# The Superman — Thus Spoke Zarathustra character guide > The Superman in Thus Spoke Zarathustra by Friedrich Nietzsche. **Role:** supporting **Also known as:** Superman **First appearance:** 0001-zarathustra-s-prologue ## Snapshot The not-yet-existing being Zarathustra proclaims as humanity's meaning—a lightning out of the dark cloud of man, demanding self-overcoming. ## Who they are The Superman exists only as Zarathustra's teaching and provocation, a future ideal set against the 'last men' who have traded aspiration for comfort. The crowd's mocking counter-offer—'make us into these last men instead'—exposes the gap between Zarathustra's vision and his listeners' desires. This unbridgeable distance drives the early arc: Zarathustra must abandon speaking to the herd and seek instead those rare individuals capable of becoming bridges rather than ends. ## Relationships ### [Zarathustra](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/thus_spoke_zarathustra_se/characters/zarathustra) _psychological_ The Superman is Zarathustra's idealized vision and ultimate goal, a future being he preaches but never fully embodies. ### [The Higher Men](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/thus_spoke_zarathustra_se/characters/the_higher_men) _psychological_ The Higher Men are flawed precursors who misunderstand the Superman, often mistaking their own petty ambitions for his greatness. ### [The Tarantulas](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/thus_spoke_zarathustra_se/characters/the_tarantulas) _rivalry_ The Superman's affirmation of hierarchy and power directly contradicts the Tarantulas' doctrine of equality and revenge. ### [The Priests](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/thus_spoke_zarathustra_se/characters/the_priests) _rivalry_ The Superman's this-worldly self-overcoming directly invalidates the Priests' reliance on divine grace and afterlife. ### [Zarathustra](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/thus_spoke_zarathustra_se/characters/zarathustra) _psychological_ The Superman is Zarathustra's idealized vision and ultimate goal, a future being he preaches but never fully embodies. ### [The Tarantulas](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/thus_spoke_zarathustra_se/characters/the_tarantulas) _rivalry_ The Superman's affirmation of hierarchy and power directly contradicts the Tarantulas' doctrine of equality and revenge. ### [The Higher Men](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/thus_spoke_zarathustra_se/characters/the_higher_men) _psychological_ The Higher Men are flawed precursors who misunderstand the Superman, often mistaking their own petty ambitions for his greatness. ### [Zarathustra](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/thus_spoke_zarathustra_se/characters/zarathustra) _psychological_ The Superman is Zarathustra's idealized vision and ultimate goal, a future being he preaches but never fully embodies. ### [The Tarantulas](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/thus_spoke_zarathustra_se/characters/the_tarantulas) _rivalry_ The Superman's affirmation of hierarchy and power directly contradicts the Tarantulas' doctrine of equality and revenge. ## In the story ### [Part I: Zarathustra’s Discourses](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/thus_spoke_zarathustra_se/chapters/part-i-zarathustra-s-discourses) The ideal of human self-overcoming that Zarathustra proclaims as the meaning of the earth. ### [Zarathustra's Prologue](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/thus_spoke_zarathustra_se/chapters/zarathustra-s-prologue) Introduced as the goal of humanity, the meaning of the earth, and the opposite of the last man. ### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/thus_spoke_zarathustra_se/chapters/iii) Zarathustra introduces the Superman as the meaning of the earth, a sea that can submerge great contempt, and a lightning and frenzy. ### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/thus_spoke_zarathustra_se/chapters/iv) The Superman is presented as the goal and lightning that Zarathustra heralds. ### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/thus_spoke_zarathustra_se/chapters/v) The crowd mockingly offers to give Zarathustra the Superman if he makes them into last men. ### [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/thus_spoke_zarathustra_se/chapters/vi) Implied as the 'better one' the buffoon claims the rope dancer blocks; the rope dancer's fall contrasts with the Übermensch ideal. ### [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/thus_spoke_zarathustra_se/chapters/vii) Referenced by Zarathustra as the sense of existence, the lightning out of the dark cloud of man. ### [The New Truth](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/thus_spoke_zarathustra_se/chapters/ix) Referenced as the goal toward which Zarathustra will guide his companions. ### [Zarathustra's Prologue](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/thus_spoke_zarathustra_se/chapters/x) Zarathustra proclaims the Superman as the meaning of the earth, urging the crowd to overcome themselves. ### [Backworldsmen](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/thus_spoke_zarathustra_se/chapters/iii-backworldsmen) Implied as the goal of overcoming: Zarathustra wishes for the sickly to become convalescents and overcomers, creating higher bodies. ### [IV: The Despisers of the Body](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/thus_spoke_zarathustra_se/chapters/iv-the-despisers-of-the-body) Referenced as the goal that the despisers of the body fail to become bridges to. ### [VI: The Pale Criminal](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/thus_spoke_zarathustra_se/chapters/vi-the-pale-criminal) Referenced as the ultimate justification for survival and love, contrasting with the pale criminal's self-contempt. ### [VII: Reading and Writing](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/thus_spoke_zarathustra_se/chapters/vii-reading-and-writing) Implied as the ideal who writes with blood, climbs peaks, and dances beyond the spirit of gravity. ### [X: War and Warriors](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/thus_spoke_zarathustra_se/chapters/x-war-and-warriors) Referenced as the highest thought: man is something to be surpassed, the goal of the warrior's striving. ### [The New Idol](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/thus_spoke_zarathustra_se/chapters/xi-the-new-idol) Referenced as the rainbow and bridges beyond the state, the goal for great souls. ### [The Friend](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/thus_spoke_zarathustra_se/chapters/xiv-the-friend) Referenced as the ultimate goal toward which a friend should be an arrow and a longing. ### [XVI: Neighbour-Love](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/thus_spoke_zarathustra_se/chapters/xvi-neighbour-love) Referenced as the ultimate motive and goal of love, the friend as a foretaste of the Superman. ### [Old and Young Women](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/thus_spoke_zarathustra_se/chapters/xviii-old-and-young-women) Zarathustra tells women to let their hope say: 'May I bear the Superman!' ### [Child and Marriage](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/thus_spoke_zarathustra_se/chapters/xx-child-and-marriage) Referenced as the ultimate goal that love and marriage should inspire longing for. ### [The Bestowing Virtue](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/thus_spoke_zarathustra_se/chapters/xxii-the-bestowing-virtue) Referenced as the goal of mankind, to be desired after the death of all gods. ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/thus_spoke_zarathustra_se/chapters/ii) Mentioned as the ultimate outcome of a chosen people who will arise from the lonesome ones. ### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/thus_spoke_zarathustra_se/chapters/iii) Referenced as the goal of human striving after the death of the gods. ### [XXIII: The Child with the Mirror](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/thus_spoke_zarathustra_se/chapters/part-ii-xxiii-the-child-with-the-mirror) Implicitly referenced as the ideal Zarathustra fears is being misrepresented by his enemies. ### [In the Happy Isles](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/thus_spoke_zarathustra_se/chapters/part-ii-xxiv-in-the-happy-isles) Presented as the goal of human creation, whose beauty appears to Zarathustra as a shadow. ### [XXVI: The Priests](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/thus_spoke_zarathustra_se/chapters/part-ii-xxvi-the-priests) Referenced as the unattained ideal; Zarathustra states 'Never yet hath there been a Superman.' ### [XXIX: The Tarantulas](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/thus_spoke_zarathustra_se/chapters/part-ii-xxix-the-tarantulas) Zarathustra invokes his love for the Superman as the reason he cannot preach equality: 'What would be my love to the Superman, if I spake otherwise?' ### [XXXV: The Sublime Ones](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/thus_spoke_zarathustra_se/chapters/part-ii-xxxv-the-sublime-ones) Referenced as the 'superhero' that approaches the soul when the hero has abandoned it. ### [XXXIX: Poets](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/thus_spoke_zarathustra_se/chapters/part-ii-xxxix-poets) Mentioned as a 'gaudy puppet' set on clouds by poets, alongside Gods. ### [XLIII: Manly Prudence](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/thus_spoke_zarathustra_se/chapters/part-ii-xliii-manly-prudence) Referenced as the distant goal that Zarathustra longs for; the 'highest men' would fear him as a devil. ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/thus_spoke_zarathustra_se/chapters/part-iii-ii) Implied in the transfigured shepherd who laughs and overcomes the serpent. ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/thus_spoke_zarathustra_se/chapters/part-iii-ii) Implied as the goal of the healthy selfishness and the powerful soul that Zarathustra celebrates. ### [LVI: Old and New Tables](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/thus_spoke_zarathustra_se/chapters/part-iii-lvi-old-and-new-tables) Referenced as the goal beyond man, the bridge to be surpassed. ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/thus_spoke_zarathustra_se/chapters/part-iii-ii) Implied as the creating one who gives the earth its meaning and future. ### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/thus_spoke_zarathustra_se/chapters/part-iii-iii) Referenced as the word Zarathustra picked up from the path, representing that man is something to be surpassed. ### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/thus_spoke_zarathustra_se/chapters/part-iii-iv) Implied as the goal of surpassing man, the Übermensch is the horizon of Zarathustra's exhortation. ### [XXIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/thus_spoke_zarathustra_se/chapters/part-iii-xxiv) Referenced as the ultimate aim of love and marriage. ### [XXVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/thus_spoke_zarathustra_se/chapters/part-iii-xxvii) Implied as the goal beyond the good and just. ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/thus_spoke_zarathustra_se/chapters/part-iii-ii) Referenced in the animals' speech as the one Zarathustra announces again to man. ### [The Higher Man](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/thus_spoke_zarathustra_se/chapters/part-iv-lxxiii-the-higher-man) Referred to as the ultimate goal; Zarathustra declares that the Superman is his only concern, not man or the neighbor. ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/thus_spoke_zarathustra_se/chapters/part-iv-ii) The desired goal after God's death, whom Zarathustra urges the higher men to live for. ### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/thus_spoke_zarathustra_se/chapters/part-iv-iii) The first and only thing at Zarathustra's heart; the goal beyond man. ### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/thus_spoke_zarathustra_se/chapters/part-iv-v) Referenced as the goal for which the evilest is necessary. ### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/thus_spoke_zarathustra_se/chapters/part-iv-iii) Implied as the ideal that the poet's desires aim toward, beyond the herd. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/thus_spoke_zarathustra_se/characters/the_superman - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/thus_spoke_zarathustra_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/thus_spoke_zarathustra_se/characters