Desperation in The Nibelungenlied

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Desperation in The Nibelungenlied Many people act in desperation once they have realized they have made a mistake. It is human nature to second guess yourself and to wonder if you have made this right decision. This case is true in The Nibelungenlied with Hagen’s decision to assassinate Siegfried. His actions immediately following the murder and when he is on his way to meet Kriemhild show that he acted in desperation after Siegfried’s murder. Through Hagen’s actions of sinking Kriemhild’s treasure in the Rhine River and attempting to kill the monk to void the Nixes prophecy are both examples of Hagen’s desperation after killing Siegfried. The scene where Hagen kills prince Siegfried is a very controversial one. In the end, he stabs Siegfried in his weak spot that Kriemhild unknowing marked with a cross. After Hagan committed his crime, he realized that he would be dead if Kriemhild used her monetary strength to build an army of her own to revenge her husband’s death by killing Hagen. To stop her from retaliating, he later discards her treasure in the Rhine River so it could not be used to build an army against him. Instead of Hagan apologizing to Kriemhild for what he did and explaining his motive for killing Siegfried, he realizes that he is in over his head and the only way for him to survive was to make it harder for himself to get caught. Hagen’s situation can be compared to more modern criminals. Instead of turning oneself, in some criminals commit more crimes in desperate attempts not to be caught. Hagan’s anxious attempt to keep Kriemhild from retaliating for her husband’s death shows that Hagen was desperate once he realized that he was going to die. The second instance that Hagen’s desperation is apparent when he is on his way to King Etzel’s on an invitation from Kriemhild. On his way there, Hagen learns from the nixes that everyone in his party

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