By far the most crucial aspect of Raskolnikov’s independent personality is how he exemplifies, to the fullest, the idea of being controlled automatically by one’s own sense of creativity and freedom. As mentioned above, a defining characteristic of one of Nietzsche’s extraordinary men is how he is able to rely on his ability to automatically revert to his own instincts and be able to successfully rely on his own natural beliefs. Raskolnikov’s actions during the murder of Aliona and Lizaveta are perfect example as to how he is at his best when he is acting automatically. During the murder, things did not exactly go as Raskolnikov had planned; his having to find a new axe, people being at the door, and lizaveta’s presence in the apartment. All of these things surprised Raskolnikov, and set him into a state of panic and alertness that caused him to rely on his innate instincts. On page 77, we get a true glimpse of how Raskolnikov was feeling the pressure, “Am I very pale?’ he wondered. ‘Am I not evidently agigated? She is mistrustfull… had I better wait a little longer… till my heart leaves off thumping?’” Then, as he moved into the apartment, he instantly goes from this semi-frightened state to this calm, cool, and collected murderer there to do the task he was given, “Why, Alyona, you know me…Raskolnikov… here, I brought you the pledge I promised the other day…” This is a prime example of a man that is on the edge of abandoning his first murder, but reverts to his automatic instincts and ends up being a smooth operator and plays it cool. After that, he goes onto kill Alyona, Lizaveta, and manage to slip by the two men as if he were James Bond and cunningly make his way out into the crowd and out away from the scene. Raskolnikov’s smooth actions, in a truly testing moment, show that he emulates the extraordinary man in that he is successful when he relies on his automatic freedom of creativity, i.e., when he lets everything go and reverts to instincts.
Raskolnikov is a man that could have found himself on either side of the discussion- dependent or independent, but ended up showing his true colors. Nietzsche set out strong guidelines for what it is to be extraordinary man- guidelines that force one to almost completely alienate ones self from the masses and be able to stand upon his own two feet, all the while having to contradict that which the “herds of men” stood for. Is it possible to consider Raskolnikov as a truly independent man? Is it possible to attribute some of his success as a murderer to pure luck? Though the argument could have been made in favor of his dependence, Raskolnikov proved himself independent through his valiant success with the murder of Alyona. His actions brought him up to the level that Nietzsche described in his passages- the level of extreme individuality and innate perfection.
