What is the “Ubermensch” that I mentioned in the Question Section? What does that have to do with our Green Goblin in his endeavors to destroy Spider-Man? "Ubermensch" is the Goblin’s reason for being.
The concept comes from Friedrich Nietzche, a noted philosopher, who decried the slave morality' enforced by society. To Nietzche, the “Ubermensch” or “superman” is an extraordinary individual who lives purely by the will to power. Only such rare, superior individuals, the noble ones, can achieve a heroic life of truly human worth.
Nietzche believed that it would be braver, more honest, and nobler to cut loose and dare live in a world without morality. Death would not be feared because it represents a fitting conclusion of a life devoted to personal gain. Nietzche theorized that since we are afraid to live by the strength by our own wills; we invent morality as a way of generating and then explaining our perpetual sense of being defeated in life.
Spider Squishing
How does that apply to our Green Goblin? On a New York City rooftop, he explains to a supine Spider-Man, “But we’re not less than human....we’re ‘more’ than human....We are who we choose to be. But a day will come when you must ask yourself, did I choose wisely? Why am I risking my life my life for these ungrateful fools?" After feeble protests by Spider-Man, the Goblin continues, “You believe in myth, beauty....Well, here’s the real truth. Those teeming masses exist for the sole purpose of lifting a few exceptional people onto their shoulders. You, me, we are exceptional….Imagine what we could accomplish together…”
The seeds of the Green Goblin’s thinking lie within Norman Osborn who raised himself up to be the powerful head of Oscorp. Norman despises weakness in his son, and everyone else. The Green Goblin, his Alter manifests this aspect of Osborn’s personality.
Osborn, Oscorp CEO
What does Spider-Man say in response to the Goblin’s offer? “I’m not like you.” Spider-Man personifies the ‘great-souled man’ – a man with a loving heart. He believes that ‘with great power comes great responsibility’.
Rooted in the values instilled in him by his aunt and uncle, Peter Parker as Spider-man strove not to shirk from any tough problem or dodge any tough issue. He believed in a sense of absolute right and wrong. Peter's faith in these values helped him to discern and to denounce the wickedness of the Goblin.
To prove Spider-man wrong, the Goblin stands on the Queensboro Bridge, holding M.J. in one hand and the cable car of children in the other. He screams to Spider-Man, “This is why only fools are heroes! Because you never know when some lunatic will come along with a sadistic choice! .... Make your choice and see how a hero is rewarded! This is your doing! You have caused this! THIS IS THE LIFE YOU HAVE CHOSEN! CHOOSE!” Then the Green Goblin lets go of both.
Spider-Man chooses to save both. He is rewarded by the tugboat captain who powers his boat to catch the cable car. He is rewarded by the motorists on the bridge who pelt the Green Goblin with rocks. Spider-Man’s compassion is mirrored by the people who join him in saving those whom the Goblin would send to their deaths.
Ubermensch Foiled
Spider-Man’s determination to be useful and to do good is echoed in Winston Churchill’s words. (Prime Minister of Great Britain during World War Two.) Churchill told the boys at his old school, “Never give in --- never, never, never, never in nothing great or small . . . Never yield to the apparently overwhelming might of the enemy.” Peter Parker never did. His refusal to listen to the Green Goblin spelled the Goblin’s doom.
Great-Souled Spider-Man
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Va. Carper
September 19, 2006
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