Title Many Germanic tales were lost throughout history, but one of the tales that survived was that of the Nibelungenlied, although the author of the tale is unknown. The tragic ending of this medieval heroic epic seems inevitable. The traits of the characters and the breaking of the web of kinship lead to the confusion of signs and ultimately to the inevitable doom of the Burgundians and Huns. The union of Kriemhild and Siegfried disrupts the order of the world of signs, which only progresses as the epic does. The web of kinship is broken when Hagen murders Siegfried, but everyone stands by him when Kriemhild seeks her revenge. Even Kriemhild 's life is not spared when she finally gets her revenge. Firstly, Siegfried 's character can be
…show more content…
This act of deceit occurs twice in the text, the second time creating much more trouble than the first. Kriemhild uses her knowledge of the situation, by revealing the girdle and ring he had stolen the night Siegfried had forced her into submission, to dishonour Brünhilde when she questions Siegfried 's status as a vassal, leading to Brünhilde plotting to murder Siegfried with Hagen to regain her honour and that of the King 's (Cowell 135). It can, therefore, be understood that Siegfried unintentionally arranged his own death, which also led Kriemhild 's need to regain her integrity and honour, which Brünhilde didn 't need to do herself since Hagen did it for her. From this need, she develops a revenge plan in which she "becomes a hero in pursuit of integrity just like a masculine hero" (Cowell 135), yet this comes and plays against her. The bonds of kinship, or the 'Self ', were broken by Hagen to murder Siegfried, therefore setting Kriemhild as an 'Other ' in her own clan (Cowell 148). The members of the clan reconcile themselves, especially Gunther and Kriemhild; however, she never reconciles with Hagen, and she learns later about the complicity of her brother, which creates an animosity towards him as well (McLintock 138). Kriemhild was set apart for the most part of the Nibelungenlied after the events of Siegfried 's death, and the …show more content…
When Hagen murders Siegfried to regain the King and Queen 's honour and integrity, as a vassal, he is not killing his own blood kin, although Siegfried is as good as, but the Kriemhild 's brothers are agreeing to killing their own kin. This confusion of the signs is no longer manageable and need to be righted. The murder itself violates the sacredness of the cross, but also the heroic code of facing your opponent, though this is by need. Due to Siegfried only having one vulnerable place on his body, which happens to be in his back, Hagen cannot have a face-to-face fight to stab him in the back; it would have been quite difficult for him to reach behind Siegfried this
This act of deceit occurs twice in the text, the second time creating much more trouble than the first. Kriemhild uses her knowledge of the situation, by revealing the girdle and ring he had stolen the night Siegfried had forced her into submission, to dishonour Brünhilde when she questions Siegfried 's status as a vassal, leading to Brünhilde plotting to murder Siegfried with Hagen to regain her honour and that of the King 's (Cowell 135). It can, therefore, be understood that Siegfried unintentionally arranged his own death, which also led Kriemhild 's need to regain her integrity and honour, which Brünhilde didn 't need to do herself since Hagen did it for her. From this need, she develops a revenge plan in which she "becomes a hero in pursuit of integrity just like a masculine hero" (Cowell 135), yet this comes and plays against her. The bonds of kinship, or the 'Self ', were broken by Hagen to murder Siegfried, therefore setting Kriemhild as an 'Other ' in her own clan (Cowell 148). The members of the clan reconcile themselves, especially Gunther and Kriemhild; however, she never reconciles with Hagen, and she learns later about the complicity of her brother, which creates an animosity towards him as well (McLintock 138). Kriemhild was set apart for the most part of the Nibelungenlied after the events of Siegfried 's death, and the …show more content…
When Hagen murders Siegfried to regain the King and Queen 's honour and integrity, as a vassal, he is not killing his own blood kin, although Siegfried is as good as, but the Kriemhild 's brothers are agreeing to killing their own kin. This confusion of the signs is no longer manageable and need to be righted. The murder itself violates the sacredness of the cross, but also the heroic code of facing your opponent, though this is by need. Due to Siegfried only having one vulnerable place on his body, which happens to be in his back, Hagen cannot have a face-to-face fight to stab him in the back; it would have been quite difficult for him to reach behind Siegfried this