Superman Theories in Dostoevsky's Crime and Punishment

Introduction: Raskolnikov's Dual Personality

Rodion Romanovitch Raskolnikov is one of the most emotionally and intellectually tormented characters in Fyodor Dostoevsky's Crime and Punishment. What is most fascinating about Raskolnikov is that he would sometimes act in one manner and then suddenly act in a manner that was completely contradictory. Throughout the novel, it is as if Raskolnikov is facing an internal struggle reminiscent of that of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. One side of Raskolnikov's personality is cold, intellectual, premeditated, and detached, emphasizing power and self-will. The other facet is his warm, humane, compassionate side, which implies meekness and self-submissiveness.

This essay analyzes and discusses several theories of the extraordinary man, or superman. First, Raskolnikov's own theory of the differences between extraordinary and ordinary men is examined. Next, Hegel's theories regarding a superman are outlined. Lastly, Nietzsche's conception of what makes an individual a superman is analyzed.

Raskolnikov's Theory of the Extraordinary Man

According to Raskolnikov, individuals are divided into two categories: extraordinary men and ordinary men. Ordinary men are inferior and may do nothing but reproduce their own kind. The ordinary man must live in submission and has no right to transgress the law.

Extraordinary men, by contrast, have the right to commit any crime and to transgress the law in any way. What makes an individual extraordinary is that he possesses the gift or talent to utter a new word. It is the extraordinary men who forge civilization onward to new heights of achievement. Since these achievements are important and ultimately benefit all mankind, the extraordinary man possesses an inner right to decide in his own conscience whether or not to overstep the law or any obstacle that stands in the way of the practical fulfillment of his idea.

Raskolnikov constantly used Napoleon as a point of reference, implying that Napoleon stood above the common laws of humanity because he had the daring to commit various acts in order to complete his plans. In committing the murder of the old pawnbroker, Raskolnikov was attempting to prove himself a man of power — to demonstrate that his will was strong. From this premise, he reasoned that a man may commit a crime if it serves a noble end.

The Hegelian Superman

Raskolnikov's views about the ordinary man versus the extraordinary man were influenced by two prominent philosophers: Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel and Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche. Under Hegel's theory, a superman is an individual who stands above the ordinary man but works for noble purposes — that is, for the benefit of all mankind. In the context of Raskolnikov's murder of the old pawnbroker, Hegel's theories can be used to justify Raskolnikov's actions.

First, the old pawnbroker may be viewed as a harmful figure who damages society through her vile and cynical hold over the poor citizens who come to her for pawning. According to Hegel, any harmful element of society should be removed. Raskolnikov therefore reasoned that by murdering the old pawnbroker, he would be eliminating a destructive force from society.

Second, Hegel believed that the ends justify the means — that if the ends are noble, the means may be justified. Using this rationale, the old pawnbroker's accumulated money would otherwise be wasted on masses and requiem services after her death. With that money, Raskolnikov would be able to complete his education and devote himself to the service of humanity.

Lastly, Hegel argued that one small crime may be wiped out by thousands of good deeds. Raskolnikov could use the money that the old pawnbroker had squeezed from the poor and, by distributing it among struggling families, save hundreds of people from destitution and ruin.

Conclusion

Throughout Crime and Punishment, Rodion Romanovitch Raskolnikov struggles with his two personalities. On the one hand, Raskolnikov is driven by his quest for power and self-will, as illustrated by his cold, intellectual, and detached side. On the other hand, his warm, humane, and compassionate nature suggests meekness and self-submissiveness. What is truly tragic is that in his quest to become an extraordinary man, Raskolnikov loses sight of what makes seemingly ordinary men so truly extraordinary: their ability to place the needs and well-being of others above their own self-interest.