Nietzsche, Wagner and the Philosophy of Pessimism [Paperback]

Nietzsches relationship with Wagner has long been a source of controversy and has given rise to a number of important studies, including this major breakthrough in Nietzsche scholarship, first published in 1982. In this work Hollinrake contends that the nature and extent of the anti-Wagnerian pastiche and polemic in Thus Spake Zarathustrais arguably the most important factor in the association between the two. Thus Wagner, as the purveyor of a particular brand of Schopenhauerian pessimism, is here revealed as one of the principle sources  and targets  of Zarathustra. Whilst addressed primarily to students of German Literature, this book will also be of interest to musicians, philosophers and students of the history of culture and ideas.

Part 1: Zarathustra and Der Ring1. Der Ring des Nibelungen2. Zarathustras Going Down 3. Schopenhauer and Der Ring4. Two Notes on Der Ring 5. The Convalescent 6. Zarathustras Rondelay 7. Zarathustras Great Noon 8. Nietzsches Affirmation: Summary Part 2: Zarathustra and Parsifal9. Parsifal 10. Zarathustras Temptation 11. The Cry of Distress 12. The Dissolution of the Trinity: Summary