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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.

loathing [“Ekel”] alone; (#105 Vari/#41 Duple Vari) although you make me an easy bed, (#104) I still find it hard to sleep; (#41 Duple Vari) although you would teach me to use my wits, (#104) I’d still rather stay dull and stupid. (#104; #41 Duple Vari; #? [hint of “Nature” music]) I only need set eyes upon you to recognize evil in all that you do. When I see you standing, shuffling and shambling, week-kneed and nodding, blinking your eyes: (#104>>>) I long to seize the dodderer’s neck and finish off the filthy twitching creature! That’s how I’ve learned to abide you, Mime. (#104)”

 

[[#106]] A child’s longing for his authentic parents

In answer to Siegfried’s question why Siegfried always returns to Mime even though Siegfried despises him, Mime says that this proves Siegfried loves Mime as all children love their parents. Mime is only Siegfried’s foster-father, but he has posed as Siegfried’s parents, both father and mother, hiding from Siegfried his true heritage as a Waelsung

(#106 in same family as #22,#74, and #99; is #66 an influence?)

“Siegfried: If you’re so wise, (#? [“Nature” mood music]) then help me to know what I’ve thought about in vain: (#104) though I run off into the forest to leave you, how is it that I come back: (#104 Varis; #Nature mood music; #98 Hint?) All the beasts of the forest are dearer to me than you: (#76?) every tree and bird, the fish in the brook I can far more abide than you: - how is it, then, that I always come back? If you’re so clever, then tell me why.

 

Mime: (Mime tries to approach him, confidingly: [[ #106 ]]; #41 Duple Vari) My child, that makes you understand how dear to your heart I must be.”

 

“Siegfried: And yet I can’t abide you – do not forget that quite so quickly!

 

Mime: (#41 duple vari; #102 vari?: recoiling and sitting down again at the side, facing Siegfried) For that you must blame your wildness which you ought to curb, you wicked boy. ([[ #106 ]]; [[ #107 ]] Whimpering, young things long for their parents’ nest: love is the name of that longing; ([[ #106 ]]; #107 Vari) so you, too, pine for me, so you, too, love your Mime – so you have to love him. ([[ #107 ]]; #102 hint?) What the baby bird is to the bird [surely this should be: “What the bird is to the baby bird”], when he feeds it in the nest, before the fledgling can fly, such to you, my childish offspring, is wisely caring Mime – such, to you, he must be.

 

Siegfried: Hey, Mime, if you’re so clever, tell me one thing more! (#106 >>; #25 Hint?) In spring the birds would sing so blithely, (tenderly) the one would entice the other: you said so yourself – since I wanted to know – (#106 >>) that these were fathers (tenderly) and mothers. [[ #108 ]] they dallied so fondly, not leaving each