks, and for this he is rewarded with being reunited with his wife and daughter.

Revenge
The revenge of the gods is a theme that runs through this play as it is emphasised intermittently that those who sin will be punished for their actions. This is primarily evident in the reported deaths of Antiochus and his daughter in the main body of the play, but is firmly driven home in Gower’s Epilogue. Here, Gower is used to reiterate how the sinful ones such as Antioch, his daughter, Cleon and his family are punished by death. Despite the obstacles Pericles, Thaisa and Marina have had to overcome, they are seen to preserve their goodness. It is as though their suffering, and remaining dignity, is rewarded with the reunification of the family in the final act. Because of this contrast in fates for those deemed good and evil, the moral tone of the play is made starkly evident.

Family

So, you probably noticed how this entire play is structured so that Pericles can

 1) create a family,

2) lose everyone he loves, and then 3) miraculously reunite with his wife and daughter after years of suffering and heartache. Gee, Shakespeare. Are you trying to tell us something about the importance of family bonds?

According to this play, family is the most precious thing in the world—especially relationships between parents and children. Hey, we're not kidding: when Pericles is finally reunited with his beloved daughter, he tells us he feels like he's just experienced a rebirth.

At the same time, Pericles is also about the dangers of dysfunctional family relationships. The play features an incestuous father who seduces his own daughter, a wicked foster mother who tries to arrange the murder of a young girl, and a bunch of other deadbeat parent figures who don't love their kids enough and can't take care of them. Shakespeare makes his feelings about lousy parents pretty clear—almost all of them end up experiencing painful and fiery deaths at some point.