Superman, according to Nietzsche has reached a state of being where he is no longer affected by "pity, suffering, tolerence of the weak, the power of the soul over the body, the belief in an afterlife, the corruption of modern values (Nietzsche's Overman: Blueprint for the Antichrist Superstar)." Superman is constantly changing and in a state of rebirth and growth. He determines what is good and what is evil, not allowing religion or society to determine these things for him. The Superman finds his happiness in this way. He uses a reason that is independent of the modern values of society or religion. He determines his own values. This creation of his own values gives him joy, and in order for the Superman to cope with a changing world, the Superman must constantly change. This constant state of change is a constant source of joy, leaving little or no room for suffering. The Superman does not believe in an afterlife or the power of the soul over the body because he does not believe in religion and has no proof of an afterlife or a God. Therefore, he makes the most out of this life, not depending on a reward in Heaven or a punishment in Hell for what he has done on Earth. The Superman does not pity or tolerate the weak. He feels that human compassion is the greatest weakness of all because it allows the weak to restrict the growth of the strong. In Thus Spake Zarathustra, Nietzsche, through Zarathustra, says "I teach you the overman. Man is something that shall be overcome [surpassed]. What have you done to overcome [surpass] him? All beings so far have created something beyond themselves; and do you want to be the ebb of this great flood and even go back to the beasts rather than overcome man? What is the ape to man? A laughingstock or a painful embarrassment. And man shall be just that for the overman: a laughingstock or a painful embarrassment... (Towards the Ubermensch, also Course Reading: Overman)"
Nietzsche has a rather unique style of writing. However, in it's uniqueness, it allows for misinterpretation of his philosophy. Hitler, for example, twisted Nietzsche's writings and used them in Nazi propaganda. Nietzsche's writings supposedly were the basis of National Socialism and Fascism possibly by misinterpreting his factual claims as moral claims. However it occured, it is still a fact that Nietzsche's writings were used in some capacity as justification for attempting to rid the world of certain ethnicities, or the nonSuperman materials, in the opinion of the Nazi's and other associated groups.
The rock star Marilyn Manson has also used Neitzsche's writings to influence his view of the world and this is evident in his lyrics and the way he presents himself to the public. There is an essay that discusses the philosophies of Marilyn Manson as they are represented on one particular album. The essay uses the term "social darwinism" in the same context as Nietzsche's writings would be used and the theories could be used interchangably in the essay. The writer also uses the word "Star" in the instances when "Superman" could just as well be used had the author also included Nietzsche's works in the essay. Links to other similar essays can also be reached by clicking on the link to the home of the aforementioned essay. The general idea behind that essay is that Marilyn Manson does not allow society to tell him what is right or wrong, or what to believe in. In a way, the author of the essay points out the semi-progression from "man" to "Superman" as can be seen in the album discussed. Marilyn Manson can almost be considered a modern day Neitzsche based on these facts. Manson, as well as Nietzsche, seems to encourage independent thinking by discouraging people from following "the herd" or accepting the values of society unquestionably. They both also seem to have a dislike for Christianity and the values that it represents.
Finally, it is important to point out certain aspects about Thus Spake Zarathustra and the Superman contained within. Nietzsche used a play on words throughout the book placing a special emphasis on the words "over" and "under" which makes translation of the book difficult and keeps the reader of a translation from having a full understanding of the point he is trying to get across. Nietzsche believes that everything alive is seeking to perfect itself and become stronger and in our present state, modern humans are just a mindless herd, more primitive than our ape ancestors and even the ancestors of the apes. Modern man is just a shapeless mass, a monster but the Superman forges his own destiny; He is at his highest intellectual and creative ability. "Man is to ape as Superman shall be to man. Man is a polluted stream which Christianity says must be rid of it's pollutants--yet the end result will leave hardly anything left. The best remedy for this problem, however, is the Superman, who is such a large sea that he can accomodate polluted streams without worry or hurt (Consensus, Compromise)."
I am of the opinion that Nietzsche's philosophies are very interesting, however, I disagree with many things that he says and I think some of his ideas will not work in the real world. I think the evolution of ourselves as a society is needed (the idea of a Superman), but maybe not in the Nietzsche way. I do respect him as a philosopher and enjoy his writings. He's very unique and I think that things can be learned from him. I believe that no single philosophy will work for everyone and that no-one's philosophies can be the same. And, I'm not even going to mention our differing views on religion...