Salome

Plot Summary

In the shimmering moonlight of King Herod’s palace courtyard in the Judean desert, the captain of the guards, Narraboth, muses about the beauty of Princess Salome. One of the servants warns him that his admiring glances at the princess are dangerously excessive and will only end in tragedy. The voice of John the Baptist rises from the dungeon where he is imprisoned by Herod. He prophesies the coming of Jesus, and the soldiers argue about the meaning of his words and the degree of his holiness. Suddenly, Salome herself arrives, having stormed out of the banquet hall in disgust at the lecherous looks cast at her by Herod, her stepfather.
John’s voice is heard again, and Salome, mesmerized by it, decides she must see the man behind it. She commands the soldiers to bring the prisoner up, but they refuse to disobey Herod’s strict orders. Salome seduces Narraboth into doing it for her. John is brought up from his prison, and though he is furious, Salome is not afraid. in fact, she is drawn to his voice, to the aura of death on his face, and to his austere eyes. John demands she repent for the sins of her mother, but Salome instead declares that she must touch the prophet’s white flesh, feel his radiant black hair, and kiss his lips. John denounces her, but Salome can no longer restrain her desire. Narraboth, horrified at the chaos he has caused and hurt by Salome’s indifference to him, stabs himself to death. Salome continues to plead with John to let her kiss him, but he shouts, “Daughter of harlotry, go and seek repentance!” She repeats her desire, but John curses her and returns to his prison.

Herod enters, followed by his guests, and obsessively searches for Salome. His wife, Herodias, jealous and furious, accuses him of lusting after her daughter. Herod offers Salome food and wine, but she refuses. John’s condemnations echo again from the dungeon. When Herodias begs Herod to rid them of the prophet by handing him over to the Jews, a sudden theological debate breaks out among the Jewish guests about the existence of good and evil. Two Christians from Nazareth arrive and speak of the miracles of Jesus, declaring that the Messiah has come. John once again curses Herodias’s wickedness, and she shrieks for him to be silenced. Suddenly, Herod asks Salome to dance for him. She refuses at first, encouraged by her mother. But when Herod swears to grant her anything she desires, Salome agrees, ignoring her mother’s pleasm, and performs the Dance of the Seven Veils for Herod.

Afterward, Herod asks her to name her reward. Salome demands the head of John the Baptist on a silver platter. Herod is horrified, but Herodias is overjoyed, convinced that Salome has done it to avenge her mother. Herod offers Salome priceless jewels, rare white peacocks, anything but that, but she insists on her original demand. Finally, Herod is left with no choice but to comply. Salome waits eagerly, listening for the sounds of the execution, but all is silent. Just as she prepares to send more soldiers to the dungeon, the executioner’s arm emerges, holding John’s severed head. Salome seizes her prize and, with fierce passion, sings to John as if he could still hear: “The mysteries of love are greater than the mysteries of death.” Salome kisses the severed head in ecstasy. Herod, horrified, orders her to be killed.