This text comes from the period when Nietzsche was composing his main work of the early period, the famous "The Birth of Tragedy" (1872), which was ultimately incorporated to a great extent. As it presents a very important part of the analysis of the work he was writing at the time, the philosopher printed it in a limited number of copies in order to give it to his acquaintances and experts to judge it and give their opinion.

The text develops Nietzsche's central analysis of how Euripides, by applying the principles of Socratic rationalism, undermined the foundation of ancient drama - the musical and Dionysian element - and thus led it to extinction. In addition, it presents Nietzsche's interpretation of significant tragedies ("Prometheus Bound", "Oedipus the King" and "Oedipus at Colonus", "The Bacchae"). Finally, in its last paragraphs, it makes it clear that the contrast and conflict between the profound pessimistic Dionysian spirit and the shallow optimistic Socratic spirit is not just a historical issue, but the decisive factor that determines the course of European civilization in the present and the future.

This small text, as it has largely been incorporated into "The Birth of Tragedy", is rarely presented on its own. However, because it presents one of the most important analyses of that work in a coherent and complete form, it can and should be read independently.