The story of the Dutch sea-captain cursed to wander the earth unendingly featured three themes that were of enduring interest to Wagner: the Wanderer on his Quest Redemption through Self-sacrifice and Pre-destined Love. The story is that a storm drives Daland's ship off course. A ghostly schooner arrives and its captain the Flying Dutchman steps ashore. He is bound to his ship as he once pledged to sail around the Cape of Good Hope ifit took him forever. Once every seven years he may leave his ship in search of a woman who will save him from his deathless wandering if she is faithful until death. Daland offers his daughter Senta’s hand in marriage. As theyapproach the village Senta’s suitor Erik notices she is preoccupied. He relates a frightening dream in which he saw her sail away with the Dutchman and Senta exclaims that this is her own dream as well and pledges herfaithfulness to him. Erik is not happy and insists that Senta is his. The Dutchman overhearing believes himself betrayed and sets sail. Senta runs to the top of a cliff proclaiming herself faithful unto death and leaps intothe sea. Their ghostly forms are seen together ascending to Heaven.This is the Schirmer edition of the Libretto in the original German with an English translation by Stewart Robb.
