Essay Questions

Do you agree that power can corrupt an individual and make him arrogant? Support your answer using the book ‘Steelheart: The Reckoners Book One by Brandon Sanderson?

Power is the source of evil, and it makes an individual think that he is immortal. In the book 'Steelheart: The Reckoners Book One,' the Epics are depicted as powerful human beings who use their power to destroy others. The Epics controls everything, and whoever tried to complain is killed. The author uses Epics as a symbol of the negative influence of power in society. The people in authority are supposed to serve others but not subjecting them to misery and destruction. Consequently, it is agreeable that power makes an individual corrupt and arrogant.

Why is David so passionate about retaliating against Steelheart?

David remembers how his father was mercilessly killed by the powerful elite people under Steelheart’s instructions. David joins the Reckoners group to fight the Epics' excessive use of power to destroy whoever goes against their will. David knows that vengeance is a bad thing, but he has no option to fight for his late father's justice using his hands. David's father was a fearless man who stood for the truth, and he opposed the excessive use of power.

What is the irony of Steelheart as described by the author?

Steelheart is the powerful individual who destroys whoever dares to challenge his activities. Ironically, Steelheart lives in fear because he knows that forces want to bring him down. For instance, David and the Reckoners are after revenge, and they want to bring Steelheart down. The reader does not expect Steelheart to be fearful because he has the power of destroying whoever he wants. Eventually, Steelheart dies of fear, and that serves as the natural justice for his evil deeds.