The Ass Worship Ceremony — Thus Spoke Zarathustra

After the shadow's song, the cave erupts in laughter. Zarathustra goes outside and tells his animals the guests seem better, though their joy still sounds strange in his ears. He hopes the spirit of gravity is finally retreating and that these higher men are becoming thankful again. For a moment he believes his teaching is working and that their long sickness may finally be breaking.

For a moment he feels victory. They laugh, open their hearts, and look like convalescents recovering from a long sickness. The air feels lighter, and even their old pride seems to soften. Zarathustra breathes easier and thinks perhaps laughter was the cure they needed all along. Then a sweet incense smell rises from the cave. He looks inside and freezes, unable to believe what he sees.

Every guest is on his knees praying to the donkey. Kings, pope, magician, beggar, shadow, scholar, soothsayer, and ugliest man chant a ridiculous litany praising the ass for patience, simplicity, and saying yes to everything. The donkey answers each verse with a loud YE-A. Laughter has turned into a new religion almost as fast as the old despair vanished. Zarathustra's hope turns to shock in a single breath, and he knows he must act.