What are the motifs in On the Genealogy of Morals by Friedrich Nietzsche?

The ascetic ideal is a recurring idea in the book. Asceticism is an attempt to tame the animal instincts of sick, weak-willed men. The ascetic ideal is a strategy to preserve life rather than a form of living death between two worlds. The ascetic ideal ends Nietzsche's investigation in genealogy of morals. Ironically, ascetic ideal is a relatively flexible notion attractive to different characters. For example, Nietzsche notes it is nothing to artists like Richard Wagner who enjoys his sensuality in the prime of life but can be everything to that same artist learning to respect chastity in old age. To an artist the meaning of ascetic ideal may be nothing at all or all that matters. Ascetic ideal may be "flair" to a philosopher and seductive fascination to a woman.