Daughter of Eve, "Femme Fatale", and Persecuted Artist: The Mythic Transgressive Woman in Oscar Wilde's and Richard Strauss's "Salome"

Historically, Salome was an unexceptional figure who never catalyzed John the Baptist's death. However, in Christian Scripture, she becomes the dancing seductress as fallen daughter of Eve.  Her stepfather Herod promises Salome his kingdom if she dances for him, but she follows her mother’s wish to have John beheaded. In Strauss’s opera, after Wilde's Symbolist-Decadent play, Salome becomes independent of Herodias’ will, and the mythic avatar of the femme fatale and persecuted artist who Herod has killed after she kisses John's severed head.  Her signature key of C# major, resolving to the C major sung by Herod and Jokanaan at her death, represent her tragic fate musically.

Selon l’histoire, Salomé était une personnalité banale qui n’a jamais précipité la mort de Jean le Baptiste. En revanche, dans les textes chrétiens, elle devient la séductrice et la fille déchue d’Ève. Son beau-père Hérode promet à Salomé son royaume si elle danse pour lui, mais elle suit le souhait de sa mère qui exige la décapitation de Jean. Dans l’opéra de Strauss, après la pièce décadente-symboliste de Wilde, Salomé se libère (devient indépendante) de la volonté d’Hérodias, et l’avatar mythique de la femme fatale et l’artiste persécutée qu’Hérode assassine après qu’elle embrasse la tête coupée de Jean. Sa note indicative de do# majeur, se transformant en do majeur chantée par Hérodias et Jokanaan lors de sa mort, représente d’une manière musicale son destin. Historically, Salome was a mundane figure who never catalyzed John the Baptist’s death. However, in Christian Scripture, she becomes the seductress and fallen daughter of Eve. Her stepfather Herod promises Salome his kingdom if she dances for him, but she follows her mother’s wish to have John beheaded. In Strauss’s opera, after Wilde’s Symbolist-Decadent play, Salome becomes independent of Herodias’ will, and the mythic avatar of the femme fatale and persecuted artist who Herod has killed after she kisses John’s severed head. Her signature key of C# major, resolving to the C major sung by Herod and Jokanaan at her death, represents her tragic fate musically.