Goethe, Nietzsche, and Wagner : their Spinozan epics of love and power

The author reads Goethe's __Faust__ as the first epic written under Spinoza's influence. He shows how its thematic development is governed by Spinoza's pantheistic naturalism. He further contends that Wagner and Nietzsche have tried to surpass their mentor Goethe's work by writing their own Spinozan epics of love and power in __The Ring of the Nibelung__ and __Thus Spoke Zarathustra__. These Spinozan epics are designed to succeed the Christian epics in the Western literary tradition. Whereas the Christian epics dared to groom human beings for their destiny in the supernatural world, the Spinozan epics try to reinstate humanity as the children of Mother Nature and overcome their alienation from the natural world, which had been dictated by the long reign of Christianity. However, it has been well noted that none of these new epics seems to hang together thematically as a coherent work. By his Spinozan reading, the author not only demonstrates the thematic unity of each of them singly, but further illustrates their thematic relation with each other. Contents 8 Preface 10 Abbreviations 24 1. The Superman in Estrangement (Faust, Prologue and Part One) 26 The Superman and the Earthling 30 The Earthling and the Devil 42 Erotic Love and its Bestial Power 54 Death on the Trail of Hope 65 2 The Superman in Fantasy (Faust, Part Two, Acts 1-3) 73 The Bond of Community 73 Order out of Chaos 79 The Voyage of Evolution 91 Spirit in Search of Body 97 The Marriage of Faust and Helen 105 3 The Superman in Defiance (Faust, Part Two, Acts 4-5) 115 War against Nature 116 Showdown with Care 126 The Turning Point and the Final Vision 132 4 Redemption of the Superman (Faust, Epilogue) 143 The Battle over Faust's Soul 144 The Masculine/Feminine Duality 152 The Faustian Allegory 163 Mysticism beyond Polarities 173 Faust for Today 179 5 Nietzsche's Superman (Zarathustra, Prologue and Part One) 188 The Stages of Spiritual Development (Part 1.1-14) 192 The Way of Creation (Part I.15-22) 199 6 The Suffering Soul (Zarathustra, Part Two) 206 Suffering and Redemption (Part II.2-8) 207 A Dark Night of the Soul (secs. 9-11) 209 Life and the Will to Power (Part 1.12-17) 213 Descent to the Abyss (Part II.18-19) 218 The Will and the Past (Part II.20) 220 The Collision of Two Wills (secs. 21-22) 225 7 The Twofold Self (Zarathustra, Part Three) 231 The Eternal Universe (Part III.2-4) 232 Perfection of the Creative Self (Part III. 5-12) 235 The Monster from the Abyss (Part III.13) 237 The Cosmic Self (Part III.14 and 15) 241 Longing for Eternity (Part III.16) 247 8 The Dionysian Redemption (Zarathustra, Part Four) 258 The Higher Men (Part IV.2-9) 260 Prelude (Part IV.10-16) 264 The Ass Festival (Part IV.17-18) 267 The Midnight Bell (Part IV.19) 272 From Darkness into Sunlight (Part IV.20) 278 The New Dionysian Self 287 The Zarathustrian Epic Cycle 291 9 Mystical Naturalism (from Goethe to Nietzsche) 294 Mythical Naturalism 297 Scientific Naturalism 306 Reductive Naturalism 309 Beyond Scientific Reduction 314 Two Remedies for Nausea 317 10 Wagner's Superhero (The Ring of the Nibelung) 323 The World of Power 327 The Hero of Accidents 334 The Victims of Accidents 341 The Will to Power 349 Three Types of Love 363 The Eternal Feminine 375 The Return to Erda 383 Selected Bibliography 393 Index 396 About the Author 402 ISBN-13:,9780739111277,(cloth:,alk.,paper),ISBN-I0:,0-7391-1127-2,(cloth:,alk.,paper),ISBN-13:,978-0-7391-1128-4,(pbk.,:,alk.,paper),ISBN-I0:,0-7391-1128-0,(pbk.,:,alk.,paper)

the Author Reads Goethe's Faust As The First Epic Written Under Spinoza's Influence. He Shows How Its Thematic Development Is Governed By Spinoza's Pantheistic Naturalism. He Further Contends That Wagner And Nietzsche Have Tried To Surpass Their Mentor Goethe's Work By Writing Their Own Spinozan Epics Of Love And Power In The Ring Of The Nibelung And Thus Spoke Zarathustra. These Spinozan Epics Are Designed To Succeed The Christian Epics In The Western Literary Tradition. Whereas The Christian Epics Dared To Groom Human Beings For Their Destiny In The Supernatural World, The Spinozan Epics Try To Reinstate Humanity As The Children Of Mother Nature And Overcome Their Alienation From The Natural World, Which Had Been Dictated By The Long Reign Of Christianity. However, It Has Been Well Noted That None Of These New Epics Seems To Hang Together Thematically As A Coherent Work. By His Spinozan Reading, The Author Not Only Demonstrates The Thematic Unity Of Each Of Them Singly, But Further Illustrates Their Thematic Relation With Each Other.