Christina G.

Ambareva

WHO OR WHAT IS NIETZSCHE’S ZARATHUSTRA?

This question is interesting, because there is a widespread misunderstanding of

Zarathusra’s image. In my work, I make the following distinction: there is a difference between
the myth of Zarathustra in Nietzsche’s philosophy and the necessity of Zarathustra in his
convictions.
The myth of Zarathustra scratches the surface of Nietzsche’s idea. It is associated with
Zarathustra, the prophet and the Superman – something like the superhero of a modern
Hollywood film.
However, when you read “Thus spoke Zarathustra”, you would find a number of
passages which show that Nietzsche’s “Ubermensch” is a very romantic and sentimental person.
He is extremely sensitive. Nietzsche describes him as trembling, shuddering, sighing, exclaiming
pathetically and crying.
His image does not respond to the reader’s expectations to see a severe warrior, a
representative of the non-moral, non-Christian wild culture.
There is an influence of the German Romanticism over Nietzsche’s ideas. This influence
could be seen in some characteristics of Zarathustra’s image: the very choice of a mystical and
exotic Eastern name, his escape from society and his looking for peace in nature. Zarathustra’s
attitude to the world is also very romantic and sentimental. Zarathustra himself represents
Nietzsche’s longing for an ideal man who is in conflict with the non-ideal reality.
Since Romanticism in Germany (18-19 cent.) strives for the synthesis of science,
philosophy, morality and arts, it therefore strives for the constructing of a synthetic culture.
This synthesis and the idea of a synthetic culture are very important for understanding
Nietzsche’s philosophy. The view that philosophy should be poetic and poetry should be
philosophical came into reality in "Thus spoke Zarathustra“. Nietzsche, like the romanticists,
regards art as more precious than truth.
Actually, Nietzsche does not like any qualifications like “realist”, “idealist” or
“romanticist”. He wished the image he constructed for Zarathustra to be grasped like a
Dionysian.
Actually, Zarathustra has a symbolic presence. He is not represented in flesh and blood.
We know just few details about his outward appearance. We know he often talks to the wind, the
sun, Life, Wisdom or Eternity. He makes one whole with nature and Nietzsche calls Zarathustra
many things – “a creator”, “a wisher”, “a prophet”, he is the future, a bridge to the future and “a
cripple” on this bridge, an autumn, etc. There is not a single image of Zarathustra and this is very
important for understanding his presence.
There is a place in the book, where Zarathustra says that all his life he is looking for and
setting up questions. Zarathustra is an allegory of such a life and what Nietzsche does is to make
his interpretation of this allegory, after he created it. This is what gives birth to the myth of the
Superman.
 But there is a place in the book where Zarathustra tells his pupils not to follow him, to
forget him, to fight against him. This is the real message of “Thus spoke Zarathustra”. This is
what Nietzsche wants. He would despise his literal followers, the pseudo-Nietzscheans. He
would respect only those who experience in their lives the destiny of being evaluators and
creators. Only those, who manage to find their own content from the allegory of Zarathustra,
only they will probably succeed in getting the profound meaning of the Ubermensch.