Wagner’s Opera "Tannhauser" Ethical Implications

The opera Tannhduser by Wagner is taken as the research object. Based on the theoretical resource in literary ethics criticism, sociology, history, athletics as well as biographical criticism and using the research method of musicological analysis, this paper finds breakthroughs in drama script and musical motivation of Tannhauser, so that five ethic subjects are abstracted. Integrated with the investigation of musical ontology, it aims to give a concentrated and profound study of Tannhduser, from text to music, from inner structure to outer form, so as to explain Wagner’s views on society, ethics, art and music, hence a clear presentation of the artistic value and ideological content.In light of the plot analysis and induction, this paper is divided into five chapters, namely, love ethic, Christian ethic, death ethic, hero ethic and moral ethics. The five parts correspond to relevant ethic connotation, deep ethic causes of each character, and enlightenment for human values reflected in several ethic incidents. Moreover, the ontological analysis of opera music combines drama development with notes analysis, resulting in a summary on the musical expression of composers to embody the ethic connotation relative to drama content. Lastly, this paper elaborates on the features and ideological content of musical creation as well as the ethic Utopia pursued by composers.In conclusion, through a comprehensive perspective integrating scenario, music, history and society, the writer summarizes both the ethic connotation reflected in the opera Tannhauser and the style of musical creation in operas in order to give a full and profound understanding of ideological content in Tannhduser.