In Friedrich Nietzsche's genealogy of morality his theory on the development of the “bad conscience” in man is included. Nietzsche believes that in the transition from a wandering individual to a member of a community, man had to repress his "will to power", his natural "instinct of freedom" (59). The governing community threatened its members with punishment for violating its laws, its “morality of customs,” thus creating a uniform and predictable man (36). With the fear that punishment would limit his behavior, the man was no longer allowed the freedom to indulge his every instinct. He turned his aggressive attention inward, was ashamed of his natural animal instincts, judged himself to be intrinsically evil, and developed a bad conscience (46). Throughout the work Nietzsche uses decidedly negative terms to describe "bad conscience", defining it as ugly (59), illness (60), or infirmity (56); leading some to assume that he views “bad conscience” as a bad thing. However, Nietzsche hints at a different vision when he defines bad conscience as a “pregnancy-like illness” (60). This analogy equates the pain and suffering of a pregnant woman to the suffering of man when his instincts are repressed. Therefore, just as the pain of pregnancy gives birth to something joyful, Nietzsche's analogy implies that the negative state of bad conscience can also “give birth” to something positive. Nietzsche hopes for the birth of the “sovereign individual” – an autonomous man, not indebted to the morality of custom, and who has rediscovered free will. Examination of Nietzsche's theory on the evolution of man's bad conscience reveals: even if bad conscience led man to turn against himself and caused stagnation of his will, Ni...... middle of paper.... .. noble morality (16). Furthermore, in contrast to the complacency of noble morality, the slave's lack of external power led him to direct his power inward, resulting in man's first exploration of his inner life. While criticizing the attitude found in the resentment of slave morality, Nietzsche considers it an important factor contributing to man's bad conscience. Although Nietzsche dislikes the negative results of bad conscience – man's suppression of his instincts, self-hatred, and stagnation of his will – Nietzsche appreciates it for the promise it holds. Nietzsche foresees the arrival of the time when man will win his internal battle and regain his "instinct of freedom". In anticipation of that day, Nietzsche sees the development of a bad conscience as a necessary step in the transformation of man into a “sovereign individual”..”