# How Gunther Bade Siegfried to the Festival explained — The Nibelungenlied

> Chapter companion for The Nibelungenlied by Anonymous.

## What happens

Brunhilda, brooding over Kriemhild's pride, persuades Gunther to invite Siegfried and Kriemhilda to a festival in Worms. Gunther sends Gere and thirty men as messengers. Siegfried and Kriemhilda receive the invitation warmly, and after deliberation, Siegfried agrees to attend with a large retinue, including his father Siegmund. The heralds return with gifts and news of the impending visit, causing great preparation and rejoicing in Burgundy.

## Themes in this chapter

### Betrayal and Deception

Brunhilda's crafty manipulation of Gunther to invite Siegfried, masking her true motives of jealousy and pride.

### Power and Wealth

Siegfried's lavish gifts to the heralds and his Nibelung treasure, highlighting his immense wealth and power.

### Loyalty and Friendship

The bonds between Gunther and Siegfried, and the mutual respect shown through the invitation and preparations.

## Character check-ins

### Brunhilda

Brooding over Kriemhild's pride, she manipulates Gunther into inviting Siegfried and Kriemhilda to a festival.

### King Gunther

Reluctantly agrees to Brunhilda's request and sends messengers to Siegfried.

### Siegfried

Receives the invitation warmly, consults his men, and decides to attend the festival with a large retinue.

### Kriemhilda

Joyfully receives the invitation and prepares to travel to Worms.

### Gere

Leads the embassy to Siegfried and delivers the invitation.

### Siegmund

Decides to accompany Siegfried to the festival with a hundred swordsmen.

### Dame Uté

Sends greetings to Kriemhilda and eagerly awaits her arrival.

### Hagen

Comments on Siegfried's wealth from the Nibelung treasure, hinting at future conflict.

## Key lines

> Now Gunther’s wife the meanwhile was brooding ev’ry day: 'Why bears herself Dame Kriemhild in such a lofty way? Is not her husband Siegfried a vassal of our own? Scant service hath he paid us in all these years agone!'

Brunhilda constantly brooded over Kriemhild's pride, thinking that Siegfried, as Gunther's vassal, had not served them enough.

_Reveals Brunhilda's jealousy and resentment, setting the stage for future conflict._

> However high and mighty a king’s man be, I say That he his lord’s commandments should never dare gainsay.

Brunhilda argues that no matter how powerful a vassal is, he must obey his lord's commands.

_Shows Brunhilda's manipulative reasoning to pressure Gunther into inviting Siegfried._

> The treasure of the Niblungs he holds within his hand. Ha, what if it should ever come to Burgundian land!

Hagen remarks that Siegfried controls the Nibelung treasure and hints at his desire to see it in Burgundy.

_Foreshadows Hagen's greed and future betrayal._

## Links

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