All in the Family

I have conflicted feelings about Die Walkure. As before with Das Rheingold, I'll talk about my feelings about the plot (Now would be a good time to familiarize yourself with a plot synopsis). The whole opera is a big conflict and battle of the will between Wotan and Frika. I personally side with Frika. The confusing thing for me is that I think Wagner wanted us to side with Wotan and especially with Brunnhilde. They fight for the side of love, whether for valid or selfish reasons. Frika, however is more practical, and takes a viewpoint that modern culture would support; a strong distaste for incest and for adultery.

Now, a couple thoughts on motivation. Wotan wants the ring. He does not seem to even try hiding the fact that he lusts for the ring from the viewer or anyone in the show. He desires power, but is beginning to understand his weaknesses. He himself cannot steal what he has given according to the treaties on his spear, the source of his power. That means that he needs someone who is free to take it for him. What he needs is a hero. What better kind of hero than the mortal son of a god. His son- mistake one. And what kind of father would he be if he didn't help his son grow up to be a hero the likes of which the world has never seen- mistake 2. And what's a hero without a noble bride who is also of noble birth, a twin sister/bride (also Wotan's child)- mistake 3. Every epic hero needs a weapon that is worthy of him, worthy of naming and the stuff of legends, why should Wotan himself make an enchanted sword- mistake 4. Wotan has dug a nice big hole for himself with his son Siegmond. Siegmond cannot take the ring, and in fact, must die in battle for the contracts of Wotan not to be broken. Wotan must choose between power and his son, and is forced to side with Frika, choosing to let Siegmond die.

Frika's motivations are not made to be as clear as Wotan's. She gets her power through being married to Wotan, and thus benefits from the spear and all of its contracts. If Wotan were to break a contract, it would adversely effect her as well. She is also in charge of the sanctity of marriage as one of her godly duties. Sieglinde, being married, even though against her will, cannot morally cheat on her husband, thus it is Frika's job to avenge the adultery that took place. A third potential motivation for Frika is that she herself is not the mother of Siegmond and Seiglinde. Wotan cheated on her with a mortal woman to bear a son and daughter that could fill his will. Frika does not have the emotional connection to Siegmond and Sieglinde that Wotan has. Thus, she in a way is enacting revenge upon her unfaithful husband in the punishing of the incestuous adulterers that her husband supports the union of.

Brunnhilde is often called the will of Wotan, or in german the "wille" of Wotan. she is the half of Wotan that understands the inner rather than the outer. The book on Wagner's ring cycle that I'm reading talks about how some figures in history had to loose their vision to gain the inner sight of themselves, such as Oedipus and Samson. Wotan has one eye, and thus an innability to truely see inside of himself. Brunnhilde has that ability with respect to Wotan, and thus what she tries to do (Save Siegmond from Hunding) is exactly what Wotan wants to do himself. He can't however, and must loose Brunnhilde and Siegmond in the same set of incidents that leaves him without two of his most beloved, although illegitimate) children. Brunnhilde's actions however almost seem to be not related directly to her own personal choice, but to Wotan. As she tells him in the final act of Die Walkure, she loved Siegmond because Wotan loved Siegmond, and could not watch him die. Wotan felt the same way, and frankly, that makes him even more of a tragic hero.