Fidelio is a story of oppression and liberation. The theme of the story is its only relevance to Switzerland; it is relevant because of the story The Prisoner of Chillon by Byron which is about a man suffering in the dungeon of Chillon who is eventually set free. Fidelio is an opera written by Ludwig Van Beethoven about a woman, Leonore, disguised as a man, Fidelio, in order to free her husband, Florestan, from his unjust imprisonment. Looking back on the dungeon in the castle Chillon while thinking about the story of Fidelio, I realize how dreadful the thought of a loved one trapped down there must have been for Leonore. It is clear through Leonore's actions and dangerous situations she put herself in that she is desperate and determined to save her husband. She finds that Florestan is the one prisoner not allowed to be seen and that he is being purposefully neglected by the orders of the Governor of the Prison, Pizarro. Leonore makes several subtle attempts to see her husband but fails to find him. Finally, just before Florestan is to be murdered by Pizarro, she finds him in the lowest, darkest dungeon cell and fights off Pizarro to save him from his bloody fate. When they are reunited the music is absolutely great, sublime. The music which has been dark, ominous and full of sorrow has now been completely shifted to bursting with joy and refreshing wonder and awe. I do not know exactly what they are saying to eachother because I do not speak German, but Beethoven makes it well known that the two lovers are blissfully reunited. This theme is very common to Swiss literature (although this piece is not Swiss; it is German) because many found peace, freedom, and/or liberation on the mountains; I know I found peace and a sense of liberation of the heart while in the Alps. And so, the theme of oppression followed by liberation is shown to be true and quite prevalent in the Swiss Alps.