When Nietzsche Wept: A Novel Of Obsession

Breuer considers the hypocrisy inherent in Nietzsche’s attempts to rid him of his obsessive thoughts about Bertha. Having seen Nietzsche’s letters to Lou, Breuer realizes that Nietzsche is contending with similar obsessions. Breuer begins the next session by describing a dream he had. Nietzsche is in the dream, dressed as a general. Breuer has dropped a razor between a crack in the floor, and each time Nietzsche tries to retrieve it, the razor becomes further lodged inside the crack. The two men then begin interpreting the symbolism of the dream, and Breuer suggests that their sessions are effectively driving the razor deeper into him rather than removing it from him. They then start discussing more practical solutions for Breuer’s obsessive thoughts about Bertha. These include reframing, thinking of her in her worst moments, pinching himself when he thinks of her, and shouting “stop” when he thinks of her. Nietzsche significantly mentions his friend Paul Ree for the first time as a way of pointing out how perceptions of the same situation yield differing realities. Breuer continues to feel as though the intellectual approach to his despair is not helping him, and when Nietzsche recommends that he look at the problem from a cosmic