Thus Spoke Zarathustra · Chapter
Out of Service explained
Zarathustra encounters the last pope, who served the old God until his death.
What happens
Zarathustra encounters the last pope, who served the old God until his death. The pope, now out of service and seeking a new master, reveals his intimate knowledge of God's nature and death. Zarathustra engages in a dialogue about the death of God, the nature of piety, and the priestly type, ultimately inviting the pope to his cave while acknowledging his own ungodliness.
Themes in this chapter
Death of God and Revaluation of Values
The chapter explicitly discusses the death of the old God and the implications for those who served him, leading to a revaluation of piety and belief.
Critique of Herd Morality
Zarathustra critiques the priestly type and the equivocal nature of the old God, contrasting it with his own ideal of honesty and brightness.
Pity and Contempt
The pope suggests that God died of pity for humanity, a concept Zarathustra questions, reflecting on the dangers of pity.
Characters to notice
- Zarathustra
Engages in dialogue with the last pope, reflecting on the death of God and his own ungodliness.
- The Pope Out of Service
The last pope, now without a master, seeks Zarathustra after the death of the old God and the saint in the forest.
- The Magician
Mentioned as the one Zarathustra recently freed himself from before encountering the pope.
- The Priests
Zarathustra associates the pope with the priestly type, which he critiques for equivocation and lack of clarity.
Key passages
“He was a hidden God, full of secrecy. Verily, he did not come by his son otherwise than by secret ways. At the door of his faith standeth adultery.”
The old God was secretive and his methods were indirect, even involving questionable means to produce his son.
The pope reveals his intimate knowledge of God's nature, suggesting hypocrisy and hidden motives.
“When Gods die they always die many kinds of death.”
The death of a god can be understood in multiple ways, not just one.
Zarathustra acknowledges the complexity of the death of God, refusing a single narrative.
“Is it not thy piety itself which no longer letteth thee believe in a God? And thine over-great honesty will yet lead thee even beyond good and evil!”
Your own deep piety and honesty have led you to reject belief in God, and this honesty will take you beyond conventional morality.
The pope interprets Zarathustra's unbelief as a form of piety, highlighting the paradox of his position.