The Tightrope

The crowd came for a show, and it gets one: a man steps out onto a rope strung between two towers and does not reach the other side. Nietzsche's Prologue ends with Zarathustra carrying the body. Most scholars agree on who the tightrope walker stands for; Martin, who translated the scene, thinks they are wrong, and his answer changes the clown, the burial, and the whole shape of the book's opening. Then the reading turns personal. On a live call, Martin is asked whether he takes himself too seriously, and his reply comes out of a life that nearly ended more than once.

Content note: this episode includes discussion of suicide. If you or someone you love is struggling, or thinking about suicide, you don't have to carry it alone. In the United States, you can call or text 988, the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, any time, or chat online at 988lifeline.org. Outside the United States, findahelpline.com lists free, confidential support lines by country.