Dionysus is the ancient Greek god of wine, fertility, festivities, theater, and ecstasy, often associated with a freedom-loving cult that took him as its symbol. Because of his destabilizing, outsider status, Dionysus is frequently invoked to imagine alternative visions of the world, which is Nietzsche’s intention in the Socratic dialogue between the two at the end of “What Is Noble.” Dionysus wishes to make humans “Stronger, more evil, and more profound,” a distinctly different agenda for human advancement than that of moral philosophy and religion.
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Dionysus Character Timeline in Beyond Good and Evil
The timeline below shows where the character Dionysus appears in Beyond Good and Evil. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
9. What Is Noble
...citing the mockery of ancient gods as an example. Nietzsche then praises the Greek god Dionysus for his honesty and lack of shame. Dionysus, a lover of humankind, wishes to make...
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