On Ideological Implications Of Wagener's Musikdrama Der Ring Des Nibelungen

This dissertation will study the ideological implications of Wagener's Musikdrama Der Ring des Nibelungen, (will be abbreviated as the Ring),. The dissertation will start by analyzing its motif and script, and study the six themes reflected in the drama, combined with Wagner's views on the society, life and music.1. The Ring, the symbol of money, is the cause of conflict in the drama. It has an invisible effect and restraint on everything in the world. It is also the symbol of the essential core of the real society, in which all the relations unroll closely around money.2. The Spear, the symbol of power, like the Ring, is another important theme causing conflict in the drama. The Spear represents the power based on the law and legal contract. This power symbolizes the declining power in the process of the old world developing towards a new world, and it is involved in a conflict with the centralized economic power.3. The Sword, the symbol of heroes, represents the power Wagner gives his heroes in the drama. It is different from the Ring and the Spear in that it represents the new power. The hero relies on the strong power of the sword to fight against the degenerating force in the world. It shoulders the important task of reforming the world and creating a new world.4. Love, as an importation representation of human feelings, is shown in various forms in the drama. The conflict between the power and money destroys love as well as human feelings. But at the same time, the pure love between the heroes eventually has transcended the restraint of the old world, praised the return of free human feelings and become the force to save the world.5. Rebellion is the way to change the old world into a new world. In the drama, it is shown as the rebellion against the theological power, the struggle against the old world convention and the yearning for freedom. The rebellion against the old world is eventually conducted by the heroes with anarchic free wills.6. Death, as the end of the conflict between power and money in the drama, is the most impressive theme. It is also the final solution in Wagner's worldview. TheJieath here is not a simple disappearance, nor the end of the society and the termination of history. Death happens to be the recognition of a higher living, and is to transform the reality into the pursuit of happiness in heaven. In the drama, the old world is destroyed in the water and fire, and a new world is born in water andfire.After the study of the 6 themes above, the dissertation concludes: in an economic society, power and money are the sources of conflicts. Love is the method used by power, rebellion is the struggle against old traditions and ideas, and death is the end of the conflict between power and money. And heroes will eventually push evils to death. Heroes are the gravediggers of the old world, and the receivers of the new world.The discussion and analysis of these 6 themes and the conclusion are the focus of this dissertation on the study of the Ring. During the research, this dissertation uses biographical criticism, social criticism and new criticism to study the Ring from the aspects of ulterior to exterior and the mythological content to realistic implications. It explores the ideological implications related to life, society, philosophy and ethics in this drama.