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Table of Contents

Title Page
Dedication Page
General Table of Contents
Acknowledgments
Abbreviations for key references
Guide to abbreviations used in text
Allen Dunning's numbered Guide to the Ring's Musical Motifs
Detailed Table of Contents

The Ring

Introduction


References
Appendix I
Appendix I I

Key Colour Coding

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I would be grateful for donations of any size, small or large, to help defray the cost (1) of maintaining this website, (2) and to finance my past and present research which produced my book posted here, Volume One of "The Wound That Will Never Heal," and my forthcoming revision of Volume One (to be submitted for publication), and completion of Volume Two on Wagner's six other canonic operas and music-dramas. I sacrificed at least seven years of paid employment and incurred debts to complete this project, and am currently unemployed, so I thank you in advance for any financial help you can provide. Your friend, Paul Heise.

[See #24 for #25’s dramatic context]

 

[[#26ab]] “Giants”

Man’s egoistic animal instincts of desire (Fasolt), and self-preservation or fear (Fafner)

(#26ab basis of #126)

“Fricka: [to Freia] All who betrayed you in evil alliance have fled to save their skins.

 

([[ #26a ]]: Enter Fasolt and Fafner, both of gigantic stature and armed with stout staves.)

 

Fasolt: [to Wotan and the gods]: [[ #21 ]] Gentle slumber sealed your eyes: we both, unsleeping, built the stronghold. [[ #26b ]] Never tiring of mighty toil, we stowed the heavy stones away ... ."

[[#27]] Fasolt’s suspicion the gods will break the contracts by virtue of which they rule

Commonly known as the “Irrevocable Law Motif”

(#27 basis of #36, #44, #101, and #116)

“Wotan: Freia isn’t for sale.

 

Fasolt: (momentarily speechless, in utter consternation: #21 Vari) (…) You’re plotting betrayal? Betrayal of our agreement? (#21 [plus pulses]) The runes of well-considered contract, safeguarded by your spear, are they no more than sport to you?

 

Fafner: (#33b Embryo) Most trusty brother, you see their deception, you fool?

 

"Fasolt: [to Wotan] Son of light, lightly swayed, [[ #27 ]] listen and beware: keep faith with your contracts! (#21 Vari plus pulses - #115 Embryo?) What you are you are through contracts alone. Your power, mark me well, is bound by sworn agreements. Though you are wiser than we in our wits, you bound us freemen to keep the peace: I’ll curse all your wisdom, fly away from your close [[ #28 ]] if, if openly, fairly, and freely, you cannot keep faith with your contracts."