Is Thus Spoke Zarathustra readable?

Is Thus Spoke Zarathustra readable?

If you’re looking for an entertaining novel, it’s most definitely not worth reading. It’s written in a super simple style. The plot, characters, and setting all take a backdrop to the philosophical contents of the novel. Even the philosophy is pretty difficult to grasp if you’re not familiar with Nietzsche’s thoughts.

Do you need to read Thus Spoke Zarathustra before Beyond Good and Evil?

Once you read Beyond Good and Evil, I think Thus Spake Zarathustra might be an appropriate direction to head in, although the book itself can get pretty climactic and heavy. It may be better if you read a few of his other works (e.g. The Gay Science, a useful introduction to a few important concepts) before.

Why did Nietzsche call his book Thus Spoke Zarathustra?

Nietzsche himself talks about it in his auto-biography “Ecce Homo”. He chose Zarathustra because he saw the real Zarathustra (Zoroaster) as being the first one to establish the moral system which eventually evolves into Judeo-Christian morals, and which Nietzsche sets out to demolish in “Thus Spake Zarathustra”.

What does Nietzsche say about his character in Thus Spoke Zarathustra?

In a letter written to his sister Elisabeth upon the completion of the final part of Thus Spoke Zarathustra, Nietzsche warns against being identified with his character: “By no means believe that my son Zarathustra voices my opinions.

What does Nietzsche mean by shoot straight and speak the truth?

From the Histories of Herodotus (c.484 – 425 BCE) Nietzsche takes the line “Persians educate their boys to ride well, shoot straight, and speak the truth” and transforms it in the following way: To ‘shoot straight’ is also to tell it like it is. Zarathustra accordingly represents the embodiment of truth.

What is Nietzsche’s style of dance?

Nietzsche told Erwin Rhohde in 1884 that his own style “is a dance, a play of symmetries of various kinds, and a mocking of these symmetries.” Soon after, he also wrote of “Zarathustra the dancer, Zarathustra the light one who waves with his wings” ( Thus Spoke Zarathustra, IV).

What inspired Nietzsche to write about Zoroastrianism?

Nietzsche defended the actual historical existences of both Homer and Zoroaster, at a time when these were being seriously questioned. He was also inspired by the Greek historian Xenophon, who in Book VI of The Expedition of Cyrus spoke of ‘Persian dance’.