Thus Spoke Zarathustra · Chapter
The Ass-Festival explained
Zarathustra interrupts his guests during a mock religious ceremony in which they worship an ass, rebuking them for their childish piety and idolatry.
What happens
Zarathustra interrupts his guests during a mock religious ceremony in which they worship an ass, rebuking them for their childish piety and idolatry. The pope, the wanderer and shadow, the magician, the conscientious in spirit, and the ugliest man each defend their participation, revealing a complex interplay of belief, unbelief, and the reawakening of the old God. Zarathustra ultimately embraces their newfound joy and declares the ass-festival a good omen for convalescents, urging them to celebrate it in remembrance of him.
Themes in this chapter
Death of God and Revaluation of Values
The ugliest man's claim that he has reawakened the old God and the pope's defense of adoring God in any form highlight the tension between the death of God and the lingering need for worship.
Critique of Herd Morality
Zarathustra's rebuke of the higher men for their childish piety and idolatry critiques the herd-like return to religious practices even among those who should know better.
Pity and Contempt
Zarathustra's astonishment and strong words toward his guests reflect his contempt for their regression, yet he ultimately accepts their joy, showing a complex interplay of pity and approval.
Characters to notice
- Zarathustra
Interrupts the ass-festival, rebukes the higher men for their idolatry, and later blesses their joyful celebration as a sign of convalescence.
- The Pope Out of Service
Defends the worship of the ass, arguing that adoring God in any form is better than no form at all, and that the dictum 'God is a Spirit' led to unbelief.
- The Wanderer
Claims the old God lives again due to the ugliest man, and that God's death is merely a prejudice.
- The Magician
Admits the ass-worship was stupid and repugnant to him, but participated nonetheless.
- The Conscientious in Spirit
Finds the spectacle agreeable to his conscience, suggesting that God seems most worthy of belief in the form of an ass, and that the wise may become infatuated with stupidity.
- The Ugliest Man
Lies on the ground giving wine to the ass, claims Zarathustra taught him that one kills most thoroughly by laughter, and is accused of reawakening the old God.
Key passages
“Better to adore God so, in this form, than in no form at all!”
It is preferable to worship God in a ridiculous form than to have no object of worship at all.
The pope justifies the ass-worship as a necessary outlet for religious sentiment.
“Not by wrath but by laughter doth one kill”
The most effective way to destroy something is through mockery, not anger.
The ugliest man recalls Zarathustra's own teaching to explain the playful yet deadly nature of the ass-festival.
“To be sure: except ye become as little children ye shall not enter into that kingdom of heaven. But we do not at all want to enter into the kingdom of heaven: we have become men— so we want the kingdom of earth.”
While becoming childlike is necessary for heaven, we have matured and therefore seek the earthly realm instead.
Zarathustra reinterprets the Christian ideal, affirming a worldly, earthly focus for the higher men.