ON SLEEPLESSNESS: NIETZSCHE’S ZARATHUSTRA

Here, we aim to examine the notion of sleeplessness in Nietzsche’s thought, especially focusing on his famous character, Zarathustra. By following the narrative in Thus Spoke Zarathustra (Z), we present how the sleeplessness is a productively crucial element in Zarathustra’s journey. Throughout this journey, it becomes obvious that for him, his sleeplessness is not a problem that he needs to solve, but on the contrary, it enables him in his path to overcome himself and self-actualization. First, we shape a framework for the meaning of sleeplessness to present it as a medium that makes it possible to experience some elements of reality which are otherwise unattainable. Then we make a detailed reading of the subsection titled On the Teachers of Virtue which is the part of Z that deals with the notion of sleep and sleeplessness in extent. Here, we examine the remarks of the character, wise man, regarding the sleep and its connotations. In this section, we make a comparative reading between the wise man’s advocation of sleep and Zarathustra’s critique of this advocation. Later, we continue towards explaining how this element of sleeplessness can be considered as the source for a specific sense of lucidity which is not reachable by sleep or being awake. In conclusion, sleeplessness (and the notion of insomnia as taken not medically but philosophically) can be thought as an inseparable part of Zarathustra’s character which enables him in overcoming himself. Zarathustra is becoming who he is becoming on his path, through his sleeplessness.