Was Andrew Carnegie A Hero

Words: 1944
Pages: 8

Andrew Carnegie, a steel king, a man whose rags to riches story and acts of kindness led him to be admired by the country. Carnegie wasn’t always a successful man, he was born in November 1835 and grew up poor in the attic of a weaver’s cottage in Scotland. Carnegie worked himself up to running the steel industry and reducing both selling and production costs. An alleged self-made man, Carnegie was able to build up the steel industry and contributed to the industrialization of the United States. Apart from being involved in the steel industry, Carnegie was a philanthropist who donated a large sum of his money to the less fortunate, but there is a darker side to him, a side that is neither widely known or talked about. Andrew Carnegie wasn’t as prodigious as he is …show more content…
A hero can be someone who has gained financial success, is self-made, and has significant achievements, but life isn’t all about money. One must remember that at the end of one’s life, money obtained will not matter, but rather how one treated others. Money doesn’t fulfill life, it doesn’t bring true happiness, thus, it shouldn’t be obtained at the expense of others and one’s own moral integrity. Andrew Carnegie, built an empire, but what isn’t as widely known is that his empire was also built by laborers who suffered atrocious conditions and low wages, an empire also built utilizing sabotage and lies. Moreover, it is truly difficult to trust a man who exhibits two drastically different personas, a ruthless businessman, believer of the law of survival of the fittest and a kind-hearted billionaire who preaches philanthropy. In essence, there is always more than meets the eye, people perceived as heroes may not always be who they seem, thus, it is vital to look beyond the information on the