Wagner Without Fear by William Berger

Author:William Berger [Berger, William]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780307756343
Publisher: Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group
Published: 2010-06-16T04:00:00+00:00

Comment: The piling of the gold to hide Freia from view is a rather contrived way to get Wotan to give up the Ring, but it is effective in showing the extent of the gods’ humiliation at this point, that is, how Wotan has “prostituted” them for the trappings of power.

Helpful hint: The Rhinegold itself made the Ring. The rest of the gold is what the Nibelungs mined in servitude to Alberich as Master of the Ring.

A mysterious form emerges from the ground, a woman who warns Wotan, in ominous tones, to yield. Wotan asks the identity of this woman who threatens him. She is Erda, the Earth Mother, proto-ancestress of the world, who sees all that was, is, and will be. Usually she sends her daughters, the three Norns, who spin the fabric of time and fate, to Wotan nightly in his dreams, but now she must speak in person. All that is shall come to an end. A dark day dawns for the gods. Give up the Ring! Wotan begs more information from the all-seeing Earth Mother, but she abruptly tells him he has received sufficient warning, and vanishes.

Wotan determines to know more from the Earth Mother, but the other gods counsel caution. To provoke Erda would be madness. Wotan delivers the Ring to Fasolt, welcoming Freia back home. Fafner immediately sets to packing up the gold, causing Fasolt to demand his fair half-share. Fafner points out that Fasolt was so obsessed with Freia that he doesn’t deserve an even half. Fasolt calls on the gods to judge his case, but they say nothing. Only Loge advises him to allow Fafner the gold, but keep the Ring. Fafner demands the Ring, and Fasolt claims it by right, since he holds it. “Hold it tight, then, lest you drop it!” cries Fafner, who knocks his brother dead with one blow. He takes the Ring, throws it in his sack of gold, and leaves. Wotan is beginning to realize the power of the Ring’s curse.

Loge points out how lucky Wotan is. He gained power with the Ring, and even more power when he lost it! Wotan ruminates Erda’s dark warnings, while Fricka asks him why he is hesitating to enter his new fortress. As if conscious of it for the first time, Wotan remarks that he has paid for the fortress with bad wages.

Donner comments on the oppressive air that has been hanging about them for the whole of this difficult day. He commands the clouds to gather themselves to him, with all mists and vapors. Swinging his great hammer and gathering the gloom about it, with one great blow he causes a burst of lightning to clear the air. Froh commands a rainbow to arc from their clearing to the mountain summit, now plainly visible with its peerless castle glistening in the evening light. The gods stare entranced at its majesty, primarily Wotan, who is struck by a passing but unexplained idea. He salutes the castle, and grandly offers his arm to Fricka.

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