There are multiple centers of psychic energy, conscious (tinted light blue)
and unconscious. The Ego is concerned with sensing the world,
cognition, gender identity, etc.
TEXT:
1. Introduction
2. The nature of our dilemma
3. Modeling the psyche
4. The central symbol
5. The cosmos of the Ring
6. The story
7. The life cycle of the ring
8. Possessing the ring
There are multiple centers of psychic energy, conscious (tinted light blue)
and unconscious. The Ego is concerned with sensing the world,
cognition, gender identity, etc.
The unconscious consists of a personal unconscious (darker tint) with our individual repressed and forgotten memories. The deeper archetypal (collective) unconscious (darkest tint) contains elements common to all humans.
The Self is the integrating center which seeks the good of a balanced person -- mind, body, and spirit alike. All humans have both masculine and feminine aspects. The Anima or Animus is the center for those instinctive gender energies which are not part of the Ego.
The Shadow complex is the main focus of the energies of repression and frustration, whose forces unrecognized and uncountered lead to destructive expression, or evil. The human personality involves the interplay of all of these various centers.
For more information: Carl G. Jung, A brief introduction to his ideas, by Donivan Bessinger
Richard Wagner (1813-1883)
First performances
Das Rheingold, Munich, 22 Sep 1869
Die Walkuere, Munich, 26 Jun 1870
Siegfried, Bayreuth, 16 Aug 1876
Goetterdaemmerung, Bayreuth, 17 Aug 1876
The cosmos of the Ring, like the cosmos of the psyche, has its conscious and its unconscious worlds. The "reflected conscious" is the realm inhabited by the celestial immortals (the gods of Valhalla, and the Valkyries). We project the "brighter" elements of the unconscious onto the screen of the sky.
The Forest is the conscious realm in which we meet the world of mortals.
The Rhine Castle guards the unconscious realm of the Rhine, representing the deep instinctual flow of life, and Nibelheim, the shadow realm of the cthonic (underworld) immortals.
The relationships among the various races of mortals and immortals are quite complex. The letter following a name refers to the opera in which the character appears: R=Das Rheingold; W=Die Walkuere; S=Siegfried; G=Goetterdaemerung.
Loge (or Loki, god of Fire) [R]
Siblings of unnamed parents:
Wotan [RS] aka Wanderer [S] or Vaelse had three "families":
Siegfried [SG], a Vaelsung, is the son of Siegmund and Sieglinde
Fasolt [R]
Fafner [RS]
Families of Grimhilde: [G]
Weglinde [RG]
Wellgunde [RG]
Flosshilde [RG]
Mime [RS] (raised Siegfried as "stepfather")
Alberich [RS] -- brother of Mime
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/ RESET Fig.4
The story hinges on a succession of struggles over a ring that gives great power. Yet when we list its chain of possession, we see that this is no ordinary chain. (R=Das Rheingold; S=Siegfried; G=Goetterdaemerung. Possession does not change during Die Walkuere.)
Rhinemaidens [R]
Alberich [R]
Wotan [R]
Fasolt [R]
Fafner (as Dragon) [RS]
Siegfried [G]
Bruenhilde [G]
Siegfried (disguised) [G]
Bruenhilde [G]
Flosshilde [G]
Possession starts with the Rhinemaidens and ends with Flosshilde. But Flosshilde is a Rhinemaiden. As shown in the next figure, the chain turns upon itself to form a ring.
Possession of the "ring" begins in the homeostatic self. With
life experience, there is shadow development which is
followed by ego inflation and heroic ego
struggle. If ego-self integration is successful, the
self regains possession of the ring of wholeness. The spiral
then continues, hopefully with the person becoming more conscious during each
cycle. Unfortunately, the spiral can also turn backwards.
This internet article with accompanying graphics files is copyright 1996 by Donivan Bessinger. All rights are reserved. Permission is granted for personal noncommercial use only. No further publication by any means is authorized, nor does this internet publication constitute a waiver of any rights.