Nietzsche’s Ubermensch and Crime: An Analysis of Arvind Adiga’s Novel The White Tiger

Abstract

This paper analyzes the act of crime and its artistic rationalization through the character of Balram Halwai in Arvind Adiga’s novel The White Tiger under the theoretical prism of Nietzsche’s Philosophy of Ubermensch. Ubermensch is a hypothetical character proposed by Nietzsche in his masterpiece Thus Spoke Zarathustra who is expected to appear in the future and will possess some unique features like ‘transcendence over society’, ‘creation of new values and master morality’, ‘will to power and achievement’. The character of Balram is analyzed as a fictional Ubermensch under the lens of these features using Content Analysis Technique of Qualitative Research Methodology’ which is considered suitable for the specific descriptive nature and scope of this study. This analysis concludes that the embodiment of such features by Balram justifies his rise as a perfect potential Ubermensch of 21st century who rejects the traditional moral system and builds his own system of morality where crime also seems to be rationalized.