Michael Dyson, ‘Do not speak of the Volsungs’: Brünnhilde’s Rescue of Sieglinde from Wotan

In Act III, Scene 1 of Die Walküre Brünnhilde and the Valkyries make frantic efforts to arrange the escape of Sieglinde before Wotan arrives. Brünnhilde has rescued her from the duel in which Siegmund was slain, and is now appealing to the Valkyries for help on the grounds that Wotan is in hot pursuit with the intention of killing Sieglinde. Wotan, however, on his arrival shows no interest in Sieglinde but is concerned only with the punishment of Brünnhilde. How are we to understand this discrepancy between Brünnhilde’s fear and Wotan’s indifference?