https://padlet.com/nathantchamnatchako/k4v6mwkn27qs9bfx en-us 2022-12-02 06:15:00 UTC 2025-06-05 04:22:25 UTC hello@padlet.com nathantchamnatchako https://padlet.com/nathantchamnatchako/k4v6mwkn27qs9bfx/wish/2406246292 The Bible instructs harvesters to leave gleanings for the poor.

9 “When you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap your field right up to its edge, neither shall you gather the gleanings after your harvest. 10 And you shall not strip your vineyard bare, neither shall you gather the fallen grapes of your vineyard. You shall leave them for the poor and for the sojourner: I am the Lord your God (Leviticus 19: 9-10).

In this sense practicing leaving gleanings is very understandable as an act of charity and compassion but how can killing be compassionate?

In the world of Scythe, there are no medical problems, economic problems, knowledge problems, or even fatal problems. They have all been superseded by innovation and advancement. This means it is hard for anyone to relate to hardship, which on the surface may seem desirable, however, as you keep reading the lines are blurred.

For example, when Scythe Faraday takes Citra and Rowan to the Museum of World Art. Scythe Faraday admires the art but the kids grow more impatient and ask why they are here. Scythe Faraday tries to elicit the thought that post-mortal paintings have little emotion. Rowan starts to understand and Citra believes it to be a subjective matter. When they are introduced to the next gallery Rowan is sure he'd feel nothing, but he found that "there was a coherence to the work, as if it had been painted by the same soul, if not the same hand. Some works had a religious theme, others were portraits, and others simply captured the elusive light of daily life with a vibrancy that was missing in post-mortal art"(Shusterman 40). It was so compelling that "in the end it was the art that did it... What must life have been like in the Age of Mortality? Full of passions, both good and bad. Fear giving rise to faith. Despair giving meaning to elation..." death giving meaning to life? (Shusterman 45-46).

With the creation of Scythedom, scythes fill the role of immanency and ambiguity that is requisite in death. Because of this, one could argue that this is compassionate to your fellow human being as it forces them to be grateful, thus giving meaning to their lives. This may be the opposite of giving(taking) but in a way, it still shows compassion and charity.]]> 2022-12-02 06:37:29 UTC https://padlet.com/nathantchamnatchako/k4v6mwkn27qs9bfx/wish/2406246292 nathantchamnatchako https://padlet.com/nathantchamnatchako/k4v6mwkn27qs9bfx/wish/2406313913 The Matrix is similar to scythe not in just how certain individuals where standout-ish clothes, but also in how characters change their worldview drastically and think outside of the box. In the Matrix, this is more literal, but we can still see this concept being applied in Scythe through emotional maturity and coming of age. 

In the beginning, for example, before being called to apprenticeship Citra "had never been sure what path her life would take. She assumed she would go to college, get a degree in something pleasant then settle into a comfortable job, meet a comfortable guy, and have a nice, unremarkable life. It's not that she longed for such an existence, but it was expected. Not just of her, but everyone. With nothing to really aspire to, life had become about eternal maintenance. Eternal maintenance"(Shusterman 44). This would change as taking on the persona of Scythe Anastasia who was "the product of a corrupt system, and because of that was denied her very life... had she lived, who knows what she might have done. Perhaps she could have changed the world and redeemed her family name. I chose to be Scythe Anastasia. I vow to become the change that might have been" (Shusterman 428). With her coming of age, Citra developed a meaningful purpose in life, rejecting the easy one given by mortality.

Another instance of the acceptance of fast life given by the Age of Mortality is Tyger Salazar. Maybe it derived from him being the "lettuce-kid" or even the fact that he was an adrenaline junkie, yet the fact was Tyger had become a professional partier (Shusterman 18). "The fact that Tyger was about as deep as the fountain out front was an irritation to Rowan..." because "Now he [Rowan] was in a place too deep for Tyger to ever understand" (Shusterman 311). As Rowan began to deviate from a substanceless life it had become not only appalling but also irritating that someone could live on such "treacherously thin ice"(Shusterman 311).

 Being an apprentice caused them to become "a ghost in [their] own [lives], existing in a forced blind spot of the world", and also simultaneously in chapter four take on new responsibilities, thus giving themselves purpose and goals (Shusterman 38). Effectively taking the red pill.

Most people in scythe are like cartoons, how Scythe Curie describes never waking up to reality for eternity. Effectively taking the blue pill or never even being presented with an option of pills.]]> 2022-12-02 08:01:35 UTC https://padlet.com/nathantchamnatchako/k4v6mwkn27qs9bfx/wish/2406313913 nathantchamnatchako https://padlet.com/nathantchamnatchako/k4v6mwkn27qs9bfx/wish/2410565548

The x-axis represents virtue ethics. As you go left a scythe's moral character worsens and as you go right a scythe's moral character improves. The y-axis represents utilitarianism, as you go up the consequences of a scythe's actions are positive for society, and as you go down the consequences of a scythe's actions have a negative effect on society. 
In scythe certain characters exhibit traits that graph them on the Moral Plane. One of these characters is scythe Goddard, the nigh-epitome of corruption within the Scythedome. First what moves him left is his twisted sense of altruism or possibly just his justification for his tendencies and temptations. He writes, " As a young man, I marveled at the stupidity and hypocrisy of the mortal age. In those days, the purposeful act of ending human life was considered the most heinous of crimes... How small-minded and hypocritical mortal man was, for even as they despised the enders of life, they loved nature which, in those days, took every human life ever conceived... We changed that. We are now a force greater than nature... For this reason, scythes must be as loved as a glorious mountain vista, as revered as a redwood forest, and as respected as an approaching storm"(Shusterman 202) He tries to compare nature's homicides to man's homicides which would be plausible if it were not for the intentions of man and the almost randomness of nature, and it is also for this that he goes up in utilitarianism. His mass gleanings despite the pain and suffering they cause benefit the world of Scythe by combating overpopulation.

In almost complete contrast is Scythe Curie who graphs to be (+,-). She scales positively on the x-axis because of her drive to be human and empathetic. She writes, "Perhaps that is why we must, by law, keep a record. A public journal, testifying to those who will never die and those who are yet to be born, as to why we human beings do the things we do. We are instructed to write down not just our deeds but our feelings, because it must be known that we do have feelings. Remorse. Regret. Sorrow too great to bear. Because if we didn't feel those things, what monsters would we be?"(Shusterman 3). Not only that, but she invites the bereaved into her home and allows them to confide in her. She scales negatively on the utilitarianism axis due to her excessive compassion which spills into her decision-making. She discriminantly kills "stagnant" people which is more or less unethical, despite claiming to want to mimic the nature of death.]]> 2022-12-06 12:14:44 UTC https://padlet.com/nathantchamnatchako/k4v6mwkn27qs9bfx/wish/2410565548 nathantchamnatchako https://padlet.com/nathantchamnatchako/k4v6mwkn27qs9bfx/wish/2414844564 "When it was decided that people needed to die in order to ease the tide of population growth, it was also decided that this must be the responsibility of humans. Bridge repair and urban planning could be handled by the Thunderhead, but taking a life was an act of conscience and consciousness. Since it could not be proven that the Thunderhead had either, the Scythedom was born"(Shusterman 54).

The Organization was given the task of self-accountability hence the Ten Scythe Commandments, and in a system where it is so easy to abuse power and every scythe has different philosophical interpretations, It wasn't a matter of if the rules would be broken but, when.

They had essentially made a new government full of glorified politicians even though Scythe Curie claims this form of corruption had already been conquered and it was "the greatest achievement of the human race"(Shusterman 53).

For this reason, I choose Senator Palpatine. A wolf in sheep's clothing. Just like a duplicitous scythe: keeping up a clean image while simultaneously being involved in corruption.


]]> 2022-12-08 20:28:45 UTC https://padlet.com/nathantchamnatchako/k4v6mwkn27qs9bfx/wish/2414844564 nathantchamnatchako https://padlet.com/nathantchamnatchako/k4v6mwkn27qs9bfx/wish/2414865357 Man vs machine has always been a time-old debate in our world. The question of what if machine eclipses humanity and subdues it?
However, in the world of Scythe, it is a different story. Yes, machine is arguably superior to humanity, yet it bears no mal intentions, instead, the Thunderhead, an artificially intelligent nigh-omniscient machine, uses its powers for good; advancing the human race. Instead of the clasped arms being in a bout, they are united in agreement.
More or less...
The Scythedom is separate from the Thunderhead. This is because it was decided that killing was a conscious act and must therefore be done by the conscious. In theory, this made sense. It would be better for a human of the highest moral fiber to kill with compassion to maintain the integrity of what makes me and you of the same species rather than have a lifeless composition of elements kill.
In theory...
In practice, was a different story. Integrity crushes quickly in practice. Instead, no governing body allowed a cesspool of unwarranted politics to breed.
What's left is a question: Flip a coin for integrity, or abandon it and make the job cutthroat?]]> 2022-12-08 20:53:51 UTC https://padlet.com/nathantchamnatchako/k4v6mwkn27qs9bfx/wish/2414865357 nathantchamnatchako https://padlet.com/nathantchamnatchako/k4v6mwkn27qs9bfx/wish/2418613676 Even in the Age of post-mortality death is still feared or at the very least acknowledged despite its insignificance in most people's lives. In the world of Scythe, death is the scythe, and death is pampered, run from, or straight-up ignored.
The Scythedom wants to present themselves as a beacon of light to the human race, not as the dark recesses of it, which is why they were colorful robes, with colorful meanings.
Here are some examples:
Scythe Curie's robe is pale lavender. Lavender is the color of royalty, serenity, and calmness. This reflects her as a person and her philosophies. It also represents her status within the Scythedom.

Scythe Goddard's robe is lavish blue and encrusted with diamonds. Blue is the color of freedom, inspiration, and confidence. This parallels Goddard being a revolutionary, and also his philosophy of gleaning with freedom. Blue can also represent cunningness and craftiness. In Goddard's case, he is very crafty and often plants corruption within the Scythedom. The complement is his diamonds that emanate anything but humility which is almost key to becoming a great scythe.

Scythe Faraday's robes are multilayered and made of smooth ivory linen. A color made from slightly tainting white with yellow. It shows his purity while not being over-blinding.

Scythe Lucifer's robe is black. The absence of light. A radical and arguably needed contrast to the "light" within the Scythedom, but morality-wise is questionable. Similar to the color black.

Scythe Anastasia's robe is turquoise. The color of wisdom, tranquility, and hope. She is in a way the hope for an improved Scythedom. She does things differently than her coworkers because of the wisdom she gained. Many of her traits align with turquoise.

Of course, this is much speculation, but I wanted to provide a different angle from which the author may have gone about providing indirect characterization.]]> 2022-12-13 02:28:33 UTC https://padlet.com/nathantchamnatchako/k4v6mwkn27qs9bfx/wish/2418613676 nathantchamnatchako https://padlet.com/nathantchamnatchako/k4v6mwkn27qs9bfx/wish/2418637990 Neal Shusterman said in an interview that he wanted to break the norms of an average teen dystopian. Instead of asking what happens when things go wrong, he instead asks what happens when things go right?
It is very hard to find fault in this utopia in the early stages of the book. These early stages really make my mind wander down a different path than the book. In the book, a conflict is revealed: corruption, but I still beg the question: What happens if everything truly goes right?
Imagine a background character who lives an average life in this world. Do they find meaning in their life? Do they preoccupy themselves with useless careers, unending partying, radical philosophies. Either way lots of their decisions are very cartoonish and lack little purpose similar to how scythe curie describes. Not only that, what scares me even more, is that it is all amplified by an apparent eternity.]]> 2022-12-13 02:56:35 UTC https://padlet.com/nathantchamnatchako/k4v6mwkn27qs9bfx/wish/2418637990 nathantchamnatchako https://padlet.com/nathantchamnatchako/k4v6mwkn27qs9bfx/wish/2419521068 Spider-Man is a superhero with many responsibilities at a very young age. He had to deal with his circumstances and he was able to grow from them. Similarly, many scythes must learn those same lessons that Spiderman does to become the best moral fiber. 

He is compassionate to his fellow man and frequently holds back on his rogues' gallery. In conjunction with this, he has an X-factor. Individuality and lightheartedness. Something that might make the rest of humanity build a bridge to the Scythedom because if there is no bridge to humanity scythes are virtually just worse versions of the Thunderhead.

Although I do admit, normalizing death is a monumental task compared to praising saving lives.]]> 2022-12-13 17:18:28 UTC https://padlet.com/nathantchamnatchako/k4v6mwkn27qs9bfx/wish/2419521068