Ring of Power: Symbols and Themes Love Vs. Power in Wagner's Ring Circle and in Us : A Jungian-Feminist Perspective (Jung on the Hudson Book Series)
by Jean Shinoda Bolen
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Book Summary Information
Author: Jean Shinoda BolenEdition: Paperback
Audio: English (Original Language); English (Unknown); English (Published)
Published: 1999-02
ISBN: 0892540435
Number of pages: 245
Publisher: Nicolas-Hays
Book Reviews of Ring of Power: Symbols and Themes Love Vs. Power in Wagner's Ring Circle and in Us : A Jungian-Feminist Perspective (Jung on the Hudson Book Series)
Book Review: Basic Intro to Themes and Plot of Wagner's Ring
Summary: 3 Stars
Jean Shinoda Bolen's book on Wagner is appropriately titled - with a complete absence of poetry, it is what it is. The only amendment I could propose would be to add the phrase "A Brief Introduction to" at the beginning.
Full disclosure -- I found Ms. Bolen's book after my first "work-through" of the Karajan recording of the complete Ring, and I was eager to delve deeper into Wagner's titanic opera. Bolen's work is fine, as far as it goes, but it doesn't go very far.
A brief book (around 200 pages, with very large type), "Ring of Power" restricts itself to the visual and textual aspects of Wagner's opera. Divided into four main chapters -- one for each of the operas of the Ring -- "Ring of Power" provides a brief plot synopsis of each opera followed by an exploration of some of the Jungian themes contained in the opera. The synopses are workmanlike and relatively thorough textual analyses, and I can safely say that I have a clearer picture of the action than after listening to the opera on CD.
The exploration of Jungian themes is a bit difficult to swallow at times. Bolen relates many of the ideas Wagner explores (sacrificing love for power, the problems of patriarchy, the insidious impact of child abuse, etc.) to her current practice as clinical psychologist (or some other mental health professional -- sorry, Ms. Bolen). It is rather jarring to juxtapose one of the most titanic, mythic operas to some of the "crises" Ms. Bolen witnesses in her practice, which seem just so mundane. Ms. Bolen defends her analogies and her theories as much as she needs to in this brief work, but even this solidly-written book cannot be considered to have the heft of actual "proof."
The most jarring omission from "Ring of Power" is a near-complete absence of any discussion of the role of music. We are talking opera here, and one of the defining works of the genre. Wagner's musical achievements in the Ring have been documented over and over, and Ms. Bolen virtually ignores this subject. The end result is that she reduces Wagner's Ring to a story -- a powerful one, to be sure, but an opera is so much more than its storyline.
For those, like me, who are new to this wonder that is Wagner's Ring, Ms. Bolen's book is a fine exploration of some of the basic plot points and themes. I am no student of Jung, so I really wasn't too jazzed about the analogies to Ms. Bolen's patients, although some were more interesting than others. However, the scope of this book is too limited for it to qualify as a suitable "companion" to the Ring or an exploration of all the ideas -- both textual and musical -- contained in this wondrous creation.
More Ring of Power: Symbols and Themes Love Vs. Power in Wagner's Ring Circle and in Us : A Jungian-Feminist Perspective (Jung on the Hudson Book Series) reviews:
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