I Read, Write And Analyze Friedrich Nietzsche’s Thus Spoke Zarathustra — Prologue
I started reading Friedrich Nietzsche’s THUS SPOKE ZARATHUSTRA.
Friedrich’s work is intense, heavy and thought-provoking. It’s unfair to the author and the time of his life to read this book like a novel. Therefore, I have decided to rewrite the book with my understanding of simple language, words and digital sketches —Nietzsche Project on philosophy reading.
I will share my book notes with digital sketches from each chapter as a separate article. I will write my favourite quotes and questions at the end of each chapter.
I hope that people find this space and share their thoughts with me. I am also happy to correct my understanding and update my writing accordingly.
ZARATHUSTRA’S PROLOGUE
- Zarathustra and The Sun
Zarathustra left home when he was 30 years old. He lived in the mountains in solitude for ten years. But one morning, he rose and asked the sun, “What would make you happy if you would not shine what you do every day?”
Zarathustra is weary (extreme tiredness) of his wisdom. He feels like a bee who has gathered too much honey. He wants to give away his wisdom. He wants to distribute to the world.
The sun, a superabundant star, inspires Zarathustra. The sun not only shines the day but also shines the underworld when it goes behind the sea. Similarly, Zarathustra also wants to go down. He seeks blessings from the sun to begin his journey from the mountain. He wants his cup to overflow and be empty.
Zarathustra wants to be a man again.
Questions (Please let me know in the comment)
- Is Zarathustra a god?
- Why does Zarathustra want to come down from the mountain?
2. Zarathustra and The Saint
Zarathustra departs from the mountain and meets an older man in the forest. When Zarathustra left home, an older man recognized the stranger and passed through the same forest.
An older man confirms that Zarathustra has changed. He asks a question.
You carried ashes with you to the mountain many years ago. Are you carrying your fire from the mountain today?
I see a metaphor in the above quote. Zarathustra left home with ashes as the questions about life to the mountain. He spent many years in solitude and got enlightened. Today, he may carry fire as wisdom to ignite the world.
An older man who appears to be a saint who makes songs and sings them. He sees Zarathustra as a child because he has awakened. The saint questions him why he wants to return.
Zarathustra says he loves humankind. However, the saint love god. There is a core conflict between what they believe.
The saint wants Zarathustra to stay in the forest. He reckons it’s better to stay with animals but not humans. He wants humans to beg for food and money.
Zarathustra disagrees and promises the saint that he doesn’t want anything from him. He departs with a thought in his mind.
The saint doesn’t know yet that God is dead.
Questions (Please let me know in the comment)
- Zarathustra is awakened. He believes in humanity — that doesn’t make him god, right?
3. Zarathustra and The People
Zarathustra arrives in the town where people have assembled in the market to see tight-top walkers. He announces.
I teach you the Superman. The Superman is meaning of the earth.
Zarathustra questions people about what they are doing to evolve as a human.
Although it’s been a long journey from being a worm to becoming a human, humans are still worms.
Humans evolved from apes; humans are still apes.
Zarathustra encourages people to be Superman, who is truthful to the earth.
Blasphemy is dead because God is dead. Blaspheme the earth is now the latest and most dreadful offence.
The sea takes many polluted rivers. Superman is like a sea that can also take polluted humans and purify them.
Superman is like a lighting in the world of madness.
People listened to Zarathustra. But they had enough. They are interested to see the tight-top walker.
4. Man is a rope
Zarathustra tells the crowd that man is a rope between an animal and a superman.
A man is in a continuous dangerous state on the rope. He cannot look back. He must have the courage to move forward. It’s not easy to be still. A man is a bridge, not a goal. He has yet to achieve the desired state. He started his journey from the animal but hasn’t reached to become a superman.
Zarathustra shares thoughts on what he loves about a man. A few of my favourite ones are:
- I love a man who is ashamed when dice fall in his favour. But he is ready to perish if he has cheated.
- I love a man who offers golden promises in advance. But he performs better than expected and wills his downfall.
- I love a man with a free heart. But his heart drives him to the downfall.
Zarathustra reveals who he is.
I am a prophet of lightning and a heavy drop from the cloud. But the lightning is called Superman.
5. Zarathustra on The Ultimate Man
People have yet to learn what Zarathustra is talking about. They laughed at him.
Zarathustra figured out people do not take him seriously because of their pride — the culture. Therefore, he addresses pride and introduces the Ultimate Man.
The Ultimate Man is the last person who claims he discovered happiness.
The last human being has pleasure day and night. But he respects health.
The last human being works. But his work is an entertainment.
The last human is not wealthy or poor because they are burdensome.
Zarathustra encourages the crowd to fix the goal. It’s time for a man to plant the seed to grow the tallest tree. The soil is rich but will be poor and weak in the future.
One must have chaos to give birth to the dancing star.
The time of the most contemptible man is coming when there won’t be any chaos. So, there will be no dancing star.
There will be the last human at some point — the Ultimate Man.
The crowd still doesn’t get Zarathustra’s preaching. They make fun of him.
Make us into the Ultimate Man. You can have Superman.
Zarathustra realizes that his words are like a joke to the people.
6. The Tightrope Walker’s Stunt
The tightrope walker is halfway. A joker comes and starts nagging him.
The tightrope walker loses his balance and falls to the ground. He is injured and about to die. He looks at Zarathustra and cries.
A devil pushed me. I am going to die. I don’t want to go to HELL.
Zarathustra assured that there is no devil or hell. They don’t exist. It’s just that you have made danger your calling, and now you are just paying the price. He tells the walker to accept the death and promises to bury him.
A walker dies.
7. The Accident
The crowd disappears after the accident.
Zarathustra was lost in his thoughts. He wanted humans to know about their existence — Superman.
I didn’t catch any man. But I at least got the corpse.
The night approaches.
Zarathustra takes the body for burial.
8. Zarathustra and Dead Man
Zarathustra loaded a dead body on his back and started walking toward the graveyard. He was on his way. Suddenly, he hears a strange man’s voice.
Leave the town, Zarathustra. Everybody hates you here.
Zarathustra continues to walk. He is starving. He saw a house with a light and knocked on the door. An old man opened the door and asked who is it.
A living man and a dead.
An old man offers bread and wine. Zarathustra feeds himself and continues his journey to the graveyard. He finds himself in the forest. He hands the body over a tree to save it from wild animals.
He lies on the ground and falls into a deep sleep.
9. The Dawn With An Idea
Zathustra wakes up at dawn.
The dawn brings truth to him—a new idea.
I need living companions, not dead ones.
Zarathustra realized that people don’t listen to him because they are dead, just like the corpse. He needs to find his followers who believe in him.
A creator has to find fellow creators.
A creator has to find fellow harvesters.
A creator has to find fellow rejoices.
Zarathustra leaves the corpse as it is on the hollow tree. He promises himself that he will never speak to the people. It’s the last time he dealt with the dead.
The corpse is a great metaphor.
You can only realize your authenticity if you deal with the right people. You must put effort and time into finding the right people — fellow creators and companions.
10. Animal is my friend
Zarathustra sees an eagle holding a snake in the sky.
The eagle holds a serpent in the neck like a friend, not as prey.
Zarathustra feels safe with animals. It was dangerous to be surrounded by men.
Zarathustra prepares to leave.
Browse all the chapters under Project Nietzsche.
Please comment and share your thoughts on the above prologue.
