The Irony of Having a Woman's Voice and Expectations: Themes in the Tragedy of Mariam Anonymous College

Innocent Mariam’s execution shows how little society valued women’s testaments due to the triumph of Herod’s rash tyranny and Salome’s false accusations. The powerlessness of women in this society is inescapable, even for the righteous and royal blooded queen of Judea. Even though Herod had a jealous and obsessive love for his wife, he still decided to execute Mariam for fear of her impurity. A prominent theme from The Tragedy of Mariam is “women’s voice and expectations.” The irony is that the actual chaste woman’s voice (Mariam, when defending herself) is disregarded, whereas the voice of the thoroughly wicked and deceitful Salome in Herod’s ear plays a powerful role in the deaths of Josephus, Sohemus, and Mariam.

There are two points in Mariam’s journey where the theme of “women’s voice” shines through very brightly. The first is when she speaks with Herod’s advisor, Sohemus, and he informs her that her husband is still alive and of Herod’s decree to kill her if he were to die. Mariam becomes extremely angry upon hearing this secret death sentence, then asks Sohemus not to speak of her outburst. Sohemus denies her request, stating that he cannot stay silent. He then claims, “Unbridled speech is Mariam’s worst disgrace, And...