Superman Will Fly No More
Fyodor Dostoevski's Crime and Punishment follows the main character Raskolnikov as he attempts to prove his theories on the possibility of a "superman" having the power to transgress the law and morality because he is more "extraordinary" than the common man. Throughout his journey testing his theory, the author not only uses the main character as a representation of how such an egotistical theory isn't true, but also uses another character, Svidrigailov, as an example of the philosophy's fallibility. In Crime and Punishment, Dostoevski characterizes Svidrigailov as the embodiment of evil as he represents the Nietzsche "superman," and through Svidrigailov's death, proves his belief in the inability of anyone's will to exist above humanity in the world. Arkady Ivanovitch Svidrigailov is a character based on the philosophical ideas of Nietzsche, known for his beliefs that it is possible for a "superman" to be so great that laws, morals, and ethics can't touch him in the sense that he's not physically of emotionally punished. This extraordinary man does not exist for the benefit of society, but only for his own self-gratification. He also believes that his will is above that of any Supreme being, therefore God does not exist.
"To put it bluntly, you are repulsive," Raskolnikov says. Svidrigailov's death symbolizes Dostoevski's belief that no man can set himself apart from humanity. "Something seemed to lift in his heart, and it may not only have been the weight of his fear of death [. He caused the death of Petya, poisoned his wife, Marfa Petrovna, and makes no defense when questioned about it by Raskolnikov. No superman is above the morals of society and no superman can transgress the law. With no higher form of life to punish him, he is able to assert his will freely as he chooses. So went the sacrifice of the man to who good and evil were equivalent and murder and generosity were morally neutral. In order to be a superman, one must live a life devoid of all human contact, which is impossible. This correlation between the hatred of Svidrigailov and his personification of the superman theory proves the author's negative opinion on the idea. "Nobody wants to know whether or not you were right, they just want you to leave and get the hell out!" (Dostoevski 270). Svidrigailov is driven to cross the boundaries of society because he is bored with "ordinary" people. He cannot go back to his previous mode of existence, which is false, and is too ashamed of his former. Only his realization comes too late. Raskolnikov instantly hates the man because of his unscrupulous advances towards his sister, Dunya.
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Acceptance Essays
