Salome

Compare and contrast the various cultural groups who come together at Herod’s court. How does Wilde portray these different nations and religious traditions?

Compare and contrast the various cultural groups who come together at Herod’s court. How does Wilde portray these different nations and religious traditions?

How do women demonstrate power in Salomé? How is a woman’s power different than a man’s power? Does Wilde seem to critique or support these modes of power?

Compare Wilde’s Salomé to the story of John the Baptist’s death in the bible. Why does Wilde change some of the details? What does he add to the story and how does it change the meaning of the narrative?

Analyze Wilde’s portrayal of the Middle Eastern setting of King Herod’s court. How does he combine attributes of Victorian England with his conception of a foreign land?

The aesthetics of the sacred and the profane are represented in Salomé. Identify a moment when they are combined and discuss impact of an image that encompasses both the divine and the sensual upon the audience.

Oscar Wilde was known to have had romantic relationships with men throughout his life. Do you see any queer subtext in this play? If so, what do you think Wilde is conveying about the subject of queer sexuality through this story?

Visibility and invisibility are central themes of Salomé. Consider how these ideas might be reinforced through the medium of theatrical performance. What might be different about watching this play versus reading its script?