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Title Page
Dedication Page
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Guide to abbreviations used in text
Allen Dunning's numbered Guide to the Ring's Musical Motifs
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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.

[[#104]] Siegfried’s contempt for Mime as Wotan’s self-loathing

Siegfried’s contempt for Mime is actually Wotan’s self-loathing, because, thanks to Bruennhilde (Wotan’s wish-womb), in whom Wotan planted the seed of his desire for a hero freed from all that Wotan loathes in himself, Bruennhilde figuratively gave birth to Siegfried, who is Wotan reborn, minus consciousness of his true, loathsome identity. Bruennhilde, Siegfried’s unconscious mind, knows for Siegfried what he doesn’t know himself, his true identity.

(#104’s motival links, if any, not yet ascertained; possibly a basis of #145, though Dunning regards #145 as in the Love Motif Family based on #25)

[[#105]] The debt Mime claims Siegfried owes Mime

Sometimes known as “Mime’s Starling Song” - Siegfried finds Mime’s claim on him, Siegfried’s alleged debt to Mime, abhorrent and intolerable. Siegfried’s resistance to Mime’s claim expresses Wotan’s desperate desire for a hero freed from Wotan’s (egoistic, Mime-like) influence, who will nonetheless perform the action which the gods’ need (kill Fafner and take possession of Alberich’s Ring so Alberich can’t regain its power)

(#105 based on an embryo in Flosshilde’s vocal line while leading Alberich on in R.1: “Flosshilde: (#105 Embryo) Your piercing eyes, your bristling beard, might I always see and hold them. (#105 Embryo) May your prickly hair’s unruly locks flow round Flosshild’ forever!”; basis of #111, #120?, and #127)

[[#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?)