Scythe Volta Character Analysis in Scythe

The youngest of Scythe Goddard's followers. He has vaguely Afric leanings and wears yellow robes with embedded citrines. Though Rowan hates Volta at first, he soon begins to see that Volta isn't as heartless as Goddard, Chomsky, or Rand. Volta was trained by an old guard scythe, but believes that Goddard's way of gleaning and thinking is the way of the future, and he wants to be involved. Because of his early training, Volta is more compassionate than the rest of Goddard’s bunch and even admits to Rowan that he thinks what Goddard does is repulsive. Rowan also recognizes, however, that Volta is weak and will likely never leave Goddard. Volta reaches his breaking point during the gleaning rampage at the Tonist cloister. After gleaning a room full of small Tonist children, Volta is so disturbed and disgusted with himself that he self-gleans. As he dies, weeping, he asks Rowan to call him by his old name, Shawn Dobson.

Scythe Volta Character Timeline in Scythe

The timeline below shows where the character Scythe Volta appears in Scythe. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

Surveillance, Corruption, and Justice Theme Icon

Morality, Compassion, and Choices Theme Icon

...gate guards have been gleaned and lets the scythes in. Goddard introduces himself and Scythes Volta, Chomsky, and Rand. They compliment his home and ignore him when he asks what their... (full context)

While Scythe Volta accompanies Rowan to Goddard's residence, Rowan starts thinking to himself that he's going to die.... (full context)

The car drives up to a huge estate and lets Rowan and Volta out into the middle of a loud party. A servant leads them to a pool.... (full context)

...second day, Goddard calls an end to the party, and it's over within the hour. Volta fetches Rowan from outside and takes him to a wine cellar in the basement. Scythes... (full context)

...first day after the beating, the pain is so bad that Rowan wants to die. Volta visits and spoons soup into Rowan's mouth. He speaks to Rowan with genuine compassion. Late... (full context)

Rowan spends his days training with Goddard, Chomsky, Volta, and Rand. Rowan often disagrees with what Goddard says, but he never argues. Because of... (full context)

...like Faraday or like Goddard. He wonders if it'd be a tragedy to enjoy gleaning. Volta is the only person who seems aware that Rowan doesn't fully buy Goddard's philosophy. Rowan... (full context)

...to play cards with her. Rowan has no choice but to agree. After their game, Volta reminds Rowan that they need to keep Esme happy and be nice to her. (full context)

One day, Rowan arrives for training to find Chomsky, Volta, and Rand there with Goddard and a bunch of people. Rowan realizes with horror that... (full context)

Volta wakes Rowan up at dawn and tells him to get ready: they're gleaning today. A... (full context)

The helicopter lands on the roof at Magnetic Propulsion Laboratories. Goddard, Chomsky, Rand, Volta, and Rowan push past a security guard, and the scythes race down the stairs. Rowan... (full context)

...This begins a mad rush for the scythes. Goddard gives his ring to Rowan, and Volta tells Rowan that this is the life of a god. (full context)

...that night. He, Chomsky, and Rand seem thrilled with their day's work, but Rowan and Volta are disturbed. Esme whispers to Rowan that Volta is always cranky after a gleaning. Midway... (full context)

...hasn't given her immunity. As Rowan heads for his bedroom, he hears crying coming from Volta's room. He lets himself in and Volta is immediately furious. Volta throws things at Rowan,... (full context)

Rowan says that he knows Volta only pretends to like mass gleanings. Volta slams Rowan against a wall and accuses him... (full context)

...thinks Goddard is a killer, not a scythe, and killing like Goddard does is wrong. Volta says that the old scythes are rolling in their graves over Goddard, but there's nothing... (full context)

Scythe Goddard brightly toasts Rowan when he, Volta, Chomsky, and Rand get home. Rowan sees Esme watching and feels ashamed, wondering if she... (full context)

Volta is the first one to see Xenocrates arrive at the party, and he can tell... (full context)

Xenocrates looks terrified as Esme sits on Goddard's lap. Volta wonders why Xenocrates is so uncomfortable and why Goddard is pushing the issue. Goddard introduces... (full context)

Later, Volta and Rowan play pool and discuss the possibility that someone killed Faraday. Volta thinks that... (full context)

...renders deadish. He soon loses count, but he becomes a skilled killer and enjoys killing. Volta suggests one day that they break off from Goddard after Rowan is ordained, but Rowan... (full context)

...on the last day of the year, Goddard decides to glean once more, shouting at Volta when Volta points out that they've reached their quota. Goddard says that it's already the... (full context)

...Tonist cloister and says they're going to glean them all. Rand and Chomsky grin, but Volta nervously suggests that this would show bias. Goddard and Rand shoot him down and draw... (full context)

Rowan finds Volta sitting against a column, crying and covered in blood. He kneels down and Volta explains... (full context)

...massacre will help the Tonists' cause, and Rowan refuses to glean him. Rowan says that Volta self-gleaned, and Goddard knocks the curate out. Goddard says that Volta was weak and tells... (full context)

In his journal, Volta writes that Rand and Chomsky often discuss what methods of self-gleaning they'd like to use... (full context)

...seen the videos, and Xenocrates goes on to say that they've found the remains of Volta, Chomsky, and possibly Rand, all with the gems from their rings and their robes, but... (full context)