Thus Spoke Zarathustra

Thus Spoke Zarathustra

by

Friedrich Nietzsche

Thus Spoke Zarathustra: The Funeral Song Summary & Analysis

Summary
Analysis
Zarathustra decides to go to the grave-island with a wreath of life, so he travels over the sea. He sadly recalls the loves of his youth, now dead. He laments that they died too early and curses his enemies whose arrows slew them. When he achieved his overcomings, his enemies caused his loved ones to be hurt by it. The only reason Zarathustra has overcome this youthful pain is that, deep within him, his will to power remains invulnerable. His will destroys all graves, and only among graves are there resurrections.
Zarathustra’s journey to the grave-island recalls Nietzsche’s loss of his youthful friendship with Richard Wagner, the famous composer whom he idealized, befriended, and had a falling out with. The chapter suggests that their separation had to do with misunderstandings or objections to Nietzsche’s ideas. Zarathustra finds comfort in his solitary will to power, which implies that the older Nietzsche has found contentment in this as well.
Themes
The Superman and the Will to Power Theme Icon