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Summary
This book explores the possibility that Friedrich Nietzsche simulated his madness as a form of 'voluntary death,' and thus that his madness functioned as the symbolic culmination of his philosophy.
The book weaves together scholarly, mytho-poetic, literary critical, biographical, and dramatic genres not only to explore specifics of Nietzsche's 'madness,' but to question the 'reason/madness' opposition in nineteenth and twentieth century thinking. A rational and scholarly study of this period of Nietzsche's 'breakdown'—presented through his writings, letters, and poetry in combination with relevant historical documents and other critics' writings—is simultaneously disrupted and questioned by several non-traditional discourses or voices that break in on it. Thus, Ariadne's voice frames and unframes the research context and plays alongside it.
Ariadne's voice is poetic, revelatory, rhapsodic, and prophetic, sounding much like Nietzsche's own voice during his 'breakdown.' Ariadne's discourse attempts to seduce through a non-rational, mytho-poetic love story which culminates in the wedding of Dionysus and Ariadne. Other non-rational discourses, critically developed and based upon the work of Nietzsche, Jean Baudrillard, and Gilles Deleuze, are given voice and work together with Ariadne to counter the usual interpretations of Nietzsche's “madness” and of what “mad” discourse is. These discourses are given the names “catastrophe,” “phantasm,” “seduction.” The experiment of the book is not only to offer an entirely different perspective on Nietzche's “madness” but to offer and perform new and challenging forms of affirmative discourse.
Claudia Crawford is the author of The Beginnings of Nietzsche's Theory of Language. She has taught as Assistant Professor in Philosophy, Humanities, and Comparative Literature at the University of Minnesota, Macalester College, and Metropolitan State University in Minneapolis.
Table of Contents
Love
A Lover's Discourse
Joysong
Catastrophe
Wrenching Madness Loose from Reason
Phantasm
Seduction, Secrets, and Challenge
The Night Song
Ariadne and the Maenads
Roundelay with Chaos: In Answer to the "Night Song" Ariadne, Sa'di, and Dionysus
Drama, Tragedy, and Woman
Drama
Empedocles
The Zarathustra Drama: Parts 1 through 4
The Zarathustra Drama: Part 5
Satyr-Play
Incipit Tragoedia : The Nietzsche/Dionysus Drama or Spectacle and the Gordian Knot
Variations on the Event of Nietzsche's 'Collapse'
The Ecce Homo Scenario
On High Mountains
Ariadne's Lament and Wisdom: Cutting the Gordian Knot
Ariadne's Lament
Reflection on Love: Suffering and Joy
Ariadne's Wisdom
Ariadne to Dionysus
The Golden Bark: Die at the Right Time and in the Right Way
The Golden Bark
Voluntary Death
Culmination and Celebration, Not Martyrdom
Une Seule Condition: Divorçons...
Nietzsche Caesar
The Decent Criminal
Noel
No Coincidence!
Madness, Medical Discourse, or Script?
Psychiatric and Medical Discourse
Nietzsche's Ode to and Invocation of Madness
Script for 'Madness'?
The Glad Tidings
Interlude: Fear and Trembling
Silence
The Dionysus Dithyrambs
Epiphany
Sacred Marriage/Satyr-Marriage
Sacred Marriage: Dance!
Satyr-Marriage: Isoline/Isolin
Incipit Parodia : Of Satyrs, Asses, and Festivals
For, I Love You, O Eternity!
Wedding of Dionysus and Ariadne: Dance, Sing, Rejoice!
