A review by novel_ideas
Salome by Oscar Wilde

dark emotional reflective tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

Oscar Wilde’s take on the attempted seduction of John the Baptist by the titular Salome provides a lush exploration of desire and obsession. The language of the play is highly visual (and one of the motifs throughout is the concept of “looking” and characters looking at other characters ) and beautifully descriptive— especially descriptions of the moon (a metaphor used both for Salome and Jokanaan). But as much as there is to impact thematically, I could have used more time with and more reflection on the characters.