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- Title
CHAPTER EIGHT: DEVIANT DESIRES AND DANCE: THE FEMME FATALE STATUS OF SALOME AND THE DANCE OF THE SEVEN VEILS.
- Authors
Garland, Tony W.
- Abstract
In the title character of Salome, Oscar Wilde creates a potent femme fatale who was a repeatedly reproduced subject of terrible desires in nineteenth century art. Wilde's play popularised an amalgamation of the dance of the seven veils with deviant desires and tragic outcomes and presents the dance as fundamental to the desirability of Salome and the achievement of Salome's desire. Salome's dance provides an instance of deviance within the acceptable limits of the desires of those observing her. Herod can look upon the naked form of his step-daughter because it is a dance. Salome's power as a femme fatale relies upon the compelling objectification of her by other characters. This essay discusses the dance as a method of control and manipulation; it is the embodiment of Salome's power and transforms her from a seductive femme fatale into a figure of monstrous desirability. The dance is a central moment that clarifies Wilde's depiction of Salome's desirability as afemmefatale and challenges the sexual deviance of Salome, the male characters and the audience. The dance of the seven veils reveals the interconnection of desirability and sexual deviance in Salome as central to Salome's construction as a powerful femmefatale. Salome's is not an isolated deviance but relies upon the deviant interests of Herod and the audience, both Victorian and modern, making the play a celebration and condemnation of sexual deviance.
- Subjects
SALOME (Play); WILDE, Oscar, 1854-1900; FEMINISM in literature; LITERARY characters
- Publication
Dialogue (15749630), 2012, Vol 15, p125
- ISSN
1574-9630
- Publication type
Essay