Thus Spoke Zarathustra is considered by the author, Friedrich Nietzsche, as his most important work. In it, Nietzsche uses the fictional character of Zarathustra to act as a messenger of a new way of thinking, a reevaluation of all values. This starts when Zarathustra goes about his first going-under where he exits his mountain and leaves his animals to see mankind once again after ten years of solitude. First, Zarathustra meets an old saint who is weary of mankind and warns Zarathustra of this as he preaches to love God instead. Zarathustra dismisses him and wonders to himself if the old saint knows that God is dead. Zarathustra then goes to a town where a festival is occurring. While a tightrope walker is up above, Zarathustra preaches the Overman, the meaning of all life now that God is dead. He says for the people to now go beyond man, to leave a legacy behind instead of being “last men.” The people need to go through the three stages of being to become the Overman so that they can find their existential meaning away from hedonism, religion, and nihilism. He sees the tightrope walker as a symbol for man and that behind him is the ape and in front of him is the Overman. He tells the townspeople to love a going-under, to set their own goals instead of living in mediocrity and easy happiness. Sadly, the townspeople only see him as a jester trying to make jokes, and they laugh at him. However, in all the commotion, the tightrope walker falls once he is at the exact midpoint, showing that man is not ready to reach the Overman yet. Zarathustra comforts the fallen, dying man and decides to bury him himself.
Nietzsche has proven to be my favorite philosopher that I have studied, and Thus Spoke Zarathustra is one of his most defining works. This introduction which brings the Overman into view is beautifully integrated into the story of the tightrope walker. The fact that he falls is analogous to humanity not being ready for the Overman philosophy yet. Later, as Nietzsche brings up the eternal recurrence and will to power, we learn even more about what it takes to become an Overman. I feel like Nietzsche’s story of Zarathustra is even more powerful when read today as compared to when it was first published. The poetic prose and deep meaningfulness between the text makes it a challenging but rewarding read. There is even a great amount of humor if one looks closely.
One of my favorite quotes from the story is: “’We have invented happiness,’ say the last men, and they blink.” I like this quote because I believe we see this in today’s world. I feel like Nietzsche’s prediction of the last men has become true in some respects. People indulge and they lack meaning in their lives so they can pursue easy happiness from social media, binge-drinking, and drugs. They found this easy happiness and they love it. They blink therefore it is natural and without thought. What I have learned from Nietzsche’s writings is that life is suffering and when one tries to overcome suffering, they find meaning, and with meaning found comes happiness as a byproduct.
Rating: 8/10