99,000 Essays & Term Papers: Where You Buy Essays and Papers Online
Direct Essays, Where You Can Buy Essays and Papers Online

Instant Access to Buy Essays and Papers Online!
Acceptable Use Policy
Customer Service
Site Search


Login to View Essays and Papers Online

Join Now - Instant Access to Essays and Research Papers!

  Essay and Research Paper Topics
Acceptance Essays
Arts Essays
Custom Essays
English Literature Essays
Foreign
History Essays
Miscellaneous Research Papers and Essays
Movie Essays and Papers
Music Term Papers
Novels
People and Biography Research Papers
Politics Research Papers
Religion Research Papers
Science Essay Topics
Sports Research Papers
Technology Research Papers
 
  FAQ
Technical Support
Site Map
Direct Essays
 

 



Welcome to Direct Essays

This is a short summary of this paper!

Already a member? Go here to log in and view the entire paper!


Join Now!
by: Credit Card
Join Now!
by: Online Check
Join Now!
by: Phone 1-900
Special! View this paper for FREE!
  

War Father, The Least Free

Wagner's massive Ring cycle focuses on mankind's urge to power, which must be balanced by love. Freedom consists in holding both power and love together, in a fearless self-willedness and --most importantly-- self-reliance. In Act II, scene 2, of Die Walkure, Wotan cries out in horror that "I lie in fetters forged by me, I [am the] least free of all living!" (trans. Jameson, 21) He has come to this point because his power is not self-reliant, but rather built on the oaths he has taken and the complex web of loyalties and thralldoms which he has created. In his relentless quest to become a god, he has accidentally also become a slave to his own laws which compell him to act contrary to his love. As he laments, "By force of wildest wishes impelled, I won myself the world; faithless, I wrought in unknowing falseness, binding by bargains what hid mishap..." (trans. Jameson, 21-22) At every step of the way one can see that, just as Albrecht did in the beginning of the Rhinegold, Wotan too has surrendered love in his quest for power, and that this lack of balance has made him a slave to power itself.

Wotan loves the Walsung, Siegelind and Sie


Wotan is the least free, in a sense, precisely because he has the most power. When it is understood that power can contradict love, then it is likewise understood that power can defeat freedom. Perhaps, then, a positive light may be cast on the cycles eventual end when Wotan himself burns down Walhal, the ultimate symbol of power. Unlike in the original Norse myths, we do not see Loki arriving with an army of the dead to destroy Wotan and his hall -- instead, Wotan himself destroys it. Perhaps he has recognized the danger which power places upon him, and has chosen freedom.

Likewise, Wotan's power and his need to maintain that power forces him to disinherit and punish his daughter Brunhilde, even though she has done precisely what his love (rather than his power) dictated. She argues that he is denying a part of himself in punishing her, and this is precisely true. It is the part of him that loves that is enslaved when he punishes Brunhilde -- and in this sense he once again shows that he is not truly free. It is not coincidence that he claims that she will only be freed by one who does not fear his spear. On that spear are written all o

Some common words found in the essay are:
Likewise Wotan's, Walkure Wotan, Gods Wotan, Siegelind Siegmund, , Wotan Frika, Rhinegold Wotan, Trans Jameson, Siegemund Ironically, trans jameson, Act II, own power, symbol power, truly free, freedom act, understood power, fear spear,
Approximate Word count = 777
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)


  

More Essays on War Father, The Least Free

Civil War1073 words
George Washington Father of a Nation1688 words
Solideramp39s HOme955 words
Parental Relationships and History1894 words
Mark Twain1695 words

Look at even more essays on War Father, The Least Free
More History Essays

Professional Papers:
Hannibal ampamp the Second Roman War8185 words
Richard Plantagenet Richard Plantagenet, who reigned from 11894562 words
James Lincoln Collier and Tim Oamp39Brien2108 words
Personal Essays2365 words
Popularity of Richard the Lion Hearted Richard Plantagenet, who ...6968 words
Definition of Liberty1197 words
Special! View this paper for FREE!
Click here to JoinNow!
by: Credit Card
Click here to Join Now!
by: Online Check
Click here to Join Now!
by: Phone 1-900

 

All papers and essays are for research and reference purposes only!
Copyright 2002-2009 Direct Essays , LLC. All Rights Reserved. DMCA
Webmasters make $$$$
Saved Papers