When apprentices become scythes, they choose a Patron Historic, “the luminary from history whom they would name themselves after” (page 143). The name of their Patron Historic becomes the scythe’s name, and they leave their old name behind. Calling a scythe by their Patron Historic’s first name is considered intimate, done by friends (for example, calling Scythe Curie “Marie”).
Each scythe in the novel has chosen their Patron Historic from the Age of Mortality—in other words, the history of our own world—so each Patron Historic refers to a person that we, as readers, can recognize. It’s worth noting that we don’t know how much scythes know about their Patron Historic—their historical knowledge could be incomplete or have a different bias. For the purpose of this guide, we’ll assume that they know around as much as we do. (They were named by Shusterman, after all, and he lives with us in the Age of Mortality.) Some names might be familiar, like Marie Curie and Nelson Mandela, while others might be less so, like Xenocrates and Song Yingxing. Only one scythe in Scythe explains why they chose their particular Patron Historic, but it’s fair to assume that Neal Shusterman did not assign names to his characters randomly.
The scythe who explains her choice is Citra, who chooses Anastasia Romanov. When High Blade Xenocrates questions her choice, she retorts that “She was the product of a corrupt system, and because of that, was denied her very life—as I almost was. […] I vow to become the change that she might have been.” Citra’s chosen Patron Historic is deliberately not a luminary, but rather a symbol of wasted potential, and she chooses Anastasia as a political statement to the Scythedom. She is referred to as Scythe Anastasia, another departure from the typical naming system, as scythes typically go by their Patron Historic’s last name. The exact reason for this choice is not stated in Scythe, though one could interpret that it indicates Scythe Anastasia’s compassion and care for all people, welcoming them all as her familiars.
Other scythes don’t explicitly explain their Patron Historic, so the rest of this section will explore the real-world inspiration behind a few of the names used in Scythe.
Marie Curie was the first woman to win the Nobel Prize, best known for her research into radioactivity. She was a brilliant pioneer with a long life of exploration and improvement, founding schools of medical research and dying of complications caused by radiation exposure. Scythe Curie could have chosen this name because, as a young scythe, she was a bit of a hothead and considered herself a pioneer. The name could also have been chosen for the character because Marie Curie is very famous and has a lovely name that evokes “cure,” emphasizing Scythe Curie’s compassionate work for the families of those she gleans.
Michael Faraday was one of the most influential scientists of all time, particularly in electromagnetism and chemistry. Despite making many important discoveries and inventions, including an early version of the Bunsen burner, Faraday’s mathematic abilities were minimal, and he relied more on experimentation. He was self-educated and very religious. Scythe Faraday might have chosen Faraday for his fame and contribution, but he was likely also motivated by Faraday’s deep belief, as well as his inquisitive spirit.
Xenocrates of Chalcedon was a Greek philosopher and mathematician, and his teachings built upon those of Plato. He believed that virtue produces happiness, but external goods can help in the production of happiness along the way. The tension between virtue and external goods can be seen in High Blade Xenocrates, with his gold-encrusted robes and his well-worn slippers. The inclination to name one’s self after an influential Greek philosopher implies a strong sense of pride.
Robert Goddard was a physicist and inventor, credited with creating the first liquid-fueled rocket. Despite now being known as the man who facilitated the Space Age, Goddard received little support during his life, and he was known for being shy. Scythe Goddard likely didn’t relate to the personality of Robert Goddard at all, and if he knew about his personality, perhaps Scythe Goddard chose his name to create an illusion of humility. A cynical reader could think that Scythe Goddard chose his Patron Historic just because he liked the idea of rockets, liquid fuel, and explosions.
Alessandro Volta invented the electric battery and discovered methane. He debunked the theory that electricity came exclusively from living things, and he inspired a new wave of discovery—much like Scythe Volta inspires Rowan. That isn’t a reason that Shawn Dobson would choose the name Volta, of course, since that choice predates Rowan. Perhaps Scythe Volta was attracted to Alessandro Volta’s personality, which was inclined more toward staying at home; or, like all of these names, perhaps the character (or the author) simply thought the name sounded cool.
Ayn Rand was the pen name of an author known for Objectivism, ethical egoism, and anti-altruism—it seems fairly obvious why Scythe Rand might appreciate her viewpoints, as Scythe Goddard’s apprentice. Noam Chomsky is the father of modern linguistics, one of the most-cited scholars ever to live, and he is firmly anti-imperialism, anti-capitalism, anti-occupation, and anti-war. If Scythe Chomsky knew all of this when he chose his Patron Historic, perhaps he chose ironically.
Other interesting Patron Historic choices include Sydney Possuelo (explorer, activist, and authority on Brazil’s isolated indigenous peoples), Mao Zedong (Chinese communist revolutionary and founder of Maoism), and what appears to be Stephen Colbert, the comedian and political commentator. There are many in Scythe, and exploring scythes’ chosen luminaries can certainly provide a diverting research experience.
Examining the real-world inspiration behind scythes’ choices opens the door to speculation about why a particular scythe might have chosen their particular Patron Historic. This speculation remains speculation, however. Ultimately, the only person who completely understands the characters’ choices is the author. The details Shusterman chooses to keep hidden provide a ripe ground for interpretation.
