Thus Spoke Zarathustra

Thus Spoke Zarathustra

by

Friedrich Nietzsche

Tight-rope Walker Character Analysis

When Zarathustra descends from the mountain, the townspeople are gathered in the square to watch the tight-rope walker’s performance. During the performance, a buffoon chases him, causing him to lose his balance, fall, and suffer fatal injuries. Before the tight-rope walker dies, Zarathustra comforts him. He then carries the tight-rope walker’s corpse with him and buries him, to honor him for pursuing (and dying for) a dangerous calling.
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Tight-rope Walker Character Timeline in Thus Spoke Zarathustra

The timeline below shows where the character Tight-rope Walker appears in Thus Spoke Zarathustra. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Zarathustra’s Prologue
The Superman and the Will to Power Theme Icon
3. Zarathustra arrives in a town, where people are waiting for a tight-rope walker ’s performance in the market square. Zarathustra addresses the people, saying, “I teach you the... (full context)
Rethinking Morality Theme Icon
The Superman and the Will to Power Theme Icon
...the cleansing lightning that such a person needs. But the people, eager to watch the tight-rope walker , just laugh at Zarathustra. (full context)
The Superman and the Will to Power Theme Icon
6. Just then, as the tight-rope walker reaches the middle of his rope, a brightly dressed buffoon bursts out the door and... (full context)