Tragedy of Mariam Elizabeth Cary.

Written between 1602 1604, first published

in 1613

DRAMATIS PERSONAE
Herod: King of Judea
Salome: Herods sister
Pheroras:
Herods brother
Doris: Herods wife #1
Antipater: Herod&Doris son
Graphina:
Pheroras lover
Mariam: Herods wife #2 Babas' First&Second Son Sohemus: Herods councillor
Ananell: High Priest
Constabarus: Salomes husband Nuntio
Silleus: Salomes lover (also a prince of Arabia)
Silleus man
Alexandra: Mariams mother
Butler&Messenger&soldier
Chorus: A
company of Jews

Summary:
Act 1
1. The play starts with Mariam who is expressing her happiness over her husband and
king Herods supposed death. She says that she no longer loves him but that she will
also not ever marry again because that is not virtuous and Mariam is about as chaste as
possible.
2. After Mariam finishes her mother Alexandra appears who joins Mariam in her slander
of Herod and talks of their heritage. (Mariam is or is called a descendant of Jacob, the
younger son and a favourite of God, who tricked people to gain his older brothers
birth rights. Salome is later in the play called a descendant of Esau, the elder brother
who was not Gods favourite). This goes on for several pages and Alexandra calls
Mariam more beautiful and attractive than Cleopatra and she wouldve won Anthonius
over in an instant etc etc.
3. Salome, Herods sister, (who is, as opposed to Mariam, said to be unchaste, but she
loved Herod) enters after the hailing of Mariam and is immediately insulted by
Alexandra&her daughter because of her vices. They bicker and call each other names
for a while, talking about how Salome is unchaste and about her birth right mentioned
before.
4. The duo leaves and Salome is on her own. Salome talks about how she is unchaste.
She is perfectly aware of this and says that she can no longer blush (i.e. feel the shame
necessary for virtue, implying that she is indeed not virtuous). She speaks of her hate
for her second husband Constabarus, who she once loved but now hates because she
fell in love with Silleus. She then says that she will file for divorce (something that
had not been done by a woman before in the play). When Constabarus was
commanded by Herod to kill Babas two sons Constabarus went against Herods
orders and hid the two sons. If Salome had told Herod about this, Herod wouldve
condemned Constabarus to death, freeing Salome, however at that time she did not yet
hate her husband, so she lied for him and hid this information.

5. At this point in the play Salomes lover Silleus joins her and Salome explains her plans
to get a divorce to him.
6. Silleus has to depart hastily because Constabarus appears. He calls Salome out on her
talking to a stranger in private, which was not done for a woman in that time. After
this he continues to call her out on her vices (i.e. I will blush for you Act 1, Scene 6,
378). Salome replies that she is the one who saved his life and so should be allowed to
do whatever she wants. When Salome tells her that she wants to divorce Constabarus
is perplexed and asks her if the world is turned upside down. (eg fish beasts fly, fish
walk etc). Constabarus consequently argues that he was once Silleus, as in, he was
once her lover, and Salome left her first husband (without divorcing??) for
Constabarus. Now she wants to do the same for Silleus.
The chorus talks about variety (of husbands) and how this is bad but they talk Mariam,
whose husband died, instead of to Salome, who wilfully wants to divorce. They also
mention that someone who wants variety will never be happy because nothing ever
pleases them.
Act 2
1. Act two starts with Pheroras and Graphina. Pheroras is Herods younger brother.
Herod had told Pheroras to marry his infant niece but he is actually in love with his
servant Graphina (who was a slave in Josephus, Carys source). They talk about
Herod, Pheroras niece and how much they love each other.
2. The perspective now switches to Constabarus and Babas two sons. He had hidden the
sons but now that Herod has died Constabarus wants to set them free. They have been
kept hidden for about twelve years (twice six years). Then there are several pages
where they proclaim their friendship for each other, and how the second son saw
Julius Caesar in Rome, which was an argument for their cautiousness about walking
out in the open again.
3. Then the story switches to Doris, Herods first wife, and their son Antipater. Doris
wants to have revenge because Mariam stole her husband from her. Like Salome, they
actually care for Herod and grieve for him. They also want to kill Mariam for revenge.
4. In the next scene Silleus and Constabarus meet. Silleus, who wants to honourably
defeat Constabarus to fight for his Salome, challenges Constabarus. Constabarus
declines the challenge, arguing that Salome is too worthless to fight for. Constabarus
also says that he pities Silleus for loving Salome and tells Silleus that someone whos
love changes so often will fall in love with someone else after Silleus. Silleus is
enraged by this and now wants to fight for Salomes honour. Constabarus almost
literally says that Silleus can have Salome and that he couldnt care less, but Silleus
still insists on a fight. Constabarus gives in, and stabs Silleus in the leg. Silleus comes
to his senses, they become friends, and then they leave the stage.
The chorus
Talks about ears, truth, and lies. They say what we hear can make people think that lies are
truth.

Act 3
1. Pheroras&Salome
Salome asks Pheroras to choose his baby niece over Graphina, his servant maid who
he loves.
Pheroras tells Salome why he is in love with Graphina (beauty etc).
2. Ananell (the priest) joins them and talks about the heavens. He also brings news that
Herod is not dead. Pheroras dreads this while Salome is happy. Both of them then talk
about the consequences of Herods return. Constabarus & Babas sons will die, which
means Salome can marry Silleus. Mariam will be back with Herod and Pheroras will
have to marry his baby niece.
3. Mariam talks with Sohemus, who is an adviser of Herod. Sohemus tells her that Herod
is still alive. Mariam is angered by this and says that she hates Herod. She then asks
Sohemus not to speak of it but he says he cannot stay silent. Sohemus says in this
scene that that unbridled speech is Mariams biggest fault. (remember: women could
not say whatever they wanted).
The chorus talks about how and why public speech is bad for a woman and that she should
preserve her honour.
Act 4
1. Herod + Attendants
This is when Herod first returns. He is happy that hell be able to see Mariam again.
Nuntio joins him to tell him that Mariam will come. The rest of the scene is just Herod
proclaiming his love for Mariam and her beauty etc.
2. Herod + Pheroras
They are brothers, so Herod is happy to see Pheroras again. Pheroras lies about his
affection for his brother and then tells him that Constabarus saved Babass sons
because that will get Constabarus (& the sons) killed and then Salome wont have her
love anymore. Herod decides he wants them to die and asks Pheroras to kill him.
Salome is now also divorced from Constabarus and Herod now thinks Salome was
wronged and divorced because of what Constabarus did, not because of Silleus.
3. Herod + Mariam.
Mariam does not want Herod, which she does not hesitate to tell him. Herod tries to
dissuade her, but to no avail.
4. A butler joins them and tells Herod that Sohemus made Mariam hate him (because she
supposedly fell in love with Sohemus). Herod orders the butler to kill Sohemus. After
this Mariam tries to Convince Herod that she never loved Sohemus but he does not
believe her. Sohemus dies, Herod wants to kill Mariam but changes his mind.
5. Speech from the butler how he committed a crime.

6. Constabaras&Babas sons. They talk about their imminent death (Herod wants them
dead) and how their death will not be as bad because they walk on the path of virtue =
heaven. Constabarus curses all women.
7. Herod & Salome.
Salome suggests to kill Mariam. Herod objects. They talk of different ways to kill her.
Herod is not sure what he wants. He wavers between wanting to kill Mariam and
wanting to keep her alive.
8. Mariam talks about how she could die. She also says that she is virtuous.
Doris (Herods first wife, mother of Antipather) tells Mariam that she is everything but
virtuous and that Mariams soul is black. Doris curses Mariam and Mariam returns the
curse. Then Mariam dies
The chorus talks about how the weakest lions roar the loudest (= have the biggest mouths).
They also talk about being noble and what that entails. (eg a noble person will not want to
wrong someone).
Act 5
1. Herod has changed his mind (again) and wants Mariam to live, but Nuntio tells him
she has died. Herod bewails her and Nuntio says that Alexandra did not weep but
rather became angry at Mariam when she found out Mariam had died. Alexandra now
says it was good that Mariam died. Now that Mariam is dead Herod suddenly calls her
chaste, as opposed to earlier. Herod then talks about everything he like about Mariam
(such as her white hands. White = virtue).
Chorus: Mariam is dead, Salome & Constabarus are still together. Pheroras was happy for he
might get his wife. And Babas sons feared for their life. Herod is now alone