Bulfinch’s Mythology · Chapter
Wagner’s Nibelungen Ring explained
This chapter summarizes Richard Wagner's music-drama 'Der Ring des Nibelungen,' tracing its sources in the Volsunga Saga, Eddas, and other Teutonic folklore.
What happens
This chapter summarizes Richard Wagner's music-drama 'Der Ring des Nibelungen,' tracing its sources in the Volsunga Saga, Eddas, and other Teutonic folklore. It outlines the four races (gods, giants, dwarfs, nymphs) and later creations (valkyrie, heroes), then recounts the plot across the four parts: the theft of the Rhinegold and the curse on the ring; Wotan's attempt to recover it through the hero Siegmund; Siegfried's reforging of Nothung, slaying of Fafner, and winning of Brunhild; and the final tragedy where Siegfried is betrayed and slain, Brunhild sacrifices herself, the ring returns to the Rhine, and the old world of the gods perishes, giving way to a new era of love and truth.
Themes in this chapter
Hubris and Divine Retribution
The gods' coveting of power and gold, and their breaking of moral law, leads to their destruction in the final conflagration.
Love and Transformation
Love is both a redemptive force (Brunhild's sacrifice) and a source of tragedy (Siegfried's forgetfulness and betrayal).
Fate and Free Will
The Norns weave destiny, yet characters like Wotan and Siegfried make choices that accelerate the prophesied doom.
Characters to notice
- Odin
Referred to as Wotan, chief of the gods, who schemes to recover the ring and ultimately faces the downfall of Valhalla.
- Siegfried
The hero who reforges Nothung, slays the dragon Fafner, wins the ring, marries Brunhild, and is later betrayed and slain.
- Baldur
Not directly present; the chapter focuses on Wagner's characters, but Baldur is a canonical figure from Norse mythology.
Key passages
“Alberich, the dwarf, forswears love to gain this gold. He makes it into a magic ring. It gives him all power, and he gathers by it a vast amount of treasures.”
The dwarf Alberich renounces love to seize the Rhinegold, forging it into a ring that grants him limitless power and wealth.
This act sets the curse in motion and drives the entire plot.
“Siegfried now has possession of the ring, but it is to bring him nothing of happiness, only evil. It is to curse love and finally bring death.”
Though Siegfried wins the ring, it brings him only misfortune, poisoning his love and leading to his death.
The ring's curse fulfills Alberich's prophecy.
“Brunhild rides into the flames and sacrifices herself for love's sake; the ring goes back to the Rhine-daughters; and the old world—of the gods of Valhalla, of passion and sin—is burnt up with flames, for the gods have broken moral law, and coveted power rather than love, gold rather than truth, and therefore must perish.”
Brunhild immolates herself out of love, returning the ring to the Rhine-maidens, while Valhalla and its corrupt gods are consumed by fire, making way for a new age of love and truth.
This is the climactic resolution of the entire Ring cycle.