Wagner’s Das Rheingold and Schiller’s The Robbers Essay

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Introduction

The history of dramatic literature is generally regarded as the architecture of literature and theater. In the light of this statement, it should be emphasized that the real value of dramatic literature study is the research of the tendencies of the literary and theater development through the time. The aim of this paper is to review two dramas by the classics of this genre Wagner and Schiller.

Das Rheingold, Wagner

First of all, it should be stated that this opera may be regarded as the unique representation of the 19th century drama. Originally, as Darcy (2001) emphasizes Das Rheingold (“The Rhine Gold”) is considered to be the first of the four operas of the “The Ring of the Nibelung” opera cycle, by Richard Wagner. This opera was written as the introduction for the whole cycle, nevertheless, all the four operas are represented as the separate creations.

The history and the main theme of Das Rheingold incorporates the compilation of the Teutonic and Norse epic mythology, and the main theme is the relations between the characters of the opera, concentrated within the scenes of Rhine, mountains, rocks and forests of the medieval Europe, inhabited with maidens, dwarfs, and gods. Originally, this may be regarded as one of the first operas, where the necessary moods are created not only with voices or surrounding, but with the musical parts and introductions, which are intended to warn the audience of the approaching scene, character or action. The main aim was to thrill the audience, and give the atmosphere of the fantastic surrounding and scenery. (Clark, 2002)

The Robbers, Schiller

The Robbers was the first drama by the playwright Schiller, and, it is considered that it has essentially influenced the development of the melodramatic playwriting in Europe. As for the plot of the play, it should be emphasized that the pivot of the plot is the conflict between two brothers – Karl and Franz moor, who are of aristocratic origin. In accordance with the classical patterns, the origin of the conflict is the inheritance: while student Karl is strongly loved by his father, the younger Franz is represented as a cold and mercenary villain, who plots against Karl to wrest away his inheritance. (Schiller, 1800) Originally, it is one of the few stories where villain’s motives and innocence as well as heroism of the opposite party are complex. These are vague and the final decision on the righteousness of any party is impossible to make, as the points from which the situation may be estimated, are numerous.

As for the themes and elements of the plot, it should be stated that the play is aimed to raise the questions of hypocrisies of the high class and religious institution of the society, as well as the issue of the economic inequities of German society. These questions are raised in the context of law and morality conflicts, with added issues of masculinity, heroism, personal liberty and psychology of power. (Cooper, 1955)

Conclusion

Finally, it should be stated that the representatives of the Dramatic literature such as Wagner and Schiller represent the origins of the innovative approaches towards representing the moods within the society of the epoch, they aimed to describe. Thus, if Wagner represents the main themes through the relations between characters, Schiller aims to represent the main themes through the backgrounds and associations, which are formed by the characters and the conflict.

Bibliography

Clark, Barrett H. European Theories of the Drama: An Anthology of Dramatic Theory and Criticism from Aristotle to the Present Day. Cincinnati: Stewart & Kidd, 2002.

Cooper, C. W. Preface to Drama An Introduction to Dramatic Literature and Theater Art. The Ronald Press Company New York 1955

Darcy, Warren. Wagner’s Das Rheingold. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 2001.

Robertson, J. G. Lessing’s Dramatic Theory: Being an Introduction to & Commentary on His Hamburgische Dramaturgie. Cambridge: , 1998.

Schiller, Friedrich The robbers: A tragedy. Printed for G.G. and J. Robinson, 1800

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