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Jessica Medina

Professor Sebacher

ENC 1102

15 December 2016

The Hitchhiking Game

The Hitchhiking Game is more than a just a story of two lovers on vacation. It is a perfect

example of how literature can mimic real life. The Hitchhiking Game is also a fascinating story

that could represent other ideas or theology, for example Nietzsche. Frederich Nietzsche is a

really interesting figure to read about in general. Sometimes I agree with his ideas, but

sometimes I dont. The same is true concerning his work Will to Power. Even though it was not

necessary, I have decided to do a little bit of more research on Nietzsches Will to Power. I found

some interesting quotes that I agree with and some in which I dont. I believe that power is

extremely important in The Hitchhiking Game. Apart from this being a lovers tale, the story is

about the true fight for power. I believe that this story exemplifies the struggle between two

individuals who desire power.

There is a quote from Nietzsche that I personally believe is a great description of what is

happening in the story:

My idea is that every specific body strives to become master over all space and to extend

its force (--its will to power:) and to thrust back all that resists its extension. But it

continually encounters similar efforts on the part of other bodies and ends by coming to

an arrangement ("union") with those of them that are sufficiently related to it: thus they

then conspire together for power. And the process goes on. (Nietzsche ).
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I agree completely with this quote because it is exactly what is happening in the story. In the

beginning of the story the two lovers participate in a game. At first it seems harmless but

essentially they are the people that Nietzsche describes in the Will to Power. They are individuals

who are both trying to overpower each other! While in the process of trying to overpower one

another they suppress each other, which is a part of what Nietzsche says. I believe that before

this couple met each other, they must have been power hungry before. According to Nietzsche

those who have similar intentions eventually find each other. It almost seems as if they were

destined to find each other.

In my opinion, the young woman does indeed turn into a proud woman at some points of the

story. For example, during the dinner she realizes how much power she has. She embraces this

power by flirting with the random man, and by being even more involved with her role. Now the

question that needs to be answered is does she become who she is or not? I believe that she does

in fact become who she is! According to Nietzsche people become power hungry, and that its

natural. By this logic, she is in fact becoming who she naturally is, a woman who is power

hungry. I do believe that deep down every woman is naturally like this young woman. Wanting to

become powerful and maintain power. So yes, I do believe the young woman is becoming who

she naturally is.

Even though this story does have a lot of powerful themes and ideas, the most important one

in my opinion is power. Power is the central focus point of this story. In the story we see a couple

whose main purpose is dominate each other, not caring about the consequences. As stated,

Nietzsche is able to shed some light on what is happening in the story. I also believe that

Nietzsche provides insight on how power driven humans naturally are. Even though I do not

agree with Nietzsche on a lot of things, I do agree he is right in this case.

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