He is hesitant if he is truly happy, after speaking to animals, despite his age, he decides to go to high mountains again. He thought that animals would follow him in his mountain climbing but they stopped walking somewhere on the way, Zarathustra was once again on his own. Here starts his stream of thought, contemplation.
After he is back from the mountain he sits at the table with a Gloomy Prophet (Schopenhauer). The Prophet tells him that he has not that much time left “for his boat to sit in the dry (…), waves of great distress and affliction: soon they will lift your boat too, and carry you away”. It is the Prophet’s way of teasing Zarathustra to “Pity”, the sin he dramatically wanted to avoid. Zarathustra becomes curious and asks who is after him, the Prophet says that it is the Higher Man “that cries after him”. Eventually, Zarathustra’s response to that is “you yourself shall dance to my songs as my dancing bear (…) I too- am a prophet!”
In the following chapter Zarathustra meets the Higher Men, two Kings (any Kings or reference to Biblical three Kings looking for baby Jesus from Nazareth, to confirm the birth of the new King of Nazareth, Jesus Christ). They say that they were looking for a Higher Man, as they were told that they must hear “him, who teaches.”Zarathustra decides to go out to the world and find the Higher Man for them and tells them to wait for him in his cave as long as it takes for him to find one.
On his way he gets bitten by a dog and has to lie down beside the swamp for the leeches to clear his blood. Then he speaks to the Conscious Man Of Spirits (probably Darwin, or any other scientist).
Further on, during his journey he meets a last Pope (imaginary character), who he speak to about Jesus’ death, he says that “pity chocked” Jesus, that he saw how man hanged on the cross and could not endure it that love for man became his “Hell and at least his death?” The Pope tries to defend Jesus’ name as a Son of God saying that he was a “hidden God, full of secrecy”. They then go onto exploring why Zarathustra has lost his faith.Zarathustra has a new name 'The God’s killer', and the 'peace breaker'. Other characters he meets on his way are the Sorcerer who represents Wagner; the meeting shows a parody of his later poetry manner. The Shadow, who Zarathustra has conversations with, represents a free thinker. And the Voluntary Beggar is likely to be either Buddha or Tolstoy.
Eventually, Zarathustra discovers that he does not need to look for a Higher Man as he is one himself. He goes back to the cave to announce to the Kings that he is the one. They take him as the Higher Man and all together with the Prophet have a meal (reference to the Last Sapper of Jesus Christ before he was crucified). There is no bread, on Jesus’ last supper the bread was very significant, it symbolised Christ’s body that he wanted to sacrifice. He shared the bread among the disciples and said 'take it and eat it, this is my body' (Bible). Bread became a symbol of unity and became a base to traditions in Christian Church. Zarathustra clearly stated there is no bread but there is lamb instead and that is what they will eat. While eating the meal, Zarathustra and his guests spoke only of Higher Man.The narrative in this part is set in time; author speaks of Zarathustra growing old with white hair. It starts of Zarathustra being sat before this cave “gazing silently out”. Now when the Kings and the Prophet believe that Zarathustra is the Higher Man they will have to convince others on the “Market Square” to believe in it too.
“God has died: now we desire – that superman shall live.”
When Zarathustra meets the Lion, his prophesy is filled, he is certain of his destiny as he has seen the signal.
“Very well! The lion has come, my children are here, Zarathustra has become ripe, my hour has come!”
The University of Winchester Journalism Course
History and Context of Journalism, Part IV,
Friedrich Nietzsche, Thus Spoke Zarathustra, Part 4
