Cloud Atlas Religion

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Cloud Atlas, a 2012 film directed by Tom Tykwer, Andy and Lana Wachowski examines the six interrelated and interwoven stories extending over various time periods.

The film’s title indicates its theme- a symbolic representation of the transmigration of souls. I will attempt in this paper to show how it relates to Friedrich Nietzsche’s theory of eternal recurrence/return.

This philosophical concept stipulates a universe that does not advance chronologically, but merely repeats itself over and over again. Put another way, we are all different incarnations of the same core or different forms of the same cloud of molecules.

Nietzsche’s theory is not based on or presupposes any theistic tradition but in line with a belief in re-incarnation. Cloud Atlas is based on this metaphysical premise and the characters and their sharply contrasting stories may be re-incarnations of each other. …show more content…
Revenge is responsible for the ideal of equality, the urge to punish and the excessive desire to be just.

Amidst the other works of revenge are a nihilistic hatred for the fact that the world is characterised by fewer and a longing to escape. Conceived in this way, revenge has a broad impact on human life. Zarathustra stipulates “it has become a curse for everything human that this folly has acquired spirit.”

The trait he is describing is purely reactive, negative and destructive. As such it is just the sort of trait Nietzsche would see as standing in the way of virtue. In obvious ways, it is the opposite of the spontaneous, enthusiastic and creative activity he calls “gift-giving virtue” elsewhere in Zarathustra.

Getting rid of revenge, if that should be possible would plainly be a long step towards achieving virtue as he understands it. In fact Nietzsche more or less tells us so himself “that man be delivered from revenge that is for me the bridge to the highest
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