What does the following fragments of the "The Birth of Tragedy" from Nietzsche illustrate his thinking?
1) The intimation of the poet is incapable of composing until he has become unconscious and bereft of reason.
Optimistic dialectic drives music out of tragedy with the scourge of its syllogisms: that is, it destroys the essence of tragedy, which can be interpreted only as a manifestation and illustration of Dionysian states, as the visible symbolizing of music, as the dream-world of Dionysian ecstasy.
2) Let us imagine a rising generation with this bold vision, this heroic desire for the magnificent, let us imagine the valiant step of these dragon-slayers, the proud daring with which they turn their backs on all the effeminate doctrines of optimism that they may "live resolutely," wholly, and fully: would it not be necessary for the tragic man of this culture, with his self-discipline of seriousness and terror, to desire a new art, the art of metaphysical comfort-namely, tragedy
Can someone help me? I understand what does the terms of Dionysian and Apollonian, but I still do not understand the fragments
In the fragments you provided, Nietzsche is expressing his ideas about the nature of art and the role of tragedy. To understand his thinking more clearly, we can analyze each fragment separately:
1) The first fragment highlights Nietzsche's view on the creative process of a poet. He suggests that true artistic expression occurs when the poet is no longer constrained by reason and conscious control. Instead, the poet must tap into a state of unconsciousness, allowing their artistic intuition, or what Nietzsche refers to as the "intimation of the poet," to guide their composition. By disconnecting from reason, the poet is able to access a deeper level of creativity.
2) The second fragment introduces the concept of the "tragic man" or the ideal individual in Nietzsche's proposed culture. Here, Nietzsche critiques what he calls "effeminate doctrines of optimism" and suggests that the ideal individual should have a bold vision and heroic desire for the magnificent. He describes this individual as a "dragon-slayer" who rejects optimistic worldviews and, instead, focuses on living resolutely and wholly. In this context, Nietzsche argues that such a culture would necessitate a new art form that he calls the "art of metaphysical comfort," which he identifies as tragedy.
These fragments, in conjunction with Nietzsche's larger work "The Birth of Tragedy," highlight his central ideas on the duality of human experience, encapsulated by the Apollonian and Dionysian principles. The Apollonian represents rationality, order, and beauty, while the Dionysian symbolizes irrationality, chaos, and ecstasy. Nietzsche suggests that tragedy is the perfect reflection of these principles, as it combines the Apollonian form with the Dionysian depths. Through tragedy, individuals can access a profound understanding of existence and find solace in the metaphysical realm.