The Contradictions in Zarathustra’s Character

Abstract

Thus Spoke Zarathustra' is a controversial philosophical novel due to its many original concepts such as "will to power" and the phrase "God is dead", which several scholars have tried to elucidate upon. In some cases, there is a general aversion to these concepts that have resulted in the limited use of the literature in education, especially in the Philippines, a Christian country. The research sought to uncover universal truths using the archetypes that can be used in a classroom setting by analyzing the contradictions in the main character of the novel, Zarathustra. He is an epic figure in history, and Nietzche narrates his transformational journey to becoming an Übermensch or Superman. In his pursuit of becoming an Übermensch, Zarathustra struggles with the Apollonian and Dionysian forces within him in his quest to creating meaning out of his experiences. His awareness of the opposing forces and his victory of attaining transformational unity of the opposites serves as a tool for educators to inspire critical thinking and re-evaluate values. The research mainly utilized the archetypal method in the study of this epos. In the speeches of Zarathustra, his words themselves served as the basis for identifying the inner conflict within him. Zarathustra is an example of how controversial literature can be utilized in the objective of attaining self-improvement. As Zarathustra has taught us, becoming an Übermensch makes life meaningful and develops resilience, a relevant skill for students to learn during this time in history.



Author Information
Tyrene Joy Basal, Benguet State University, Philippines
Janet B. Mede, Benguet State University, Philippines
Penelope F. Tica-a, Benguet State University, Philippines

Paper Information
Conference: ACAH2021
Stream: Philosophy

This paper is part of the ACAH2021 Conference Proceedings (View)
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To cite this article:
Basal T., Mede J., & Tica-a P. (2021) The Contradictions in Zarathustra’s Character ISSN: 2186-229X – The Asian Conference on Arts & Humanities 2021 Official Conference Proceedings https://doi.org/10.22492/issn.2186-229X.2021.5
To link to this article: https://doi.org/10.22492/issn.2186-229X.2021.5


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Posted by James Alexander Gordon