Part 3/8:
Transitioning to his early life, the narrative shifts to Nietzsche’s return to academia in Basel after serving as a medical orderly during the Franco-Prussian War. His experiences in the war left him in poor health and battling depression, emphasizing his growing disenchantment with academia. Much to his disappointment, attempts to either leave teaching or obtain a prestigious philosophy chair were met with rejection. As he languished in a fog of illness, his longing to escape and work directly within the artistic community—in particular, engaging with Richard Wagner—grew increasingly palpable.