Please enable JavaScript.

Coggle requires JavaScript to display documents.

MODERN DRAMA - Coggle Diagram

- - - - 1904
  - - - 1923
  - - - 1935
  - - - 1938
  - - - 1893-1894
    - - Main Characters:
        Salome: Step-daughter of King Herod, known for her beauty and enigmatic personality.
        Herod Antipas: Tetrarch of Judea, Salome's step-father, infatuated with her.
        Herodias: Salome's mother, Herod's wife, and former wife of Herod's brother.
        Jokanaan (John the Baptist): A prophet imprisoned by Herod, disdainful of Salome.
        Narraboth: The young Syrian captain, infatuated with Salome.
      - Genre: Tragedy, Symbolist drama
        Setting: Biblical times, palace of Herod Antipas in Judea
        Structure: The play is a single act divided into scenes.
    - - Prophecy and Foreknowledge
        
        The character of Jokanaan (John the Baptist) brings a sense of inevitability to the play.
        
        His prophetic pronouncements suggest a predetermined fate, particularly his own martyrdom and the eventual downfall of Herod and Herodias.
        
        This lends an aura of inevitability to the events, as if they are destined to unfold as they do.
      - Biblical Context
        
        The story of Salome is rooted in the Biblical narrative where the events are considered part of a divine plan.
        
        This historical and religious backdrop implies that the characters are enacting roles that have been preordained by a higher power.
      - Salome
        
        Salome herself exhibits a complex interplay between fate and free will.
        
        Her intense desire for Jokanaan can be seen as an uncontrollable, fateful passion.
        
        However, her decision to demand his head is an exercise of her free will, demonstrating her active role in shaping her destiny.
      - Herod
        
        His lust for Salome and fear of Jokanaan's prophecies show his oscillation between trying to assert his will and succumbing to what he perceives as inevitable fate.
      - Moral Responsibility and Free Will
        
        Salome's Agency: Despite the seemingly fated nature of her passion, Salome exercises her free will in her relentless pursuit of Jokanaan and her ultimate demand for his death. This raises questions about moral responsibility and the extent to which her actions are driven by her own volition versus an unavoidable fate.
        
        Herod’s Choice: Herod's initial reluctance to fulfill Salome's gruesome request highlights his internal conflict between his free will and the powerful forces of fate he feels bound by. His eventual acquiescence can be seen as a surrender to fate, influenced by his overwhelming desires and fears.
      - Symbolic Elements
        
        Moon
        
        The recurring imagery of the moon throughout the play symbolizes fate and the cyclical nature of events.
        
        The moon's unchanging presence suggests an inescapable fate that the characters are bound to follow, while its changing phases reflect the characters' shifting fortunes and the consequences of their choices.
        
        Dance of the Seven Veils
        
        Salome's dance symbolizes her control and manipulation, an act of free will used to achieve her desires.
        
        Yet, the dance also serves as a ritualistic, almost fated, act that leads inevitably to Jokanaan's death, blending the lines between fate and personal agency.
      - .
        
        Tragic Inevitability
        
        The tragic structure of "Salome" underscores the inevitability of certain events, akin to classical tragedies where characters are often doomed by fate. Yet, the choices they make along the way highlight their struggle against or acceptance of this fate.
        
        Psychological Depth
        
        Wilde delves into the psychological motivations of his characters, showing how their inner desires and fears drive them towards their fates. This psychological realism adds depth to the theme, suggesting that internal compulsions can be as deterministic as external forces.
        
        Determinism vs. Agency
        
        Wilde's play encourages audiences to contemplate the balance between determinism and personal agency. The characters seem both trapped by their fates and active participants in their downfalls, reflecting the complexity of human existence.