Abstract

A book for all and none, Thus spoke Zarathustra definitely occupies a special place within Nietzsche’s writings. Already in its Prologue, the German philosopher introduces original conceptions and sui generis characters, such as the notion of overman and the tightrope walker and the jester. By exploring the rich narrative mediation and the fine text references that form these two symbolic personae, as well as the possible meanings conveyed to the overcoming of “human” type, the present article aims at shedding a new light on one of the most discussed topics of Nietzsche’s philosophical legacy.