Thunderhead
Thunderhead is the second novel in the Arc of Scythe series. It begins with Rowan, the supposedly failed apprentice to Scythe Goddard in hiding and foiling the plans of corrupt Scythes. Rowan finds the Scythes who are evil and hunts them down and kills them, this causes the Scythedom to hunt him down and even though the Thunderhead knows who he is it will not aid in their searches because of the separation of Scythe and State. Citra, now Scythe Anastasia is partners with Scythe Curie who teachers her to keep her heart and mind above all things. A new character is introduced as Greyson Tolliver who is a student working for the Nimbus academy. Greyson is informed of a plot to kill Curie and Anastasia and acts on his own will to save them, which causes him to lose his job as a Nimbus agent. He then becomes an unsavory and works along with Traxler to solve this mystery. He continues this job even saving Anastasia and Curie another time at a theatre. Rowan becomes more brave and gets caught by Scythe Brahms and Rand.
During the next conclave High Blade Xenocrates states that he will be stepping up as Grandslayer, leaving his position for the taking. Then, Scythe Goddard, who survived the fire and is now attached to Rowan's friend Tyger's body is running for the position against Curie. Anastasia then states that this isn't 100% of Goddard's body and since he isn't a full Scythe he cannot run. This is confirmed by the Grandslayers on the island of Endura and out of anger Goddard sabotages the island, sinking it and killing everyone except for Anastasia and Rowan, who had escaped earlier. Those two die in a sealed room at the bottom of the ocean. The Thunderhead then screams out of anger, inspiring the Tonists, and marks everyone as Unsavory, all except for Greyson.
During the next conclave High Blade Xenocrates states that he will be stepping up as Grandslayer, leaving his position for the taking. Then, Scythe Goddard, who survived the fire and is now attached to Rowan's friend Tyger's body is running for the position against Curie. Anastasia then states that this isn't 100% of Goddard's body and since he isn't a full Scythe he cannot run. This is confirmed by the Grandslayers on the island of Endura and out of anger Goddard sabotages the island, sinking it and killing everyone except for Anastasia and Rowan, who had escaped earlier. Those two die in a sealed room at the bottom of the ocean. The Thunderhead then screams out of anger, inspiring the Tonists, and marks everyone as Unsavory, all except for Greyson.
Quote:
“‘You’re asking me to be an undercover Nimbus agent?’
‘Of course not,’ Traxler said with a grin. ‘Nimbus agents are required to attend four years at the academy, and do an additional year of mind-numbing field work before getting an actual assignment. But you’re just an unsavory….’ He patted Greyson on the shoulder. ‘An unsavory who happens to be very well-connected’” (122).
After saving Scythes Anastasia and Curie, Traxler was demoted and Greyson was kicked out of the school. The Thunderhead chose to do this so that the two can work together as undercover Nimbus agents without any suspicion. This begins to give Greyson hope that he can still help the Thunderhead and have meaning for his life. Greyson felt hopeless before being offered this “job”. He couldn’t see why the Thunderhead would essentially tell him to do this if it was just going to kick him out. He couldn’t get past his own personal issues to see the bigger picture of how he could help the rest of the world. I like this quote because it is an example of how we all often get caught up in our own issues before looking at the bigger picture and seeing all that we still have and how we can help others.
“‘You’re asking me to be an undercover Nimbus agent?’
‘Of course not,’ Traxler said with a grin. ‘Nimbus agents are required to attend four years at the academy, and do an additional year of mind-numbing field work before getting an actual assignment. But you’re just an unsavory….’ He patted Greyson on the shoulder. ‘An unsavory who happens to be very well-connected’” (122).
After saving Scythes Anastasia and Curie, Traxler was demoted and Greyson was kicked out of the school. The Thunderhead chose to do this so that the two can work together as undercover Nimbus agents without any suspicion. This begins to give Greyson hope that he can still help the Thunderhead and have meaning for his life. Greyson felt hopeless before being offered this “job”. He couldn’t see why the Thunderhead would essentially tell him to do this if it was just going to kick him out. He couldn’t get past his own personal issues to see the bigger picture of how he could help the rest of the world. I like this quote because it is an example of how we all often get caught up in our own issues before looking at the bigger picture and seeing all that we still have and how we can help others.
Essay:
The Impossibility of Utopia
A perfect world is impossible due to the endless variables and unpredictable actions in humanity. In the novel Thunderhead, this situation is presented through the countless unsavories, the failing Scythedom, and the savior Thunderhead giving up on nearly all of humanity in the end.
Society strives to create a perfect world that allows everyone to live in harmony. Countless novels have expressed this desire and throughout history one can see that several groups have tried this, all failing miserably. It has become clear that although some can attempt to build a Utopia, it is impossible due to the endless variables and unpredictable actions in humanity. In the novel Thunderhead, this situation is presented through the countless unsavories, the failing Scythedom, and the savior Thunderhead giving up on nearly all of humanity in the end.
The Thunderhead intends to create a perfect world. This demands that every human in this society has a job and purpose. Of course this demand is irrational since there will always be those that wish to rebel against the system, even if it was created to benefit them. In Thunderhead these people are labeled as Unsavories. The Thunderhead even goes as far to make clubs just for these people to live their true lifestyle; “All the things we wish we could do out there but can’t get away with, we’re allowed to do in here!” (172). The Unsavories lifestyle consists solely of rebelling against anything the public considers normal, including anything from careers to looks. They believe to find their true identity through their defiant actions. In today’s world this can be seen with the many rioters amidst the pandemic. Although the government was planning and acting for the entire country’s safety and benefit, some choose disobedience to the system because it makes them feel united and give their lives purpose. This concept establishes that no matter how hard society tries to give every life purpose, perfection is impractical since humanity is unpredictable.
Over time, any group can become corrupted. This has been proven true with many politicians. In the beginning, they all believe in the truth of making decisions to benefit all people. However, over time they tend to experience parts of the excess power that they are controlling. They begin to enjoy this feeling which causes them to become self centered, thus igniting the desire for more. In Thunderhead, the Scythedom has more power than some of the Scythes can handle. In the first novel Goddard is a corrupt Scythe who begins to gain followers who all desire more. Later, after returning in Thunderhead, he has the opportunity to obtain this new level of power to become the new High Blade. His ability to manipulate others is the main reason for the chance at leading; “The proclamation brought cheers from the room- and more than just the new-order scythes roared their approval” (349). From the very beginning the groups' ideals are corrupted. They believe that gleaning should be enjoyed, and that all scythes should love to kill while having no punishments for going too far with their acts. This all proves that it is impossible for any group that has some form of power to remain pure and free of misconduct.
In the end, after Scythe Goddard successfully destroys Endura and all the Grandslayers, the Thunderhead decides that humanity no longer deserves its guidance and support. Suddenly, all at once, the Thunderhead screams in anger by releasing noise from every possible device on Earth; “nothing could assuage the Thunderhead’s fury and despair” (501). It chose to mark every single human being on the planet as Unsavory, thus preventing them from ever accessing its guidance again. Just as the Thunderhead gave up on all that it ruled, one has seen some leaders follow this same action. When all hope is lost, despair can cause one to abandon all that it controls.
Throughout the novel Thunderhead it is clear that the creation of a perfect world is highly unlikely. Just as the Unsavories have proven: some people will always rebel, no matter how far society advances. The Scythedom collapsing internally from those who are power hungry displays that with unlimited power inevitably comes corruption. Finally, no matter how revolutionary of a leader ruling, in times of despair it will always abandon its people. No matter how far humanity progresses into the future one thing is for certain: a utopia is impossible.
The Impossibility of Utopia
A perfect world is impossible due to the endless variables and unpredictable actions in humanity. In the novel Thunderhead, this situation is presented through the countless unsavories, the failing Scythedom, and the savior Thunderhead giving up on nearly all of humanity in the end.
Society strives to create a perfect world that allows everyone to live in harmony. Countless novels have expressed this desire and throughout history one can see that several groups have tried this, all failing miserably. It has become clear that although some can attempt to build a Utopia, it is impossible due to the endless variables and unpredictable actions in humanity. In the novel Thunderhead, this situation is presented through the countless unsavories, the failing Scythedom, and the savior Thunderhead giving up on nearly all of humanity in the end.
The Thunderhead intends to create a perfect world. This demands that every human in this society has a job and purpose. Of course this demand is irrational since there will always be those that wish to rebel against the system, even if it was created to benefit them. In Thunderhead these people are labeled as Unsavories. The Thunderhead even goes as far to make clubs just for these people to live their true lifestyle; “All the things we wish we could do out there but can’t get away with, we’re allowed to do in here!” (172). The Unsavories lifestyle consists solely of rebelling against anything the public considers normal, including anything from careers to looks. They believe to find their true identity through their defiant actions. In today’s world this can be seen with the many rioters amidst the pandemic. Although the government was planning and acting for the entire country’s safety and benefit, some choose disobedience to the system because it makes them feel united and give their lives purpose. This concept establishes that no matter how hard society tries to give every life purpose, perfection is impractical since humanity is unpredictable.
Over time, any group can become corrupted. This has been proven true with many politicians. In the beginning, they all believe in the truth of making decisions to benefit all people. However, over time they tend to experience parts of the excess power that they are controlling. They begin to enjoy this feeling which causes them to become self centered, thus igniting the desire for more. In Thunderhead, the Scythedom has more power than some of the Scythes can handle. In the first novel Goddard is a corrupt Scythe who begins to gain followers who all desire more. Later, after returning in Thunderhead, he has the opportunity to obtain this new level of power to become the new High Blade. His ability to manipulate others is the main reason for the chance at leading; “The proclamation brought cheers from the room- and more than just the new-order scythes roared their approval” (349). From the very beginning the groups' ideals are corrupted. They believe that gleaning should be enjoyed, and that all scythes should love to kill while having no punishments for going too far with their acts. This all proves that it is impossible for any group that has some form of power to remain pure and free of misconduct.
In the end, after Scythe Goddard successfully destroys Endura and all the Grandslayers, the Thunderhead decides that humanity no longer deserves its guidance and support. Suddenly, all at once, the Thunderhead screams in anger by releasing noise from every possible device on Earth; “nothing could assuage the Thunderhead’s fury and despair” (501). It chose to mark every single human being on the planet as Unsavory, thus preventing them from ever accessing its guidance again. Just as the Thunderhead gave up on all that it ruled, one has seen some leaders follow this same action. When all hope is lost, despair can cause one to abandon all that it controls.
Throughout the novel Thunderhead it is clear that the creation of a perfect world is highly unlikely. Just as the Unsavories have proven: some people will always rebel, no matter how far society advances. The Scythedom collapsing internally from those who are power hungry displays that with unlimited power inevitably comes corruption. Finally, no matter how revolutionary of a leader ruling, in times of despair it will always abandon its people. No matter how far humanity progresses into the future one thing is for certain: a utopia is impossible.