Salome Lesson Plan

How does Herod act when he feels uncomfortable? What underlying emotion drives his discomfort, and why do you think Herod is governed by this emotion? Do you think Wilde is using Herod's character to make a political commentary, and if so, what is he saying?

To answer this question, students should consider Herod's behavior both in today's reading and throughout the play to notice the ruler's pattern of controlling, avoiding, and hiding from the things that cause his discomfort. For instance, students might reference Herod's reaction when he steps in the Syrian's blood and he orders the corpse to be taken out of his sight. Another example is when Salome demands...