Info

Home Page / About Wagnerheim
Introduction by Roger Scruton
About the Author
Interactive Features
Wagner Lecture Videos
Wagner Lecture / Papers Transcript
Links
Contact Us
Discussion Forum

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

Donations Welcome

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.

that Alberich's victory is inevitable because he and his son Hagen are on the side of truth (while the gods and their heroes sustain themselves through self-deception), Wotan despairingly resigns himself to the eventual success of Alberich’s plan to storm Valhalla and bring about the twilight of the gods)

[See #83 for (#@: A or C?)’s dramatic context]

[[#84]] The first motif of “Wotan’s Anger” at Bruennhilde fighting for an ideal he has renounced

Wotan’s anger at Bruennhilde for disobeying his injunction to insure that Hunding exacts vengeance on Siegmund, is actually the product of Wotan’s self-contempt. It expresses his rage against himself, for he finds always only his own craven, egoistic motives behind all his efforts to create a hero, freed from the gods’ law and influence, who can redeem them from Alberich’s curse on his Ring. Bruennhilde still fights for Wotan’s futile hope, after Wotan has renounced it.

(#84 possibly based on #55)

[See #83 for #84 Embryo’s dramatic context. See below for #84 Definitive's dramatic context]

[Bruennhilde wishes to support Siegmund against Hunding, but Fricka has forced Wotan to take Hunding’s side in order to sustain respect for the gods’ rule among men, in spite of Wotan’s love for Siegmund. Wotan’s anger at Bruennhilde arises from the fact that while he has acknowledged the need to abandon Siegmund and the cause of redemption of the gods of which Siegmund was the unwitting agent, Bruennhilde – inspired by Wotan’s feelings without suffering the burden of his contradictory thoughts – still stands by Siegmund:]

“Bruennhilde: (alarmed: 83 Vari) Speak, o tell me, what must your child do now?

Wotan: (embittered: #83a) Fight bravely for Fricka, (#68) for her, guard both wedlock and vows. (dryly) What she has chosen I choose, too: what use would my own will be to me? I cannot will a free man – for Fricka’s slaves now fight!

Bruennhilde: In pity’s name take back your word! You love Siegmund: (#47 or #82 or #90a Embryo?) Out of love for you – I know – I’ll shield the Waelsung.

Wotan: (#83a) Siegmund you must kill and master the field for Hunding! (…)