Rhetoric of Zarathustra: Metaphors as an Element of Nietzsche’s Philosophy

Abstract

In this article the author analyzes Zarathustra as a literary element of text from Nietzsche’s point of view on rhetoric and nature of language. On the basis of early Nietzsche’s writings the distinction between two rhetoric regimes, stabilization of metaphors and overproduction of metaphors, has been established. In addition to this, the author reveals a conceptual correspondence between rhetoric regimes and apollonian – dionysian pair. Further it is demonstrated that in “Thus spoke Zarathustra” its main character continuously oscillates from one regime to another, and this oscillation is marked with terminological distinction between dream (Traum) and euphoria (Rausch). The author attempts to reconstruct the distinction between tragic hero, which rhetoric purpose consists in control of dionysian metaphors, and overhero-Zarathustra, with use of which Nietzsche tries to exceed an opposition between rhetoric regimes.