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Neophilologus (2013) 97:367382 DOI 10.1007/s11061-012-9323-3
Stephen Grollman
Published online: 14 September 2012 Springer Science+Business Media B.V. 2012
Abstract This essay compares Martin Bubers Legende des Baalschem, a modern retelling of tales about the founder of Hasidism, with Nietzsches philosophical novel Also sprach Zarathustra. While scholarship to date has focused on Nietzsches ideas in Bubers essays, this analysis examines both texts as literary expressions. I argue that the narratives seek to replace conventional morality with new ethical imperatives, imperatives written in the literary guise of religious prophets, but paradoxically with a predominantly secular orientation. In Also sprach Zarathustra, Nietzsche posits a radical form of immanence that seeks to strengthen individuality, while Buber constructs a form of Jewish identity that not only afrms immanence and individual autonomy but also integrates these values into an idealized community. In terms of character, both Zarathustra and the Baalschem are similarly constructed as sovereign, creative leaders with disciples but differ in that Zarathustra becomes increasingly inner focused while the Baalschem uses mystical interiority as a tool for active participation in the Hasidic community. Thematically, both texts operate with a similar psychology of revenge as a central motive for human behavior but also confront the problem of afrming existence in immanent reality. Zarathustra afrms immanence through an ecstatic process of reconciliation with self and life, but only at the price of alienation from society. Bubers Legende also upholds an autonomous self who nds joy in life, but the Hasidic mystic furthermore creates bonds with a transcendent power and within his faith community.
Keywords Martin Buber Friedrich Nietzsche Die Legende des Baalschem
Also sprach Zarathustra Secularism Jewish mysticism Early twentieth century
German literature Jewish studies Intellectual history
S. Grollman (&)
Department of Chinese, German, and Norwegian, Concordia College, 901 8th St. S., Moorhead, MN 56560, USAe-mail: [email protected]
Prophets in a Secular Age: Nietzsches Also sprach Zarathustra and Bubers Legende des Baalschem
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368 S. Grollman
Scholars have long established the surprisingly strong inuence of Nietzsches life philosophy on Martin Bubers early writings on Zionism and Hasidic Jewish mysticism. Paul Mendes Flohr makes note in particular of the impact of Nietzsches most popular work, Also sprach Zarathustra (1968; originally published 18831885): Nietzsches imprint on both the tonality and dictionnot to speak of the contentof...