Chapter 15 The Birth of Tragedy Chapter 1

birth of tragedy Chapter One If we arrive at not only a logical judgment, but an intuitive ascertainment, that the continuous development of art is related to the two types, Apollo and Dionysus, just as fertility depends on the male and female in a constant struggle. , only occasionally reconciled; then, we will contribute a lot to aesthetics.These two terms, which we borrow from the ancient Greeks, enabled the sensitive mind to grasp the profound mysteries of the Greek conception of art, not in conception, of course, but in their very definite iconography. Onissus, the two Greek gods of art, we recognize that in the ancient Greek world, between the sculptural art of Apollo and the non-figurative musical art of Dionysus, formed a kind of In sharp contrast, these two tendencies, so different, ran side by side with each other, but mostly broke openly.Constantly reborn by stimulating each other, this contradiction is perpetuated in the struggle, and the common term "art" only superficially bridges them; Combined, the result is an Attic tragic work of art that is both Dionysian and Apollonian. ①In order to understand these two tendencies more deeply, let us first regard them as two divergent artistic realms, the dream state and the drunk state. These two physiological phenomena show a contrast, similar to the Apollonian type and the Dionysian type. comparison.Luocretius once imagined that the majestic gods first appeared to the human mind in dreams, and the great sculptor also saw the brilliant forms of these superhuman spirits in dreams.If you asked the ancient Greek poet the secret of the composition of poetry, he would also bring up dreams, as Hans Sachs said in Meistersinger, to teach you:

This, my friend, is the poet's duty; To clarify and record your dreams. Believe me, the most real phantom in the world Often appears to people in dreams; all poetry and all poetry It is but an illustration of a dream of reality. ① In this article, Nietzsche uses the attributes of Apollo, the god of beauty, to represent the quiet beauty of plastic arts, and the letters of Dionysus, the god of wine, to represent the excitement of music art. He uses the two terms "Apollo" and "Dionysus" There are many nouns. For the sake of understanding, I will simply translate the former as "Oneiroi" or "Dream Realm", and the latter as "Bacchanalia" or "Drunk Realm".

The beautiful illusions of dreams—in which every man is a consummate artist—are the prerequisites of all plastic arts, and not only this, but are even the chief ingredient of poetry, as we shall see below. .In dreams we have the pleasure of apprehending images directly, and all dream-images speak to us, none of which is unimportant or superfluous.But even when the dream reality is at its highest, we still feel, at least in my experience, the twilight semblance of the dream; as to the frequency and regularity of this semblance, I can cite many examples and the words of poets.Philosophers even have a premonition that beneath the objective reality in which we live lies another reality, quite different, which is also an illusion.Schopenhauer thinks that a genius who occasionally regards human beings and things as mere phantoms and dreamscapes is a sign of philosophical talent.Therefore, a person with a keen sense of beauty is related to the reality of dreams as a philosopher is to the reality of life; he is a subtle and willing observer, because he understands the meaning of life from these pictures Experience to train yourself to treat life.This is not only a pleasant and friendly picture that he has experienced personally, but also all serious, sad, melancholy, melancholy emotions, sudden obstacles, teasing of fate, restless expectations, in short, the essence of life. The entire "Divine Comedy" and its "Infernal Chapter" flashed before his eyes, not just like a mirror, because he was living and suffering in these scenes, but he still couldn't help feeling like a flash in the pan.Perhaps, many people will remember as I do. In the danger and terror of the dream, they sometimes encourage themselves and often succeed in shouting: "It is a dream, I will just dream it!" I have also heard that Someone can continue to experience the same dream sequence three or four nights in a row: these facts provide evidence that the depths of our psyche, the bottom layer of our everyday life, are transformed into dreams in which we experience deep ecstasy and Pleasantly inevitable.

The ancient Greeks embodied this pleasant inevitability of dream experience in the god Apollo, because Apollo is the god of all shaping powers and at the same time the god of prophecy.Apollo, literally meaning "the radiant god," is the god of light and presides over the beautiful illusions of our inner world of illusion.This is a higher truth, a state of bliss that is different from the intangible daily life, a profound awareness of the healing effect of nature in sleep and dream, and it is also the symbol of prophecy and all art. Meaning is worth remembering.Be aware, however, that there is a fine line which cannot be crossed by dreamscapes, lest there be a pathological effect in which we mistake false appearances for ordinary reality—we must not ignore this in imagining the image of Apollo ; the god of sculpture exhibits moderate self-control, without wild passions, but with intellectual serenity.His eyes must be "as bright as the sun," to be true to his source; even when he is in a fit of rage or looks downcast, his beauty is holy.So, in a sense, we might as well apply to Apollo what Schopenhauer said about the man hidden in the veil of "Maja" (Maja): In the sea, the boatman sits in a boat and is supported by a small boat; so, in this world of suffering; the lonely man has to sit still and rely on the principle of individuality (Prinoipium individuationis) for support" (see The World of Will and Appearance, Vol. ).In fact, we may say that this spirit of self-confidence and peace of mind found its highest expression in Apollo, the god of dreams; Explains to us all the joy and wisdom of the "Masquerade," and its beauty.

In this article Schopenhauer again describes to us the terrible dismay a person feels when he is suddenly bewildered about the way of knowing reality, when the theorems on which he is based seem to encounter exceptions in every case.If, to this terror, we add this ecstatic intoxication which arises from the depths of the human heart, even from the soul, when the principle of individuality breaks down; Nature, it may be most appropriate to compare it to drunkenness.Either when primitive people and primitive peoples sang songs under the influence of wine, or when spring approached and all things flourished, Dionysus' passion was awakened; But forget me.Therefore, in the German Middle Ages, there were often hordes of choruses traveling around, singing and dancing, which was also due to this Dionysian impulse.Among the song and dancers on St. John's Day and St. Vitus' Day, we see the face of the Dionysian chorus in ancient Greece. A en).Some people, because of inexperience or dull mind, think that they are healthy of mind, and avoid it with sarcasm or pity, saying that this phenomenon is a "folk disease"; ", how pale and ghostly they are compared with the ardent exuberance of the Dionysian chorus!

Under the magic of Dionysus, not only the unity between people is strengthened again, even the alienated, hostile, and subdued nature once again celebrates her reconciliation with her prodigal son human beings.The earth offered tribute generously, beasts came peacefully from the precipice and desert, the chariot of Dionysus was decorated with flowers and garlands, and tigers and leopards drove under his yoke.You try to draw Beethoven's "Ode to Joy" into a picture, and you use your imagination to contemplate the multitudes of people who are stunned and worshiping.You will be able to experience the magic of Dionysus.At this time, slaves are also free people; at this time, the stubborn and hostile barriers erected between people by arbitrary ethics and "shameful customs" are suddenly overthrown; at this time, in the gospel of world unity, people Not only do I feel that I am united, reconciled, and harmonious with my neighbors, but also that they are all of one mind; it seems that the curtain of "magic" has been torn in an instant, but it is still falling like a leaf in front of the mysterious "Tai Yi".While singing and dancing, a person feels that he is a member of a higher society; he forgets his steps and words; he is about to dance and fly away!There was a charm in his gesture.Just as animals can speak human language now, just as milk and honey flow out from the earth now, so a supernatural voice emanates from the depths of his heart.He felt that he was a god, and he was fascinated by it, wandering about in the air, just like the solitary god he saw in his dream.He is no longer an artist, but a work of art; under the trembling of intoxication, all natural artistic talents are revealed, reaching the highest level of "Taiyi" and the joy of carnival.Man, the noblest dust, the most precious white stone, is kneaded and carved in an instant; in response to the chisel of the cosmic artist Dionysus, people utter the secret of Eleusis. Yi's cry: "O common people, have you bowed down? O world, can you see your creator?"①

① Dionysus sacrifice is a mystery ritual of ancient Greek folk beliefs. In myths and legends, it is closely related to the mystery ritual of Eleusis' "Earth Mother Sacrifice", both of which are related to ancient Greek agricultural production.