by Carolina Uribe

Created on: April 22, 2008

Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche was born on 15th October 1844 and grew up in the small town of Rcken, near Leipzig, Prussia. He attended first a boy's school and later a private school. He graduated in 1864 and commenced his studies in theology and classical philology at the University of Bonn. However, he soon found that wasn't particularly fond of theology studies, and dropped them to study philosophy at the University of Leipzig. In 1869, after his graduation, he became a professor of classical philosophy at the University of Basel.

Since childhood, various disruptive illnesses had plagued him moments of short-sightedness practically to the degree of blindness, migraine headaches, and violent stomach attacks. He also suffered from diphtheria and dysentery, and in the latest years of his life, he had two strokes that partially paralysed him and left him unable to speak or to walk. Finally, after contracting pneumonia in mid-August 1900, he had another stroke during the night of 24th of August and died on August 25.

During his life, Nietzsche wrote several books and letters ranging from metaphysics to morality and from religion to sexes that remain largely unpublished due to its controversial context. Even nowadays no real consensus exists on the interpretation of his works.

"Thus Spoke Zarathustra" was written in 1885 and it is divided into four different sections. He uses a Persian religious leader, Zarathustra to voice his views, including an introduction of the controversial "Ubermensch" or "Superman". A term later perverted by Nazi propagandist. He employs a unique passionate style, a combination of quasi-biblical oratory and playfulness to inspire his readers.

The ancient prophet Zarathustra descends from his mountain retreat to awaken the world to its new salvation. He is to teach them how to live a fulfilling life in a world without meaning, in the aftermath of "the death of God". The world has to forget what two thousand years of history has taught him about good and evil and has to take in the Greek values such as nobility, pride and victory. The existence of the human race is justified only by the exceptional among us the "Superman"- whose self-mastery and strong "will to power" frees him from the common prejudices and assumptions of the day.

"Thus Spoke Zarathustra" it is a 19th Century masterpiece which has greatly influenced arts and philosophers from all sort backgrounds around the world.

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