Herodias

"Herodias" by Gustave Flaubert is a historical novel written in the late 19th century. The story revolves around key figures from biblical history, particularly focusing on Herod Antipas, his wife Herodias, and the imprisonment of John the Baptist (Johannes). The novel delves into themes of power, ambition, and the turbulent political atmosphere of the time, exploring the complex dynamics between the characters. The opening of the novel sets the scene at the fortress of Machaerus, overlooking the Dead Sea, where Herod Antipas is grappling with political unrest and personal turmoil. As he contemplates his future and the threats posed by John the Baptist’s rising influence among the people, Antipas is caught between his ambitions and the manipulations of Herodias, who seeks to solidify her own power. In these early chapters, we witness the tensions between the tetrarch and the prophetic figure of John, whose calls for reform unsettle the established order. The narrative introduces themes of jealousy, ambition, and the consequences of desire, laying the groundwork for a dramatic exploration of the characters' fates. (This is an automatically generated summary.)