Cady the Übermensch?
October 31, 2006 11:42 AM Subscribe
In college, a classmate was convinced that Max Cady in Scorsese's Cape Fear was supposed to be the embodiment of Nietzsche's Übermensch. My take was that Cady was more like the Nazi's: picking and choosing as he saw fit, from the Bible as well as Nietzsche. Whether or not you liked the film, how do you weigh in?
Response by poster: Then support your position, man!
posted by malaprohibita at 12:45 PM on October 31, 2006
posted by malaprohibita at 12:45 PM on October 31, 2006
Best answer: Seeing Cady as an example of the Übermensch is such a comically bad interpretation of the concept that it is unlikely to be productive to argue the case. The Übermensch was the ultimate creator (compare to the "last man" who was defined by his inability to create anything), which is dramatically at odds with Cady's intensely destructive nature. It is difficult to imagine Cady embracing the notion of eternal recurrence and seeing all past events as a necessary condition of his current existence. An Übermensch should be able to harness his Dionysian powers for creative good. When asked to name humans who had elements of the Übermensch, Nietzsche cited people like Goethe, Shakespeare, and da Vinci. It is inconceivable to put someone like Cady on that list.
In Ecce Homo, he makes it quite clear that the Übermensch is about complete self-control and self-reliance and entirely separate from the idea of dominating others. I believe that Nietzsche would cite the instinct to punish transgressors as distinctly Christian in nature and in complete opposition to becoming beyond human. In On The Genealogy of Morals, this is a central critique of Christian doctrine (this crime and punishment world view).
posted by Lame_username at 1:41 PM on October 31, 2006 [3 favorites]
In Ecce Homo, he makes it quite clear that the Übermensch is about complete self-control and self-reliance and entirely separate from the idea of dominating others. I believe that Nietzsche would cite the instinct to punish transgressors as distinctly Christian in nature and in complete opposition to becoming beyond human. In On The Genealogy of Morals, this is a central critique of Christian doctrine (this crime and punishment world view).
posted by Lame_username at 1:41 PM on October 31, 2006 [3 favorites]
I think everyone else has put it pretty well. But just because he isn't Superman doesn't mean he can't out-philosophize you!
posted by ontic at 1:49 PM on October 31, 2006
posted by ontic at 1:49 PM on October 31, 2006
Your college classmate was aware that the film was a remake, right?
posted by fixedgear at 1:49 PM on October 31, 2006
posted by fixedgear at 1:49 PM on October 31, 2006
The remake seemed to try to make Cady more nuanced than the original version: having him read philosophy, the bible, etc. The inclusion of Nietzsche (I remember they showed some books in Cady's cell) functions as film-shorthand: Nietzsche means to the general public "God is dead", "nihilism" (though most think pro, not con), and "Ubermensch." So those familiar with the name can feel like they're getting the "deeper" meaning of the character. However, at heart, the film is still just a revenge flick (but unfortunately, without Robert Mitchum in the lead role).
This reminds me of the Baudrillard references in "The Matrix" and his comment that they basically misinterpreted his philosophy...
posted by sfkiddo at 2:14 PM on October 31, 2006
This reminds me of the Baudrillard references in "The Matrix" and his comment that they basically misinterpreted his philosophy...
posted by sfkiddo at 2:14 PM on October 31, 2006
Response by poster: Thanks for the answers. I'm surprised there wasn't more disagreement, though box's vague, unsupported dismissal (and lack of a sense of humor) hardly counts.
posted by malaprohibita at 4:17 PM on October 31, 2006
posted by malaprohibita at 4:17 PM on October 31, 2006
This reminds me of the Baudrillard references in "The Matrix" and his comment that they basically misinterpreted his philosophy...
That's not fair. It is a symbol and the directorial intent is more based upon building the character structure of Neo rather than making overarching conclusions about Simulacra and Simulations in regards to The Matrix. I have read that the Wochejowski's (spelling?) made the cast read various philosophical banter (probably including Baudrillard) but nevertheless, the fact that Anderson stores his pirated data in a hallowed version of Baudrillard's book does not make connections between the concept of "The Matrix" and Simulated reality as presented by Baudrillard.
Furthermore, I don't think Baudrillard is in a position to yeild any agency for that statement (even though its his own work he's talking about!). I think the parallels are definitely there, albeit not as direct. Remember when he proclaimed that the first Gulf war was not real, that it was a fabrication of media? Draw that as an illusory connection to the concept behind the Matrix, then ask him what he meant...
p.s. Cady is no ubermensch!
posted by stratastar at 8:25 PM on October 31, 2006
That's not fair. It is a symbol and the directorial intent is more based upon building the character structure of Neo rather than making overarching conclusions about Simulacra and Simulations in regards to The Matrix. I have read that the Wochejowski's (spelling?) made the cast read various philosophical banter (probably including Baudrillard) but nevertheless, the fact that Anderson stores his pirated data in a hallowed version of Baudrillard's book does not make connections between the concept of "The Matrix" and Simulated reality as presented by Baudrillard.
Furthermore, I don't think Baudrillard is in a position to yeild any agency for that statement (even though its his own work he's talking about!). I think the parallels are definitely there, albeit not as direct. Remember when he proclaimed that the first Gulf war was not real, that it was a fabrication of media? Draw that as an illusory connection to the concept behind the Matrix, then ask him what he meant...
p.s. Cady is no ubermensch!
posted by stratastar at 8:25 PM on October 31, 2006
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posted by bingo at 12:11 PM on October 31, 2006