How we cite our quotes: (Line)
Quote #1
SALOMÉ I will not stay. I cannot stay. Why does the Tetrarch look at me all the while with his mole's eyes under his shaking eyelids? It is strange that the husband of my mother looks at me like that. I know not what it means. Of a truth I know it too well. (68)
Salomé knows all too well what sinful thoughts her stepfather is contemplating. Bow chicka bow bow.
Quote #2
JOKANAAN Where is he whose cup of abominations is now full? Where is he, who in a robe of silver shall one day die in the face of all the people? Bid him come forth, that he may hear the voice of him who hath cried in the waste places and in the houses of kings. (121)
Though Jokanaan's prophecy is cryptic, he makes it clear that a time is coming when the sinful will be punished.
Quote #3
JOKANAAN Where is she who saw the images of men painted on the walls, even the images of the Chaldæans painted with colours, and gave herself up unto the lust of her eyes, and sent ambassadors into the land of Chaldæa?
SALOMÉ It is of my mother that he is speaking.
THE YOUNG SYRIAN Oh no, Princess.
SALOMÉ Yes: it is of my mother that he is speaking. (121-4)
Salomé seems to enjoy hearing her sinful, incestuous mother get insulted.
Quote #4
JOKANAAN Where is she who gave herself unto the Captains of Assyria, who have baldricks on their loins, and crowns of many colours on their heads? Where is she who hath given herself to the young men of the Egyptians, who are clothed in fine linen and hyacinth, whose shields are of gold, whose helmets are of silver, whose bodies are mighty? Go, bid her rise up from the bed of her abominations, from the bed of her incestuousness, that she may hear the words of him who prepareth the way of the Lord, that she may repent her of her iniquities. Though she will not repent, but will stick fast in her abominations, go bid her come, for the fan of the Lord is in His hand.
SALOMÉ Ah, but he is terrible, he is terrible! (125-126)
Jokanaan calls for Herodias to repent—and yet, he's pretty positive that she won't pay attention to him.
Quote #5
SALOMÉ There is nothing the world so white as thy body. Suffer me to touch thy body.
JOKANAAN Back! daughter of Babylon! By woman came evil into the world. Speak not to me. (145-146)
Jokanaan blames Eve, the first woman, for bringing sin to the world. His understanding of Original Sin leads him to shut down Salomé and, it seems, all women.
Quote #6
JOKANAAN Art thou not afraid, daughter of Herodias? Did I not tell thee that I had heard in the palace the beating of the wings of the angel of death, and hath he not come, the angel of death?
SALOMÉ Suffer me to kiss thy mouth.
JOKANAAN Daughter of adultery, there is but one who can save thee. It is He of whom I spake. Go seek Him. He is in a boat on the sea of Galilee, and He talketh with His disciples. Kneel down on the shore of the sea, and call unto Him by His name. When He cometh to thee, and to all who call on Him He cometh, bow thyself at His feet and ask of Him the remission of thy sins.
SALOMÉ Suffer me to kiss thy mouth, Jokanaan. (157-161)
Jokanaan warns Salomé that she has but one way of saving herself and tells her what she must do. Still, Salomé persists in her seduction.
Quote #7
HEROD Enough on this subject. I have already given you my answer. I will not deliver him into your hands. He is a holy man. He is a man who has seen God.
A JEW That cannot be. There is no man who hath seen God since the prophet Elias. He is the last man who saw God face to face. In these days God doth not show Himself. God hideth Himself. Therefore great evils have come upon the land. (218-19)
According to this Jew, evil and sin have come upon the land because God has not shown himself. It follows that the reemergence of God would vanquish that evil.
Quote #8
THE VOICE OF JOKANAAN Ah! The wanton one! The harlot! Ah! the daughter of Babylon with her golden eyes and her gilded eyelids! Thus saith the Lord God, Let there come up against her a multitude of men. Let the people take stones and stone her…
HERODIAS Command him to be silent!
THE VOICE OF JOKANAAN Let the captains of the hosts pierce her with their swords, let them crush her beneath their shields.
HERODIAS Nay, but it is infamous.
THE VOICE OF JOKANAAN It is thus that I will wipe out all wickedness from the earth, and that all women shall learn not to imitate her abominations. (266-270)
Jokanaan's call to kill the harlot, the daughter of Babylon, is more than an insult to Herodias —it is a call to destroy all sin.
Quote #9
HEROD Peace! you are always crying out. You cry out like a beast of prey. You must not cry in such fashion. Your voice wearies me. Peace, I tell you!... Salomé, think on what thou art doing. It may be that this man comes from God. He is a holy man. The finger of God has touched him. God has put terrible words into his mouth. In the palace, as in the desert, God is ever with him… It may be that He is, at least. One cannot tell, but it is possible that God is with him and for him. If he die also, peradventure some evil may befall me. Verily, he has said that evil will befall some one on the day whereon he dies. On whom should it fall if it fall not on me? Remember, I slipped in blood when I came hither. Also did I not hear a beating of wings in the air, a beating of vast wings? These are ill omens. And there were other things. I am sure that there were other things, though I saw them not. Thou wouldst not that some evil should befall me, Salomé? Listen to me again. (367)
Herod is afraid to hurt Jokanaan because he is afraid of the wrath of God. He's a man who has killed dozens of people (including his brother) but seems to understand that to kill a holy man is to commit a super-big sin.