Skip to Content (press Enter/Return)
preview

James Cain's Life and Mildred Pierce

narrative Essay
1138 words
Open Document
1138 words
  • Small
  • Normal
  • Large
  • Huge
bookmark

James Cain's Life and Mildred Pierce

Five Works Cited James M. Cain's biography produced different events that reappear in

Mildred Pierce. The son of James and Rose Cain, James M. Cain was born in

Annapolis, Maryland. He was the oldest of five siblings. James mother was

a opera singer and this is one of four distinct pieces of his life that

reappears in Mildred Pierce. When Cain had grown up he entered the labor

force, where he failed at a variety of jobs. He eventually became a

editorial writer, who enjoyed and excelled at writing articles about food.

Later James Cain became script writer, moving to Hollywood in the process.

This brief outline of James Cain's life provides excellent insight into

why he wrote Mildred Pierce the way he did.

People and events that have to do with the opera spring up through

out Mildred Pierce because opera was a big part of Cain's life. James Cain

had first hand experience with singing and the opera taking lessons at one

point in his life. This is probably why James includes two instructors,

Mr. Hannen and Mr. Treviso in the story. Mr. Treviso in particular,

&nbs...

... middle of paper ...

...bsp; Popular Culture 33.3 (1999): 63-77.

Liukkonen, Petri. Books and Writers. 10 May. 2001. 9 Dec. 2001

http://www.kirjasto.sci.fi/jmcain.htm

Madden, David. James M. Cain. New York: Twayne, 1970.

"Prince of Darkness." Guardian Newspapers Limited 13 April. 2001. 9 Dec.

2001

http://film.guardian.co.uk/Print/0,3858,4169820,00.html

"Raising Cain with the censors, again: The Postman Always Rings

Twice(1946)." Literature/Film Quarterly 28.1 (2000): 41-48.

Skenazy, Paul. James M. Cain. Frederick Ungar A Book, 1988.

In this essay, the author

  • Introduces mildred pierce, the son of james and rose cain.
  • Describes the four distinct pieces of the opera singer's life.
  • Opines that opera was a big part of cain's life.
  • Narrates how james cain makes veda a successful opera singer who has success.
  • Explains that mother and love of the opera she participated in had a huge influence on her.
  • Describes james' passion for food, which led to his career as a writer.
  • Narrates how leaving the restaurant made it a fast food joint.
  • Opines that james cain wrote such a quality novel.
Get Access
Check Writing Quality
Related
  • analytical
  • opinion
  • explanatory
  • narrative
  • The House of the Seven Gables by Nathaniel Hawthorne
    analytical essay
    Jaffrey Pyncheon. He framed him and sent him to prison for killing their uncle so that he could have

    In this essay, the author

    • Explains that "the house of the seven gables" is a romantic novel set in an old, rustic, grand house with seven gable.
    • Narrates the story of gables in new england town. the story opens with its history, beginning in the 1690's.
    • Explains that witch-hunting was rampant in the 1850s. it revolved around the course of one summer.
    • Narrates how he was mysteriously found dead in one of the rooms, despite being highly esteemed for his wealth.
    • Explains that legend has it that he usurped the land on which his house stood from a poor fellow.
    • Explains pyncheon was hanged for witchcraft and rumored to be responsible for it.
    • Opines that maule's infamy and his social prominence allowed him to own the land.
    • Narrates how maule cursed him before he died saying, "god will give him."
    • Narrates how the pyncheon-maule dispute raged for years. the long line struggled to keep the dispute.
    • Analyzes how greed became their own undoing. they succeeded in defending the land from their rivals.
    • Explains that alice pyncheon dies because her father, gervayse, allowed her to be hypnotized by a maule.
    • Narrates how matthew believed him when he said alice needed alice's mind to find a
    • Opines that clifford pyncheon was another victim of the greed of his cousin judge.
    • Opines that jaffrey pyncheon framed him and sent him to prison for killing their uncle so that he could have
    • Narrates how hepzibah pyncheon, an old and lonely spinster, inhabited it. she was often lonely.
    • Explains that she feared for the scowl on her face that was actually the result of a chronic squint due to her poor.
    • Opines that eyesight is a symbol of decaying aristocracy. she is proud and without talent for practical matters.
    • Describes how she grieves for her beloved brother clifford, who was framed and imprisoned. she had a boarder.
    • Describes holgrave as an attractive and imtellectual young man with modern views and notions.
    • Narrates how hepzibah was forced to open a little bakeshop in the front gable of the building when her money ran out.
    • Narrates how she abandons her illusion of aristocracy, which only adds to her misery until her young niece.
    • Describes how phoebe comes from the country to live with her in the house. like a ray of sunshine, she lights up.
    • Narrates how hepzibah's brother clifford is released after 30 years in prison and comes home to the house of his brother.
    • Narrates how seven gables, a love for beauty, and the years of seclusion had drawn out his life.
    • Narrates how he develops a special bond with phoebe despite becoming bitter and spiritless.
    • Analyzes how he pretends to be good-natured and amiable in his greed and pretentiousness.
    • Narrates how judge jaffrey, looking for clifford, manages to force hepzibah to let him go.
    • Narrates how she goes up to fetch her brother, but he is not in his room, and when she comes back.
    • Narrates how clifford is standing beside him, afraid that he would be found dead.
    • Explains that jaffrey's death was a result of stroke, and everything is cleared.
    • Narrates how clifford and hepzibah return and holgrave asks phoebe to marry him.
    • Narrates how the man discloses he is a descendant of matthew maule. the secret treasure turned out to be
    • Explains that the deed of the territory, which was now useless, was hidden inside a vault concealed by the vault.
    • Describes the colonel's painting which hung on the wall of the house ever since it was built.
    • Explains that hepzibah, clifford, phoebe, and holgrave decide to leave the house and live in the country.
    • Narrates how the pyncheons inherited an estate from judge jaffrey, and that was the end of maule's life.
    • Analyzes how the story presents us with several themes, including that the sins of the forefathers are passed on to us.
    • Opines that one cannot undo what has happened.
    • Opines that a man can still strive to break the curse and free himself from the spiral of sin.
    • Explains that man cannot live alone. isolation can draw out life from a being.
    • Narrates how people who had been living in seclusion for many years had become bitter and lifeless, but when they were reunited with their former life.
    • Explains that phoebe came into their lives, they became alive again. man should not be
    • Analyzes holgrave's argument that wanting to be above the rest leads to isolation and division.
    • Advises readers not to be deceived by appearances. "do not judge a book by its cover", as it is commonly said.
    • Analyzes how writing is relaxed and personal, using the present tense, one feels as if he were within the moment.
    • Analyzes how one feels the relevance of the irony of his novel.
    • Analyzes how he plays up the novel by embellishing it with mischief like the disappearing skeleton hand and ghost.
    • Analyzes how the harpsichord is filled with symbolism, such as the withered with odd symbols.
    • Explains that markings symbolize the fading eminence and odd traits of the pyncheon family.
    • Explains that the little figures in his box represent the concept of individualism --- each figure, dancing to the music.
    • Analyzes how the image of the cracked porcelain vase hurled at the granite column accomplishes nothing.
    • Compares clifford's frailty against jaffrey, who he does not stand a chance against.
    • Explains that the house symbolizes the human heart. it may be stone-cold but when warmed with love.
    • Explains that symbols are an eloquent way for an author to create a more fully developed work of art. hawthorne was one of the earliest authors to use symbols as an integral part of his plots.
    • Analyzes how the house is a decaying yet proud spectacle of the neighborhood, but it is also the focus of young children's imaginations.
    • Analyzes how hawthorne refers to the house as a prison because it prevents the inhabitants from truly enjoying any freedom.
    • Analyzes how hawthorne's house symbolizes a prison for the characters. the elm tree outside the house is the symbol of nature and life.
    • Analyzes how the house represents the history of the pyncheon family dating back to the original colonel who had been cursed by matthew maule for the evil way in which the colonel had obtained land.
    • Analyzes how hawthorne shows the house as the gloomy, dismal castle from a gothic tale.
    • Analyzes how the garden is symbolic of growth and renewal. it induces romance and life into the story. phoebe goes there to be alone and to relax. clifford enjoys the bees.
    • Analyzes how the well in the garden symbolizes the past and tell the future of the pyncheon family.
    • Analyzes how the characters in the house of the seven gables "symbolize the poles of human existence." they range from the stereotypical old spinster to the young liberal democrat.
    • Analyzes how hawthorne wished for this book to be lighter than his first the scarlet letter. he used more normal characters. phoebe is the symbol of good; she is blossoming into maturity.
    • Analyzes how phoebe enjoys nature and is enraptured by the odd hens in the garden, which are mirrors of the pyncheon family.
    • Analyzes how hepzibah is a true picture of "decayed gentility." she is the opposite of judge jaffery in many ways.
    • Analyzes how hawthorne used the daguerreotype as a name for his character, holgrave, to symbolize the young and prospering america.
    • Analyzes how hawthorne's the house of the seven gables is a great novel containing many symbols.
    • Analyzes how hawthorne's use of symbols has made this tapestry more elaborate and wonderful. the house of the seven gables is a great classic that will last through the ages.
    • Analyzes how nathaniel hawthorne creates a literary masterpiece in his favorite work, the house of seven gables. his characterizations are so life-like that the book's success rests on the shoulders of the pyncheons and the maules.
    • Analyzes how hawthorne's house of the seven gables is inhabited by four characters, one of whom is not a pyncheon.
    • Analyzes how hawthorne introduces the quintessential old maid as a lifeless, weary woman, whose days repeat themselves.
    • Analyzes how hawthorne describes hepzibah as torpid and stagnant, an unlikely candidate for a hero.
    • Analyzes how miss hepzibah pyncheon's financial tribulations are attributed to the fact that she has no money, and was never taught how to earn it. the first difficulty in setting up the cent-shop is the simple idea of competition.
    • Analyzes how hepzibah's frightening scowls are enough to drive away would-be customers, except for a hungry young boy at the cent-shop.
    • Analyzes how hepzibah sacrifices gentility to feed her family, and her interminable love for her feeble-minded brother, clifford, makes her a heroine.
    • Analyzes how hepzibah, the old-moneyed noblewoman, is forced to teach herself the ways of a commoner and earn her own bread.
    • Analyzes how the daguerrotypist makes the reader realize how heroic hepzibah is. her undying love for her brother clifford proves her heroism.
    • Analyzes how holgrave's statement makes the reader doubt hepzibah and her brother, and that doubt adds to the excitement of their final escape from the seven gables.
    • Analyzes how clifford, phoebe, holgrave, and hepzibah are all heroes in one way or another because they escape the desolation and catatonia of the house.
    • Analyzes how phoebe brings light and happiness to the foreboding lifestyles of hepzibah and clifford, and helps them escape the seven gables.
    • Analyzes how hawthorne centers his novel, the house of the seven gables, on an odd and small seventeenth century country home.
    • Analyzes how hawthorne incorporates the train ride to prove several points to the reader, primarily how clifford's thoughts are so strikingly similar to holgrave.
    • Analyzes how hawthorne demonstrates that the characters are estranged from the public and don't know how to conduct themselves when they enter the train station.
    • Analyzes how hawthorne shows the reader how much of a damper the old house has put on clifford and hepzibah's lives.
    • Analyzes how hawthorne shows the similarities between clifford's thoughts while on the railroad and holgrave’s words that he speaks in the garden.
    • Analyzes how holgrave and clifford express their hatred for the hideous house. both characters do not believe that houses should be built for permanence.
    • Analyzes how holgrave and clifford had both believed in not building houses for permanence, but the horrible house of seven gables was the only house they had to base their opinion on.
    • Analyzes how hepzibah's 1-cent shop is a symbol of irony due to the fact that she was once rich and now sells penny goods on the bottom floor.
    • Narrates how hepzibah pyncheon, mr. holograve, and an old maid live in the old house. phoebe's insane brother, clifford, comes in and brightens the gloomy atmosphere.
    • Analyzes how judge jaffrey pyncheon visits hepzibah and demands to see clifford about the old deed threatening to send him to the insane asylum for life.
    • Describes how phoebe returns from the county to find the house quiet and locked up. holograve begs her for a few moments to talk to her before she calls the police.
    • Explains that since judge jaffery pyncheon is dead clifford, hepziah, and pheobe inherit all of his wealth and riches. they later find out that jafery was responsible for cliff's 30 year imprisonment.
    • Analyzes how holograve tells phoebe that he is a maule and that the house is made of wood instead of stone. clifford remembered the spring behind the old portrait.
    6821 words
    Read More
  • Contribution of Italians to American Society
    opinion essay
    name was Gian-Carlo Minotti. This man was trained in the Italian Opera and he was

    In this essay, the author

    • Explains that the italians did not take help or aid from anyone for any reason. they brought their own.
    • Explains how groups like these sprouted up to reproduce and raise their children as true americans.
    • Opines that immigrants were influential in the us by sharing their views.
    • Describes how gian-carlo minotti made his impression on the music world soon after he arrived to america. he was trained in the italian opera and was determined to adapt his techniques to american society.
    • Opines that if christopher columbus hadn't found america, we would not be the same today. he discovered america in 1492, by mistake.
    • Opines that italians' new flavor and pasta dishes won the country over and are represented well in just about every city. if it is italian, you can find it somewhere near.
    344 words
    Read More
  • The Life Of Babe Ruth
    explanatory essay
    son of George Herman Ruth, Sr. and Kate Ruth. George took the name of Herman at

    In this essay, the author

    • Describes george herman ruth, sr. and kate ruth's sons. george took the name of herman at summary
    • Narrates how he spent his childhood days on the streets and piers of london.
    • Explains that ruth, even though he didn't realize it, had come in to a good life.
    • Narrates how he taught himself to make shirts and became quite good at it. he boasted about sewing.
    • Explains that ruth was paid $600 to play in the american league.
    • Analyzes how the red sox threw seven innings, allowing only three runs on five hits.
    • Describes ruth's 11 wins and 2 losses at providence.
    • Explains that babe was the only person in boston to still call him george.
    • Explains that he only pitched in 37 games with a 21-12 record in his last seasons.
    • Explains that fielder hit an unbelievable 29 home runs in 1919, his first full season as a fielder.
    • Opines that the series was won, except some players were too concerned about money.
    • Explains that baseball banned the eight men who took the money from baseball.
    • Opines that if it weren't for george herman "babe" ruth, jr.
    • Explains that they were ignorant enough to sell him to the new york yankees for $125,000.
    • Describes how ruth drove in 137 runs in only his second year as a full-time fielder.
    • Explains that he broke his old record of 54 home runs by hitting 59 of them.
    • Explains that 714 career home runs, had 2,209 career rbi's, and 2,873 total hits, all in one season.
    • Opines that babe ruth is for the most important reason, that being the way he is.
    • Opines that george herman "babe" was the greatest player of all time, but a great person.
    • Explains that babe was one of the best left-handed pitchers of all time. he had a 92 and 44 record, 67.6%, and 2.24 career earned-run.
    • Explains that steinman said ruth was the biggest and most promising babe out of all the players in camp.
    • Explains that the boston red sox bought babe and he saw his first major league action on july 11,1914.
    • Explains that babe ruth has made his way to the major leagues quickly and would stay there for long.
    • Opines that it is hard to believe what the world would be like without baseball and thanks to babe.
    • Explains that the yankees got all they paid for. ruth hit.376 in the 1920 season.
    • Explains that ruth played through injury in games 4 and 5, but by physicians advice sat out games 6, 7 and 8 in which the yankees lost all games.
    • Opines that babe was not a factor in this pitiful series for the yankee team as they got swept by the giants.
    1554 words
    Read More
  • How Does Mildred Pierce Cause Beragon Death?
    analytical essay
    Mildred Pierce is a drama film directed by Michael Curtiz with stars being Joan Crawford, Jack Carson, and Zachary Scott. The film main idea is Mildred Pierce is seen as a successful business woman who created her own restaurant with the hard she went through to support her family. However, with the murder of Monte Beragon, she is now being interrogated by the police giving flashbacks on the highlights of her light and how did it lead to Beragon death. However, with the evidence the police received they were able to uncover that Mildred daughter, Veda, was the cause of Beragon death. Movie Made America, made a clear point that really exemplifies Mildred’s and Veda’s real personalities, where Mildred was the “weak, confused, and susceptible

    In this essay, the author

    • Explains that mildred pierce is a drama film directed by michael curtiz with stars being joan crawford, jack carson, and zachary scott.
    • Analyzes how mildred pierce was known for its mystery, such as why did beragon die in the beginning, was he a good or bad guy, and who caused his death.
    269 words
    Read More
  • Research Paper On George Washington Carver
    explanatory essay
    His dad got married to george’s mom and they had two children. His dad’s name was Giles and his mom’s name was Mary. George had a brother named James jim carver. James’s birth year was 1859 and death date was unknown.

    In this essay, the author

    • Explains that george washington carver was an african-american male born into slavery. he applied to the highland presbyterian college in kansas, but was turned away because he was black.
    • Explains that carver invented over 300 peanut products including peanut oil to lead into motor oils to gasoline. his chemistry skills played a huge role in all of his creations with the peanut.
    • Explains that george's family was on the carver farm with him. his dad got married to george’s mom and they had two children. george had a brother named james
    • Opines that they chose george washington carver because they enjoy agriculture and using the earth as a resource. george also wrote the pickling and curing of meat in hot weather.
    280 words
    Read More
  • Who Is Mildred Fatal?
    analytical essay
    Through out the film, Mildred has shown that she is a mother that would do anything for her children, she is strong, and independent. Even though she comes from a middle class, she does everything in her power to provide for her two daughters, especially for the eldest daughter Veda. At first, I thought Mildred was femme fatal because of the first scene but turns out that Veda is femme fatal, based off her values and behaviors. Mildred is a very attractive woman, and had a lot of men liking her but not once did she gave them the wrong idea or go after their money. The only time she married someone that she did not love was Monty, her second husband, and that too was for Veda so she would come back home. What stands out to me about Mildred

    In this essay, the author

    • Analyzes how mildred shows that she is a strong, independent mother who does everything in her power to provide for her two daughters, especially for veda.
    • Opines that the message of the film is that women can do just as much as men can, be independent and not need to rely on anyone for that matter, and be strong no matter what society thinks.
    249 words
    Read More
  • Johanne Adolphe Hasse
    analytical essay
    In his day, Johann Adolph Hasse was at the forefront of Italian opera. Although he composed a fair amount of sacred works, he is best known for his operatic output. He was widely popular throughout Italy and Germany, and was commissioned by courts and opera houses throughout Europe. His performances were attended by cultural figures at the time, as well as some of the biggest names in common-era music today. In his later life, styles changed and so Hasse’s acclaim diminished after his death. But generations later, he was re-established as a figurehead and icon of classic ancient Italian opera, a designation he possesses even today.

    In this essay, the author

    • Explains that johann adolph hasse was at the forefront of italian opera and is best known for his operatic output. he was widely popular throughout italy and germany, and was commissioned by courts and opera houses throughout europe.
    • Explains that johann adolph hasse was born on march 25th, 1699, in bergedorf, germany. his family consisted of german church musicians and he received his first musical education from his father.
    • Describes how hasse's success led to his debut as a composer with the opera antioco in 1723.
    • Analyzes how hasse left vienna in 1773 and spent his last years in venice, teaching and composing sacred music.
    • Analyzes hasse's use of colorful melody that glides over the bass movement that musically communicates the performers' feeling and position.
    • Describes the encyclopdia britannica's "johann adolph hasse".
    • Describes the works of janice b. stockigt, jan dismas zelenka, 1679 – 1745, a bohemian musician at the court of dresden.
    • Analyzes how johanne adolphe hasse used a glass harmonica to harmonize the vocalist's melody.
    • Cites drummond, pippa, and anderson, rick. "the concertos of johann adolf hasse."
    1138 words
    Read More
  • Ozart's Requiem Analysis
    analytical essay
    Amadeus Wolfgang Mozart was one of history’s important composers. He was “was a musician capable of playing multiple instruments that started playing in public at the age of 6. Over the years, Mozart aligned himself with a variety of European venues and patrons, composing hundreds of works that included sonatas, symphonies, masses, concertos and operas, marked by vivid emotion and sophisticated textures.”

    In this essay, the author

    • Explains that mozart was an austrian, influenced by german and austria. the mass provided the spiritual setting, while mozart's creative nature gave life to the cultural.
    • Analyzes the spiritual significance of mozart's piece, which is a testament to his faith. the dramatic is perfectly befitting to the text, and the sudden mood swings, from happy to sad, are consistently felt by the listener.
    • Analyzes how domine jesu is a great example of mozart's creativity, which was enhanced by sussmayr. the vocal and instrumental bass line, "floats sweetly," says steinberg.
    • Concludes that although mozart was not known for his sacred choral works, he has made an impact with his requiem, which has left a lasting impact on the classical community.
    • Explains that wolfgang mozart was one of history's important composers. he was a musician capable of playing multiple instruments that started playing in public at the age of 6.
    • Explains that the requiem is a mass for the dead as in the latin missa pro defunctis. mozart's main influences were george frideric handel and johann sebastian bach.
    • Analyzes how mozart moved his family from central vienna to alsergrund to reduce living costs. even at his death, he died with substantial debts, of which the greatest were to the tailr, the apothecary, and the decorator.
    • Explains that the introitus consists of two compositions, the requiem aeternam and the kyrie. mozart composed the voices and bass while sussmayr orchestrated the rest of the instruments.
    • Analyzes how mozart's opening, kyrie elisson, and rex tremendae majestatis are examples of his influences.
    1689 words
    Read More
  • Dialogue Essays: Humble Beginnings
    narrative essay
    Nathaniel Laurence Clarke. No one but he and his older brother William knew of the name. They had no memory of their parents, besides the fact...

    In this essay, the author

    • Narrates how the doctor sipped a tiny china cup while his servant stood in the corner, eyes cast downward. the native hurried to the gate, opened it, and stuck his head out.
    • Analyzes how the revolting man was offended that any of the village people had come to get treated from a doctor of his power. he was the wealthiest man in the entire town, except for the king himself.
    • Opines that the doctor was not always rich. he had cheap plastic, cheap tea biscuits, stone-hard toast, not dressed in silk, but in rags.
    • Narrates how nathaniel laurence clarke and his older brother william lived in an orphanage in the gloomy streets of london to avoid their abominable headmistress.
    • Narrates how the children were fed up with woman and her abusive ways, and decided to flee the place for good. they sought help from a wealthy, distant uncle in paris.
    • Narrates how the mother sighed contently, as if in a wonderful day dream. she didn't raise her voice once, and let the orphans receive second helpings of supper.
    • Narrates how the clarkes were on their way to paris, where they faced a five-hour ride before having to transfer to boat to cross the small stretch of sea.
    • Describes how nathaniel could finally breathe and enjoy the passing scenery. they passed by the arc de triomphe, the louvre, and even the eiffel tower.
    • Describes how their awe was elevated once the carriage stopped at their uncle's house. the giant building towered forty feet in the air.
    • Narrates how samuel gestured with bravado for the waiting boys to come in, and his swinging arm unintentionally hit a table beside him.
    • Narrates how samuel and nathaniel entered the ten-foot-high ceiling, adorned with colorful designs and patterns, and a velvet red carpet stretching all the way down the seemingly never-ending hall.
    • Opines that young children need nourishment. the cook has prepared hors d'oeuvres and bouillabaisse, and after, you can enjoy the bath that awaits you upstairs.
    • Narrates how the two headed to the dining room for their meal. everything was laid out perfectly for them, and they started to grin.
    1174 words
    Read More
  • Richard Wagner and Opera
    analytical essay
    One of the key figures in the history of opera, Wagner was largely responsible for altering its orientation in the nineteenth century. His program of artistic reform accelerated the trend towards organically conceived, through-composed structures, as well as influencing the development of the orchestra, of a new breed of singer, and of various aspects of theatrical practice. As the most influential composer during the second half of the nineteenth century, Richard Wagner's conception of music remains very much with us even a century after his death.

    In this essay, the author

    • Analyzes how wagner's program of artistic reform accelerated the trend towards organically conceived, through-composed structures, as well as influencing the development of the orchestra, of a new breed of singer, and of various aspects of theatrical practice.
    • Explains that wagner was a remarkable innovator both in harmony and the structure of his work, creating his own version of the gesamtkunstwerk.
    • Explains that wagner won his first operatic success in dresden with the opera rienzi, based on a novel by edward bulwer-lytton, and gained much experience conducting the symphonies and overtures of beethoven.
    • Analyzes how wagner adapted the german romantic libretto to the framework of grand opera in tannhauser, which evoked the opposite worlds of sin and blessedness with emotional fervor.
    • Analyzes how wagner's use of varying keys in a symbolic manner heightens the dramatic effect of the action on stage and the music itself.
    • Describes how wagner wrote his ferociously anti-semitic tract, jewishness in music, and completed his basic statement on musical theater, opera and drama. wagner began sketching the text and music for monumental operas based on the nordic and germanic myths.
    • Analyzes how wagner became involved in an extramarital affair with mathilde wesendonck who had fallen in love with him. this affair inspired the music drama tristan and isolde.
    • Explains that the first two ring music dramas were first performed in 1869 in munich, on king ludwig's insistence, since ludwig was still providing wagner with an annual salary years after their first acquaintance.
    • Opines that richard wagner remains the most fascinating figure in nineteenth-century music. his life and music arouse passion like that of no other composer.
    806 words
    Read More
Get Access