G. Why is Valhall set on fire at the end of the 'Ring' cycle?

Wagner said that Wotan had ended up by willing his own destruction. Wotan
loses part of himself, a part that continues to live in his daughter
Brünnhilde. She learns, and teaches Wotan, that love wins over power, in
the end. Not only is Valhall destroyed, but the Earth is purified by fire
and water. Perhaps Valhall burns for the same reason Manderly burns in
'Rebecca' and Atlanta burns in 'Gone with the Wind': to symbolize the end
of the old and the beginning of the new.

Top Document: [humanities.music.composers.wagner] Wagner General FAQ
Previous Document: F. Why didn't Alberich use his ring to escape when he was captured by Wotan and Loge?
Next Document: H. Why didn't Wagner kill off Alberich?

Single Page

[ Usenet FAQs | Web FAQs | Documents | RFC Index ]

Send corrections/additions to the FAQ Maintainer:
mimirswell@hotmail.com (Derrick Everett)

Last Update October 22 2009 @ 05:29 AM