civilization predicated on the self-deception of religion and art. They, as creators and sustainers of the veil of Wahn (illusion) which protects Valhalla, religious belief, from contradiction by the objective truth, are legatees of the archetypal artist and trickster Loge. All these muses inspire the heroes unconsciously with the desire to redeem mankind from the fated doom of the gods, the inevitable rise to consciousness of the truth which will destroy man’s consoling religious illusions. It is noteworthy that the Valkyrie Motif #77, like #88, originates according to Cooke in the last three notes of Motif #53, the motif associated at its inception with Erda’s proclamation that all things which are, end.
Wotan again notes (we must keep in mind that what he’s saying to Bruennhilde is repressed, unconscious knowledge) that his heroes were bound to the gods, to religious belief and the social contract, by blind allegiance to troubled, treacherous treaties (i.e., through self-deceit). They are all inspired by Wotan’s existential fear that Erda’s prophecy of the gods’ doom will be fulfilled, in other words, by unconscious knowledge that the whole meaning of their life depends upon sustaining self-deceit.
[V.2.2: G]
Since Bruennhilde and her Valkyrie sisters have served Wotan well in this respect, gathering for him in Valhalla a great host against the judgment day when Alberich and his host of night will launch their final assault upon Valhalla, she wonders why Wotan remains troubled. He answers that his deluded band of heroes can only protect Valhalla until the day that Alberich regains possession of his Ring and uses it to bring about the demise of the gods:
Bruennhilde: #20b or #20c?:) Bravely we filled your hall: many I brought you myself (:#20b or #20c?). What is it you fear since we’ve never yet failed?
Wotan: (#53: more muted again) (#21 bass:) there’s something else (:#21bass) (#19) – mark me well – of which the wala warned me. (#19:) Through Alberich’s host our end now threatens (:#19): (#46:) burning with envious [“neidischem”] rage, the Nibelung bears me ill-will; (more animated) but I’m not now afraid of his forces of night – my heroes would defeat him (:#46). (more muted: #19:) Only were he to win back the ring (even more muted) would Valhalla then be lost (:#19): he who laid a curse on love, he alone in his envy [“Neidisch”] would use the runes of the ring to the noble gods’ unending shame; my heroes’ hearts (more animated) he’d turn against me, forcing the brave to battle with me and, with their strength, wage war against me.
Wotan is not yet afraid Alberich’s gathering of a hoard of knowledge (represented here motivally by the Hoard Motif #46) will overthrow the gods, because society is still predicated on the values invented and imparted to it by the culture-heroes whom the Valkyries unconsciously inspire with
