Hagen

Son of the dwarf Alberich and Grimhilde, half-brother to Gunther and Gutrune. Alberich enticed Grimhilde into loving him with wealth, hoping the child would get the ring. It was prophesised by Erda that when Alberich bore a son the end of the Gods was nigh.

Hagen conspires to steal the ring from Brunhilde by having her tricked into marriage with Gunther. He uses a potion to make Brunhilde's lover Siegfried forget Brunhilde and fall in love with Gutrune. Siegfried then goes to take Brunhilde for Gunther so he can marry Gutrune. Hagen is visited by his father Alberich who tells him to get the ring. Brunhilde realises the deception of Siegfried and swears on Hagen's spear, while Siegfried swears he doesn't know her. Brunhilde, Gunther and Hagen form a plot to kill Siegfried.

During a hunt Hagen gives Siegfried the antidote to the potion and as Siegfried relates meeting Brunhilde Hagen kills him with his spear, claiming he has avenged the perjury Siegfried committed on his spear. Hagen kills Gunther in a dispute over the ring, but is stopped from taking it when Siegfried's hand rises. Brunhilde takes the ring, throws herself into Siegfried's funeral pyre, and the ring is returned to the Rhinemaidens. When Hagen tries to take it, uttering the last words of the Ring Cycle 'Zuruck Vom Ring' (Back from the Ring), he is drowned.