Nietzsche's view of Socrates

Nietzsche's view of Socrates by Dannhauser, Werner J.. hardcover edition. ISBN: 9780801408274.

I suspect part of the reason why Nietzsche was so upset with Socrates may have been from a certain feeling of kinship. If Socrates was as he has been portrayed, then he would have been a very clever fellow, and popular in spite of being a rebel. These are qualities I think Nietzsche would have liked. But the direction Socrates took these things were so contrary to Nietzsches own views, that maybe in a sense it was like being betrayed by a friend. Take Socrates death. Even when he was put on trial for corrupting the youth, he showed a kind of indifference to authority and wit that is respected to this day. He didnt grovel for mercy or offer insincere apologies, but threw down the gauntlet and all but dared Athens to do their worst. This is exactly the kind of style one might expect from one of Nietzsches Ubermensch. The problem arises later... after being sentanced, Socrates just caves in. Its revealed that his APPARENT indifference is ACTUAL indifference. He truly doesnt care whether he dies and is willing to throw his life away to people he believes to be ignorant rather than escape. He bolsters a broken system instead of having the guts to tear it down and build a better one. In Nietzsches parlance, he proves that he is a slave and marches meekly to his own death. That Socrates tale echoes to this day is a testament to its influence. He was a millennial example of surrender instead of defiance. A real Ubermensch would have torn Athens apart for crossing him, not happily chug down their poisons. And societies that took Socrates example to heart could only become more weak, more servile, and less and less human by Nietzsches standards. The rationality Socrates showed was all well and good, but a human is not reason alone. For Nietzsche, WILL was paramount. Something Socrates chose to surrender for other, disagreeable ideals.