Abstract
Oscar Wilde’s symbolist tragedy Salome (1891) possesses a rich and complex intertextual history incorporating a number of French literary sources and biblical influences. The two significant accounts in the Bible that deal with John the Baptist’s beheading at the request of Herod’s stepdaughter are Matthew 14:6-11 and Mark 6:14-29. However, Wilde was not only inspired by the New Testament, but also, by the Old Testament. In his reinterpretation of the biblical text, Wilde was influenced by one biblical book in particular, the Song of Songs, and most strikingly by Ernest Renan’s French translation from the original Hebrew, Le Cantique des Cantiques (1860). This study demonstrates the importance of the Song of Songs as a biblical hypotext that Wilde inverted to create a daring departure from his success as a renowned Victorian playwright of satirical humour. In rewriting the sensual poetics of the Song of Songs, Wilde was able to extract its raw sexual themes and expose them with a newfound reality. This study explores the subversion of the Song of Songs and the author’s motivating desire to represent the monstrous-feminine.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
