Power and control is constantly changing hands in Salomé. Herod is king, but he fears Jokanaan; he is the father of Salomé…and yet he is bound to do what she asks. In fact Herod—the guy you'd expect to have the most control—is often the least secure.
When he hears of some dude raising the dead (and subverting what may be the greatest symbol of authority, the power over life and death) one of Jokanaan's prophecies is already coming true: the kings of the earth are already afraid; and "the Saviour of the World," once a title of Caesar's, will soon be claimed by a greater power. That's enough to make Herod quake in his sandals.
Questions About Power
- What does Herod's status as ruler of a "client kingdom"—that is, he actually reports to Caesar—say about his actual status?
- How does the arrival of the Nazarenes' Messiah complicate Herod's understanding of his own power?
- Although Salomé is killed by Herod, she ends up taking control of her stepfather and, ultimately, over Jokanaan. How does she do this and what does it say about the nature of power?
Chew on This
In Salomé, we see that power is by no means permanent, that a daughter can take control of her father, and that a captive man can strike fear into the heart of his jailer.
Although Jokanaan's statements may be cryptic, they have one central message: divine power will eventually triumph over earthly power.