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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

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.

((#@: B) “Arrogance of Power” is a compound motif comprised of #20b/#33b.)

(See #20 and #33 for further motival links.)

[[#49]] Alberich transformed into a “Toad” through the Tarnhelm's magic

The gods (religious belief) take the human mind (Alberich and his Ring) prisoner

(#49 based on #48; related to #35, #42, #43, and #154)

[[#50]] Alberich's “Resentment” against the gods' rule and intent to avenge their co-opting of his Ring-Power

Alberich will inevitably avenge the gods’ co-opting of his Ring power, their suppression of the potential for the human mind to acquire power through objective knowledge, because religious man (Wotan, Light-Alberich), over time, will accumulate a hoard of knowledge which will undermine his illusions

(#50 a syncopation of #19's harmony; related through #19 harmony to #46, #51, #68, and #159)

[[#51]] Alberich curses his Ring to punish Wotan and the gods for committing religion’s sin of world-renunciation

“The Curse Motif” – The sole purpose of Alberich’s curse on his Ring is to punish those who co-opted its power to perpetuate their great sin of world-renunciation, Wotan’s sin against Erda’s (Nature’s) objective knowledge of all that was, is, and will be

(#51 inversion of #19a; related through #19 to #20a, #46, #50, #68, and #159)

[[#52]] Alberich's curse of consciousness as foreknowledge of the end

Alberich’s curse on the Ring, the curse of consciousness and foreknowledge, imparts existential fear of the end to the Ring’s new owners, those religio-artistic folk who deny truth and consign it to oblivion in favor of consoling illusions.

Alberich’s curse on the Ring, the curse of consciousness and foreknowledge, imparts existential fear of the end to the Ring’s new owners, those religio-artistic folk who deny truth and consign it to oblivion in favor of consoling illusions.