The tragic crisis for Wotan in Wagner’s Der Ring des nibelungen

Abstract

Wagner's opera, Der Ring des Nibelungen explores a cosmic drama that places human existence in a spiritual nexus. Its focus is the interaction between spiritual realities and human consciousness, rather than an exploration of the conflict between man's will and nature, as per Schopenhauer and Nietzsche. It is known that when writing the Ring, Wagner was reading the poetry of Hafiz on the theme of the free human being} These influences played a role in Wagner's own philosophical struggle; however, it is my contention that the Ring Cycle's primary meaning transcends Wagner's conscious intellectuality.