Steelheart

Fiction | Novel | YA | Published in 2013

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Summary

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Prologue-Part 1, Chapter 7

Part 1, Chapters 8-13

Part 2, Chapters 14-22

Part 3, Chapters 23-30

Part 4, Chapters 31-35

Part 4, Chapter 36-Epilogue

Character Analysis

Themes

Symbols & Motifs

Literary Devices

Important Quotes

Essay Topics

Tools

Beta

Discussion Questions

Symbols & Motifs

Superpowers

The superpower motif plays a key role in exposing how unmitigated power corrupts people. Megan reflects, “I think [Epics are] a test of some kind. […] I mean a test of what we’ll do, if we have power” (228). The narrative evidence proves that tasting power makes Epics greedier and more narcissistic. In typical superhero stories, the presence of superpowers justifies a new persona distinct from the character’s human counterpart: Clark Kent is Superman; Bruce Wayne is Batman; and Peter Parker is Spider-Man. Often, these characters adopt superhero personas to hide their true identities and live normal lives. However, in Sanderson’s inverted depiction of superpowers, Epics’ abilities change their inmost being so drastically that their power-drunk personalities warrant an entirely new identity. David notices these personality changes whenever Prof or Megan uses powers, even if used to defend friends: “[Megan’s] eyes were angry. I don’t think I’d ever seen an expression like that in a person’s eyes before—not directed at me at least. It was like I could feel the hate coming off her” (204). This inversion, therefore, highlights the novel’s themes about how power inherently alters people to become less human.

Fear

All Epics—especially Steelheart—thrive on the motif of humanity’s fear, which both keeps people submissive and motivates them to think primarily of their own safety. First, fear builds the foundations of Steelheart’s tyranny, and he takes every opportunity to remind people of his ruthlessness. For example, he distributes a daily Reinforcement message that “reinforces” his authority. In the novel, one message depicts him wordlessly destroy an inhabited building for no apparent reason: “He wants us to be terrified, [David] thought. […] He wants us to think no one can challenge him” (113). Simultaneously, this excessive propaganda protects Steelheart’s weakness by eradicating any remnant of fearlessness lingering in Newcago.

Second, fear makes people prioritize personal safety, consequently preventing them from banding together against the Epics. As David examines Nightwielder, he thinks, “I’d watched children be murdered in front of their parents, with nobody brave enough to lift a hand to try to stop it. Why would they try?” (164). Steelheart also further solidifies his rule by isolating his people in selfish fear, cementing his authority until the Reckoners rise above his fear-mongering to advocate for humanity.

Darkness

Nightwielder shrouds Newcago in darkness, which not only constructs the novel’s tone and setting but also becomes a symbol reflecting Steelheart’s corruption. While some characters defend Steelheart for instituting some semblance of order in a chaotic world, adding complex tension to the good versus evil conflict, the darkness pervading the novel confirms the narrative sentiment toward the tyrant. Steelheart’s corruption derives from his deliberate maneuvers to hoard power for himself. By using Nightwielder to darken the city, he attempts to block out the rest of the universe and create a miniature world in which he plays the god. However, Nightwielder’s death exposes this manufactured world’s deception and reveals that Steelheart, too, is small under the universe’s massive scope. As the sun rises behind Steelheart, David describes, “A murderer outlined in brilliant light. Seen like that, he was just a shadow. Darkness. A nothingness before real power” (375). David attributes “real power” to the larger universe, which existed before Calamity and will persist beyond the Epics. Shortly after the sunlight figuratively exposes Steelheart’s insignificance, the Epic dies by his own hand, signifying an end to his corrupt rule.