The Maze Runner
Chapter 15
by Dashner, JamesThomas struggles with the haunting memory of Ben’s banishment, feeling a mix of pity and guilt despite Ben’s violent actions. The traumatic event reinforces the Glade’s strict rule against entering the Maze at night, as Ben’s fate—being taken by the Grievers—serves as a grim warning. Though shaken, Thomas still feels an inexplicable pull toward becoming a Runner, despite the dangers. His conflicted emotions highlight the tension between fear and curiosity that defines his experience in the Glade.
The next morning, Newt wakes Thomas and assigns him to work with the Track-hoes in the Gardens, teasing him about his resilience. Thomas, annoyed by the patronizing treatment, asserts his identity and questions the Glade’s routines, revealing his frustration with the lack of answers about his past. His thoughts drift to the comatose girl, sparking an unexplained sadness and connection he can’t rationalize. The exchange underscores Thomas’s growing defiance and desire for autonomy.
Thomas observes Minho’s casual handling of the collar used in Ben’s banishment, unsettling him further. Newt explains that the Grievers always return the collar, a chilling reminder of their brutality. When Thomas presses for details about the Grievers and the Changing, Newt deflects, shifting the conversation to the Runners. Thomas’s persistent curiosity about the Runners hints at his deeper, instinctual drive to join them, even as the risks become clearer.
Newt describes the Runners as the Glade’s elite, emphasizing that speed alone isn’t enough—they must be intelligent, decisive, and resilient to navigate the ever-changing Maze. The role involves immense pressure, as one mistake could mean facing the Grievers at night. Despite the horrors he’s witnessed, Thomas feels an undeniable calling to become a Runner, a contradiction that puzzles him. The chapter ends with Thomas grappling with this inner conflict, foreshadowing his potential role in the Glade’s survival.
FAQs
1. How does Thomas feel about Ben’s banishment, and what does this reveal about his character?
Answer:
Thomas experiences complex emotions regarding Ben’s banishment. While he acknowledges valid reasons to despise Ben for his violent actions, he predominantly feels pity, haunted by the image of Ben’s terrified final moments (e.g., “psychotically thrashing and spitting”). This reveals Thomas’s capacity for empathy, even toward those who have wronged him. His reflection—”That poor, poor guy”—shows moral depth, as he considers the horror of being taken by Grievers rather than focusing on personal grievances. Additionally, his guilt suggests a tendency to internalize responsibility, hinting at a protective or leadership-oriented nature.2. Analyze the significance of the Griever collar being returned to the Glade after a Banishment. What might this imply about the Creators’ intentions?
Answer:
The return of the collar—described as happening after every Banishment—serves as a grim reminder of the Grievers’ control and the futility of escape. Newt notes it “gives [him] the willies,” underscoring its psychological impact. This ritualistic act suggests the Creators deliberately instill fear and reinforce consequences, possibly to maintain order or test the Gladers’ resilience. The collar’s return could symbolize the inescapability of their environment, a message that defiance (like Ben’s attack) leads only to annihilation. It also hints at the Creators’ manipulative experimentation, as they observe how trauma affects group dynamics.3. Why does Thomas feel drawn to becoming a Runner despite witnessing the dangers of the Maze?
Answer:
Thomas’s attraction to being a Runner persists even after seeing Ben’s fate and the Griever’s brutality. The chapter notes the role is “something he was born to do,” implying an instinctual pull tied to his pre-wipe identity or inherent traits. Newt describes Runners as “best of the best,” requiring intelligence, decisiveness, and courage—qualities Thomas may subconsciously recognize in himself. His curiosity about the Maze (“What else didn’t he know about?”) and desire for purpose override fear, suggesting a natural problem-solving drive. This conflict between danger and destiny foreshadows his potential as a key figure in the Glade’s survival.4. How does Newt’s description of the Runner role expand the reader’s understanding of the Maze’s challenges?
Answer:
Newt clarifies that speed is only a minor factor; survival demands multifaceted skills: mental acuity (“know the right amount of risk”), adaptability (“Maze pattern different every day”), and emotional resilience (“always scared you might not make it back”). His emphasis on mapping and pattern recognition reveals the Maze as a dynamic, intellectual puzzle rather than a simple physical obstacle. The stress of constant change (“mental mistakes and you’re spendin’ the night with vicious beasts”) underscores the psychological torment the Creators designed, making it clear the Gladers are being tested for more than physical endurance.5. What thematic tension arises from Thomas’s conflicting emotions about the Glade’s rules and his own curiosity?
Answer:
The chapter highlights a central tension between obedience and exploration. Thomas acknowledges the necessity of rules (“no one should enter the Maze except Runners”) after seeing Ben’s fate, yet he is irresistibly curious about the Runners’ work and the Maze’s secrets. This conflict mirrors broader themes of safety versus freedom and ignorance versus knowledge. His simultaneous disgust (“being a Runner didn’t sound like such a great idea”) and attraction (“it still called to him”) reflect the Glade’s oppressive structure, where survival depends on conformity but progress requires risk-taking—a dichotomy that drives the novel’s central conflict.
Quotes
1. “Deep down he knew that Ben was only part of his many problems.”
This quote captures Thomas’s growing awareness that the Glade’s challenges extend far beyond individual conflicts, hinting at deeper systemic issues in their environment. It marks a turning point in his understanding of their predicament.
2. “Somehow Ben had already been stung once, which meant he knew better than perhaps anyone just exactly what lay in store for him.”
This chilling realization underscores the horror of the Griever sting and its consequences, while also revealing the cruel irony of Ben’s fate - his prior experience made him uniquely aware of the suffering awaiting him.
3. “To survive the buggin’ Maze, you gotta be smart, quick, strong. Gotta be a decision maker, know the right amount of risk to take. Can’t be reckless, can’t be timid, either.”
Newt’s description of Runner qualifications reveals the complex survival skills required in their world, emphasizing the delicate balance between courage and caution needed to navigate their deadly environment.
4. “A normal maze’d be hard enough—but when it changes every night, couple of mental mistakes and you’re spendin’ the night with vicious beasts.”
This quote powerfully conveys the ever-present danger of the shifting Maze, highlighting how the Gladers’ challenge goes beyond physical survival to include constant mental adaptation and mapping.
5. “The pull to know was strong, and he didn’t quite understand why. Becoming a Runner just felt like something he was born to do.”
This passage reveals Thomas’s inexplicable connection to running the Maze, suggesting deeper mysteries about his past and potential role in their society, while foreshadowing future developments.