When Nietzsche Wept

Main Characters and Their Development

• Josef Breuer: One of the main characters, an outstanding physician and psychotherapist. At the beginning of the book, he experiences professional and personal burnout, but through his interactions with Nietzsche and their joint sessions, he gradually comes to understand his inner conflicts and gains a new perspective on his life and work.
• Friedrich Nietzsche: A great philosopher suffering from physical and emotional problems. At the start of the book, he is extremely withdrawn and distrustful, but through sessions with Breuer, he begins to reveal his inner suffering and philosophical ideas, which helps him better understand himself and his relationships with others.
• Lou Salomé: A young and charismatic woman who plays an important role in the lives of Nietzsche and Breuer. She is the catalyst for the events of the book, urging Breuer to treat Nietzsche. Her complex relationships with Nietzsche and her influence on Breuer reveal the depth of her character and motivations.
• Mathilde Breuer: Josef Breuer’s wife, who feels distant from her husband because of his immersion in work. As the story develops, she becomes an important element in Breuer’s understanding of his family and personal problems.