The Tragedy of Mariam Summary

Herod's proud and virtuous wife, condemned for her outspokenness and integrity.

Mariam is the beautiful and noble wife of Herod the Great, a descendant of the Hasmonean royal family. She is characterized by her strong sense of integrity, her fierce pride, and her refusal to dissemble her feelings. She openly expresses her hatred for Herod due to his murder of her brother, Aristobulus, and grandfather, Hyrcanus. Her virtue is unquestionable, but her outspokenness and inability to feign affection or submission in the face of injustice ultimately lead to her downfall. She values honor and truth above all else, making her a tragic figure caught between her moral convictions and the tyrannical demands of her husband.

Relationships: Herod (Wife, object of his obsessive love and jealousy); Salome (Sister-in-law, bitter rival and antagonist); Sohemus (Trusted servant, later used as a tool in Salome's plot)

King of Judea, consumed by obsessive love, jealousy, and tyrannical power.

Herod is a powerful and volatile ruler, deeply in love with Mariam but also fiercely possessive and prone to extreme jealousy and rage. He is responsible for the deaths of Mariam's family members, a fact that Mariam cannot forgive. His love for Mariam is intertwined with his tyrannical nature; he cannot tolerate defiance, especially from his wife. Easily swayed by suspicion and manipulation, particularly from his sister Salome, he ultimately orders Mariam's execution based on flimsy evidence. He experiences intense remorse after her death, highlighting his complex and contradictory character.

Relationships: Mariam (Husband, obsessively in love with her, but also her murderer); Salome (Brother, easily manipulated by her schemes); Sohemus (Trusted servant, given the secret command to kill Mariam)

Herod's manipulative sister, driven by ambition and a desire to destroy Mariam.

Salome is the cunning and ruthless sister of Herod, serving as the primary antagonist. She harbors deep resentment towards Mariam, partly due to Mariam's noble birth and her perceived influence over Herod. Salome is a master manipulator, exploiting Herod's jealousy and insecurity to orchestrate Mariam's downfall. She is also driven by her own desires, seeking to divorce her husband, Constabarus, and marry Silleus, even defying Jewish law to do so. Her actions are characterized by treachery, ambition, and a complete lack of moral conscience, making her a formidable and destructive force in the play.

Relationships: Herod (Sister, manipulates him for her own ends); Mariam (Sister-in-law, bitter enemy and orchestrator of her death); Constabarus (Husband, whom she seeks to divorce and eventually has executed); Silleus (Prospective husband, object of her desire)

Herod's loyal servant, entrusted with a deadly secret, who inadvertently contributes to Mariam's demise.

Sohemus is a trusted and loyal servant of Herod, tasked with the grim duty of executing Mariam if Herod were to die. He becomes Mariam's guardian during Herod's absence. Though he is loyal to Herod, he also respects Mariam. His inadvertent revelation of Herod's secret command to Mariam, under Salome's clever questioning, is twisted by Salome into an accusation of infidelity. Sohemus tries to defend Mariam at her trial, confessing the truth of what he revealed, but his testimony is ultimately disregarded by Herod's rage. He is a pawn in Salome's scheme, highlighting the dangers of secrets and manipulation.

Relationships: Herod (Loyal servant and confidant); Mariam (Guardian and respected figure to him)

Salome's husband, who defies her demands for a divorce and is subsequently executed.

Constabarus is Salome's husband, a man of some standing who refuses to grant Salome a divorce, citing Jewish law. He is also accused by Salome of harboring the sons of Baba, enemies of Herod, which ultimately leads to his execution. Constabarus represents a foil to Salome's ambition and disregard for law, adhering to traditional religious statutes regarding marriage. His refusal to bend to Salome's will makes him a victim of her ruthless pursuit of personal freedom and ambition, demonstrating the extent of her power and influence over Herod.

Relationships: Salome (Husband, whom she despises and seeks to divorce); Herod (Brother-in-law, under whose authority he is executed)

An Arabian prince, the object of Salome's desire and her intended second husband.

Silleus is an Arabian prince whom Salome wishes to marry after divorcing Constabarus. He represents Salome's personal desires and ambitions beyond simply gaining power within Herod's court. His presence highlights Salome's disregard for conventional morality and Jewish law regarding marriage and divorce. While not a major character in terms of dialogue or action, his role is crucial in illustrating Salome's motivation and the extent of her willingness to manipulate and destroy lives to achieve her personal ends.

Relationships: Salome (Intended husband, object of her desire)

Herod's brother, who supports Salome's schemes against Mariam.

Pheroras is Herod's brother and often aligns himself with Salome, supporting her accusations against Mariam. He holds a degree of animosity towards Mariam, possibly due to her Hasmonean lineage and her perceived pride. His role is to amplify the voices against Mariam and to reinforce the suspicion and jealousy that Herod feels. He is part of the faction within Herod's court that seeks to undermine Mariam's position and influence, serving as another instrument in the web of intrigue.

Relationships: Herod (Brother); Salome (Brother, ally in her schemes); Mariam (Sister-in-law, adversary)

Herod's first wife, whom he divorced to marry Mariam.

Doris is Herod's first wife, whom he divorced to marry Mariam. She is mentioned primarily to highlight Herod's past actions and the context of his marriage to Mariam. Her existence underscores the political nature of Herod's marriages and his tendency to discard wives when it suited his ambitions or affections. While not appearing on stage, her mention serves to deepen the background of Herod's character and his relationship with Mariam.

Relationships: Herod (Former wife)

Mariam's mother, who also suffered at Herod's hands.

Alexandra is Mariam's mother, also a member of the Hasmonean royal family. She is a figure who has endured immense suffering due to Herod's actions, including the murder of her son, Aristobulus, and her father, Hyrcanus. Her presence or mention often serves to remind the audience and Mariam of the injustices perpetrated by Herod against Mariam's family, reinforcing Mariam's hatred and contributing to the tragic atmosphere of the play. She represents the ongoing suffering of the Hasmonean line under Herod's rule.

Relationships: Mariam (Mother); Herod (Son-in-law, responsible for her family's suffering)

A group offering moral commentary and reflecting societal norms.

The Chorus in 'The Tragedy of Mariam' functions as a traditional Greek chorus, providing commentary on the action, foreshadowing events, and offering moral reflections. They often articulate conservative views on female behavior, emphasizing the importance of wifely submission, silence, and humility. Their pronouncements, particularly regarding Mariam's pride and outspokenness, highlight the societal expectations of women in the Jacobean era and serve as a moral compass, albeit one that often clashes with Mariam's individual integrity. They underscore the tragic implications of Mariam's defiance.