Part 1 is written in a style of a speech of a preacher-philosopher. Zarathustra begins of speaking of overcoming the superman, becoming like apes (Darwin’s influences).
“Once blasphemy against God was the greatest blasphemy, but God died, and there upon these blasphemies died too.”
The metaphorical Christian content of his messages comes out of his once deep Lutheran belief which he is now rejecting and trying to find the truth and answers, a new ultimate, not only spiritual but also down to earth sense and rules of life.
He tries to find a new set of values and virtues that would be closest to truth and creation of their truthful definitions (“What good is my virtue”, “What good is my justice?”), through which he is aiming to find inner peace and happiness as a human being (“What good is my happiness?”) and also a scientific satisfaction close to finding proofs and clear explanations to human’s behaviour and reasons for human’s existence and the right religion (“What good is my reason?”).
Jesus Christ 'Super'-humanThe book is written in multiple metaphors, Zarathustra (Greek thinker) talks about pity referencing to Jesus Christ’s prophecy (Lutheran/Christian religion in author’s life), Zarathustra, the awakened one, says “What good is my pity? Is not pity the cross upon which he who loves man is nailed?”
Nietzsche shows the core of his wonders as well as emotional and spiritual connection to Jesus Christ. Then Zaharustra says “But my pity is no crucifixion!” representing author's views against belief in Christ’s prophecy as a Son of God. He says “I love those who do not first seek beyond the stars for reasons to go down and be sacrifices: but who sacrifice themselves to the earth”. It is implication that the author thinks that Christ was a human being who with his charismatic approach and strength could be called a Superhuman. If everyone tried to follow passionately the values they believe that are truth and serve a good purpose to themselves and others and become happy through that, then such people could be called a Super-people, meaning “that the earth may one day belong to the Superman”.
If it is Jesus that author has in mind in this piece of text, to be a Superhuman, then the theory above would make Jesus a very strong and powerful man by obeying his own truthful beliefs and that mede him so happy that he wanted to share it with others so that they could follow his footsteps to be happy too. All that would make Jesus an amazing and virtues human being that tried to help others and show how important it is to believe, love, have hope and desire to keep becoming a better person and challenging yourself, systems and rules that look deceitful and unfair to humanity (self-overcoming of morality through truthfulness).Zarathustra speaks of love for knowledge and science (as science can proof existence of Jesus as a human being), at the same time he loves one “who wants knowledge that one day the Superman may live. And thus he wills his own downfall.” He wants to base his belief on knowledge. This quote could be also an indirect hidden belief of the author that if Jesus was a Son of God this sentence would symbolise the Apocalypse, when Jesus will come down among the humans again and choose those who he will make (And thus he wills his own downfall) to happy and they all will become super-humans.
“I love him who loves his virtue: for virtue is will to downfall and arrow longing.” - Sacrifice In further part Zaharustra says, “I love him who loves his virtue: for virtue is will to downfall and arrow longing.” Just like Jesus, “love him” could mean taking an example of the one who loves his virtuous beliefs, and who believed in what was his aim of life even though it was the “downfall”-Jesus was hated and crucified for his beliefs. The rest of the prophecy says about rising from the dead and rejoining with his father in heaven, till he will step down to earth again in the Judgment Day. The time of waiting for that day could be in the book an “arrow of longing” to rejoin with Jesus. It could be also Christ’s hope and faith that people understood his message and “longing” for the next time he will come back to earth.
At the end of this speech Zarathustra says “Behold, I am a prophet of the lightning and a heavy drop from the cloud: but this lightning is called Superman.” He calls himself a Superman a successor of Jesus Christ’s message and admirer of his strength and impact on humanity. Zarathustra also introduces an Ultimate Men, who do not understand his message, the “most contemptible men”.
Zarathustra the Roman judge Pontius Pilate
“You can have the Superman! And all the people laughed and shouted. But Zarathustra grew sad and said to his heart: They do not understand me: I am not the mouth for these ears.”
This scene could be another reference to Bible, to the scene when Pontius Pilate who was the ” Equesrianprocurator of the Roman province of Judea(...) best known as the judge at Jesus' trial and the man who authorized his crucifixion.” (2) In Mark’s Gospel for example, Mark “portrays Pilate as extremely reluctant to execute Jesus, blaming the Jewish priestly hierarchy for his death.” (2)
Pilate gave choice to the crowd to free either Jesus from Nazareth (Superman) or Barabas the criminal (ultimate man). The crowd was paid to choose Barabas and Jesus was sent for crucifixion. Zarathustra is playing Pilate in this symbolic scene, he wanted the crowd to choose the Superman, but after hearing people shouting to free Barabas, he had to follow their choice. When Zarathustra says, “I am not mouth for these ears” it could symbolise situation that Pilate was in, he was not the one that people would listen to and so, even though he was the judge, it was not in his power to free Jesus.
Another biblical reference is hidden in the scene with tight-rope walker.
TBC in 'The Tight-Rope Walker from Thus Spoke Zarathustra and Jesus from Nazareth'
The University of Winchester Journalism Course
History and Context of Journalism, Part IV,
1. Friedrich Nietzsche, Thus Spoke Zarathustra, Part 1
2. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pontius_Pilate
