Man vs. Superman

By:Made Inglis, Kayleigh Rozwat, and Ellen Wilson

Nietzche’s Superman

Nietzche developed the theory of the Superman , or Übermensch, in Thus Spoke Zarathustra (1883)

Influential theory in 19th century Western society did not influence Dostoevsky; Eastern Europeans

rejected Western influence

He rejected religion as a response to nihilism, which argues life is without meaning Superman created to provide values for humans to

strive for not based in religion and rooted in real people

He rejected religious idea that suffering brings a happier afterlife

Who is the Superman?

Rejects values he/she finds in outside world in favor of what they personally think is right

Brings new ideas or things to the world

Responds to the idea that life is without meaning by constantly overcoming him/herself, never stops becoming better Provides ideal for people to strive and

ultimately live for

Thesis

In Crime and Punishment Dostoyevsky expresses his disapproval of the superman theory through the characters Razumikhin and Raskolnikov and the plot of the novel.

Razumikhin Dostoevsky portrays Razumikhin as a

sympathetic and reliable character Always there for Raskolnikov

“Twice I’ve brought Zosimov to see you” (144).

“I vouched for you, brother, do you hear that?” (152).

Buys him clothes (156-157)

Razumikhin= “reason”

The reader is supposed to accept what he says as true

Razumikhin (cont.) Reactions to Raskolnikov’s article:

“’What? What on earth? A right to crime?’” (307)

“What the devil! This can’t be right!” (308).

“’What are you both doing- playing jokes, or something?...Are you being serious, Rodya?’” (313)

“ ‘…it couldn’t possibly have been… that you considered yourself… to be on eof the extraordinary people?’ ‘I wouldn’t rule it out, said Raskolnikov answered, contemptuously. Razumikhin made a movement” (315).

Raskolnikov’s Superman Theory

“An ‘extraordinary’ person has a right…not an official right, of course, but a private one, to allow his conscience to step across certain…obstacles, and then only if the execution of his idea (which may occasionally be the salvation of all mankind) requires it” (308)

Raskolnikov’s Superman Theory (cont.)

“Newton could not on any account…have become known to people other than by means of sacrificing the life of one person, the lives of ten, a hundred men or even more persons who were trying to interfere with those discoveries or stand as an obstacle in their path, then Newton would have had the right, and would even have been obliged…to get rid of those ten or a hundred persons, in order to make his discoveries known to all mankind”(309).

Raskolnikov Unreliable Voice

Raskolnikov- “Schism” Indecisive Cannot trust

Crazy Razumikhin

“I say, you’re seriously ill, do you know that?” (135)

“Hey, you’re out of your mind! Despot!” (237) Room- symbol of Raskolnikov’s mind Murderer

Plot Raskolnikov fails to prove he is a superman

Emphasizes Dostoyevsky’s viewpoint

Supermen offer new ideas “If one were to kill her and take her money…

wouldn’t one petty little crime be atoned for by all those thousands of good deeds?” (80)

Supermen get things done “Oh God! How loathsome all this is! And could I

really, could I really… No, it’s nonsensical, it’s absurd!” (12)

Plot (cont.) Raskolnikov admits he’s not a superman

“I killed the principle, but I didn’t step over it, I remained on the side of it” (326).

Feels Guilt “I told you yesterday that I wouldn’t come to ask for

forgiveness, and yet very nearly the first thing I did was ask you for forgiveness” (487-488).

Believes in Christianity “She never once offered him a new Testament. He

himself had asked for it… Until now, he had never opened it” (656).

Conclusion

Dostoyevsky stresses his point about the improbability of the superman theory through Razumikhin’s reason and disapproval, Raskolnikov’s insanity and unreliable nature, and Raskolnikov’s inability to prove his own theory to be legitimate.

Discussion Questions Do you agree/disagree

with Dostoyevsky’s opinion? Why or why not?

Raskolnikov focused on violent/negative aspects of the superman. Are there other traits that are positive of the superman?

Compare contrast our society's morality (American) to 19th century Russian culture's morality.  What traits are universal?

Works Cited

Bradley, Derek. “Neitzche.” Homepage.

Michigan State University. Web. 16

October 2011.

Dostoevsky, Fyodor. Crime and Punishment.

London: Penguin Books, 2003. Print.