In Man and Superman, Shaw uses the character of Jack to explore the idea of the Superman. Shaw’s conceptualization of the Superman expounds upon Nietzsche’s idea of the ubermensch. In Thus Spake Zarathustra (1883), Nietzsche formulates the idea of man in a nonreligious society since, as he says, “God is dead.” Without a god, “man ought to be overcome.” This mean that men must evolve to be more than they are. The Superman is more intelligent than his peers. He can rise above the expectations of social convention. He defines his own morality rather than subscribing blindly to religious ethics. And he is adept and intuitive in adapting himself to become better.

One prime example of the Superman is Prometheus, the Ancient Greek Titan who defied the will of the gods to bring fire to humanity. In doing so, he broke with convention and changed the course of human destiny. As a character, Jack strives for this idea of the Superman. His Revolutionist’s Handbook argues for the dismantling of social decorum. But these Supermen tend to stand alone. They fare poorly and suffer punishment or assassination because the men around them are mediocre. Similarly, Jack is ultimately unable to resist the ensnarement of marriage.