Salome recap

At Herod's palace, Princess Salome becomes fascinated by Jokanaan, the imprisoned prophet who condemns her mother Herodias's marriage to Herod. Narraboth, the young guard captain infatuated with Salome, brings Jokanaan from his cistern for her. The prophet rejects Salome's advances, and Narraboth kills himself in despair. Later Herod begs Salome to dance and swears to grant any reward. After performing, she demands Jokanaan's head. Herod offers jewels and power instead, but Salome will not change her request, and Herod orders the execution. Salome receives the severed head and kisses it. Horrified, Herod commands his soldiers to kill her, and they crush her beneath their shields.

During a banquet at Herod's palace, Salome leaves the hall to escape her stepfather's attention. On the terrace she hears Jokanaan, a prophet imprisoned in a cistern for denouncing Herod and Herodias. Salome persuades Narraboth, the guard captain who adores her, to bring the prisoner out. She becomes consumed with desire for Jokanaan, but he rejects her and returns below. Narraboth, unable to bear the encounter, kills himself. Herod and Herodias come outside, arguing over omens, the prophet, and Herod's interest in Salome. Herod asks Salome to dance and publicly promises her any reward. She performs, then demands Jokanaan's head on a silver shield. Herod offers riches, sacred objects, and political favors instead, but she refuses every substitute. Trapped by his oath, he authorizes the execution. When the head is brought up, Salome addresses it and kisses its mouth. Herod reacts with horror and orders the lights put out; seeing her still illuminated by the moon, he commands his soldiers to kill her. They crush Salome beneath their shields, ending the banquet in violence.

Bound by the oath he made before his guests, Herod reluctantly orders Jokanaan's execution after Salome refuses every substitute for the prophet's head. The head is brought from the cistern on a silver shield. Salome addresses it and kisses its mouth, completing the desire that Jokanaan rejected while alive. Herod is appalled by the spectacle. He first orders the palace lights extinguished, but moonlight reveals Salome still absorbed in the severed head. Unable to tolerate what he sees, he commands his soldiers to kill her. They advance together and crush Salome beneath their shields. Jokanaan, Narraboth, and Salome are all dead; Herod and Herodias remain in power, but the banquet has ended in the violence foreshadowed throughout the play.