Yes Man The movie reflected Nietzsches philosophy via the actions of Carl after becoming a yes man.

According to Nietzsche, a person should move beyond the herd and take ownership of life by taking risks in order to become an Ubermensch. Carl was able to do so (to be discussed below). Also, the general plot of the story is the transition of Carl towards becoming an Ubermensch. Carl was, at first, someone who was closed in a box or staying in his comfort zone which then fueled his frustration and unhappiness that took a toll on his relationship with his wife, who later divorced him, and friends. He was someone who let life happen to him. Later on, he became a yes man and started to take ownership of his life. He had enough of being unhappy and frustrated with life and himself. He started to change. He took control of his life by doing

things he would have never done before. He didnt just let life happen to him anymore. Instead, in parallel with Nietzsches belief that to enjoy life is to use life up, he took risks and grabbed every opportunity he can, no matter how unusual the situation was. He lived life in accordance with Nietzsches maxim, what doesnt kill you, only makes you stronger. The catalyst for Carls transition from a member of the masses to an Ubermensch was the Yes! seminar he attended, as advised by his risk-taker/ reckless friend. From always saying no, he had to say yes to everything. By saying yes to every opportunity, he became a risk-taker, an Ubermensch. Since according to Nietzsche, an Ubermensch is one who seeks the actualization of his full potential by living on the edge or taking risks. By living life dangerously, Carl was able to do

things he never thought he would do before the said seminar. This patched up some of his relationships with his friends since he learned to enjoy life more. He grabbed every opportunity, despite of how bizarre it is, which then led to other opportunities. Examples of which are the constant loan approvals which earned him a spot in the corporate ranks of the company he worked in, the Korean language and guitar lessons which helped him in preparing the bridal shower and in preventing the suicide of a man respectively, and especially his giving a ride to a homeless person which then led to his acquaintance with his new love interest. Other examples include bungee jumping and flying lessons. He was able to realize, or if not, take a peek into his full potential as an individual. Also, the doctrine amor fati, which means to love ones fate, is vital for an Ubermensch. By attaining a devil-may-care attitude via his socalled covenant, Carl was able to accept the things

life threw at him, whether they be a beautiful rocker or in the form of an old female neighbor, and to enjoy every moment of it. From being someone who passively lived life and going with the flow, Carl became a go-getter, someone who was in control of his life and not the other way around. The movie didnt really change my perspective of life as much as Carls did. I find that to say yes to everything is just as detrimental as always saying no to the different opportunities that life presents and/or the ones a person encounters. However, from the movie, I did gain some insights and learned a few lessons. I should be more outgoing and I should take more risks, since Im a person that really likes routine. Yet, I wont be hopping on planes at the last minute or partying all night long just to be someone who supposedly enjoys life. It has to be in moderation. Personally, though one should enjoy life

to the fullest, I think that life has its caveats in the form of responsibilities and consequences, just as Carl learned in the end. Carls ending is a Hollywood ending wherein everything ended well despite his misgivings, whereas in real and day-today life, the ending wont always be a happily ever after. I doubt that I would become someone who will be saying yes to everything in the foreseeable future. All in all, my point of view on life hasnt really changed much but I did get a few pointers or lessons from the movie.