The Maze Runner
Chapter 23
by Dashner, JamesIn Chapter 23 of *The Maze Runner*, Thomas grapples with guilt and exhaustion after saving Alby from the Maze. Despite his efforts, Alby is now enduring immense pain, reminiscent of Ben’s earlier suffering, leaving Thomas questioning whether his actions were worth it. The Glade is haunted by Alby’s screams, and Thomas, physically and emotionally drained, retreats to the Deadheads to wallow in despair. The initial thrill of his survival has faded, replaced by the grim reality of life in the Glade, where escape seems impossible and the weight of their situation feels crushing.
Thomas reflects on the futility of their circumstances, questioning how anyone could find happiness or why someone would subject them to such torment. His anger toward their unseen captors grows, mingling with a desire for revenge. Yet, the hopelessness of their predicament looms large, especially considering the Gladers’ two-year failure to solve the Maze. Despite this, Thomas admires their resilience, recognizing that he is now one of them. The chapter underscores his deepening connection to the Glade and his acceptance of its harsh realities, even as sadness and Alby’s distant screams weigh heavily on him.
The arrival of Chuck brings a brief respite, as the younger boy provides food and water, lightening the mood with humor. However, Thomas’s pride in his recent accomplishments is short-lived, overshadowed by Alby’s suffering. Chuck reveals that Thomas has become a legend among the Gladers for his bravery, but Thomas dismisses the praise, frustrated by his inability to alleviate their collective misery. Their conversation highlights the shared despair of the Gladers, a theme reinforced when Newt joins them, looking equally worn and worried.
Newt explains the brutal process of the Changing, revealing that those who survive the Grievers’ stings regain fragmented memories of their past lives, often becoming emotionally altered. Thomas probes further, wondering if the trauma stems from longing for their old lives or despair at their inadequacy. Newt’s vague answers and disdain for those who’ve undergone the Changing hint at the psychological toll it takes. The chapter ends with a shift in focus to the mysterious comatose girl, leaving Thomas and the others pondering her role in their unfolding drama. The unresolved questions deepen the sense of mystery and tension in the Glade.
FAQs
1. How does Thomas feel about his decision to save Alby after witnessing the consequences of the Changing?
Answer:
Thomas experiences deep regret and doubt about his choice to save Alby. While initially proud of his heroic act, he now questions whether it was worth it, as Alby suffers immensely from the Changing—screaming in pain and potentially facing the same psychotic breakdown as Ben. The chapter highlights Thomas’s internal conflict: he feels guilt over Alby’s suffering and dreads the possibility that Alby may become permanently altered, like other Gladers who underwent the Changing. This emotional turmoil adds to his overall despair about life in the Glade (e.g., “Had it been worth it?” and “Sadness filled him like a heavy poison”).2. What does the Changing reveal about the Gladers’ past, and why does it cause psychological distress?
Answer:
The Changing temporarily restores fragments of the Gladers’ memories from their lives before the Maze, but these glimpses are traumatic. Newt explains that survivors become “different” and “unlikable,” likely because they recall enough to mourn their past but not enough to make sense of it. The process is physically agonizing (e.g., skin turning green, vomiting) and psychologically destabilizing, as it offers a cruel tease of their identities before being “snatched away again.” This explains why those who undergo it, like Gally, often become bitter or hostile—they are tormented by incomplete truths about their past.3. Analyze how Thomas’s perception of the Glade shifts in this chapter. What pivotal realization does he have?
Answer:
Thomas transitions from temporary elation after surviving the Maze to profound hopelessness. He compares accepting life in the Glade to receiving a “terminal cancer diagnosis,” emphasizing his despair. Crucially, he realizes escape isn’t just about freedom—it’s about revenge against those who imprisoned them. However, this anger clashes with his growing belief that the Maze is unsolvable (e.g., “If Newt and the others hadn’t been able to solve [it] after two years…”). This duality—rage versus futility—marks his emotional maturation and solidifies his identity as a true Glader (“And now he was one of them”).4. How does Chuck’s conversation with Thomas reveal the Gladers’ collective emotional state?
Answer:
Chuck’s dialogue underscores the shared trauma of the Gladers. When Thomas asks why he feels “crappy” despite his achievements, Chuck murmurs, “Same reason we all feel crappy,” implying universal despair. Their banter about the Grievers and Thomas’s feats briefly lightens the mood, but Chuck’s hurt expression and Thomas’s subsequent guilt reveal how fragile their camaraderie is. The exchange highlights how even small conflicts are magnified by their oppressive environment, where survival triumphs are overshadowed by suffering (e.g., Alby’s screams) and unresolved questions about their captivity.5. Why does Newt refuse Thomas’s request to see Alby, and what does this suggest about the Gladers’ coping mechanisms?
Answer:
Newt denies Thomas’s request because witnessing Alby’s agony would “only make it worse,” showing how the Gladers prioritize emotional self-preservation. This reflects a broader pattern of avoiding unnecessary pain—whether by distancing themselves from those who’ve undergone the Changing or suppressing vulnerable emotions. Newt’s own grief (“looking like death on two feet”) reveals his struggle to balance leadership with personal anguish. The refusal underscores the Gladers’ reliance on compartmentalization; they endure by rationing empathy to avoid being overwhelmed by the horrors of their reality.
Quotes
1. “How could anyone ever be happy in a life like this? he thought. Then, How could anyone be evil enough to do this to us?”
This quote captures Thomas’s existential crisis and moral outrage about the Glade’s purpose. It represents a key turning point where he transitions from survival mode to questioning the system’s cruelty.
2. “The fact that the Gladers hadn’t given up said more about these people than anything else.”
This observation highlights the resilience of the Gladers and serves as Thomas’s first genuine appreciation for his fellow survivors. It marks his psychological shift toward identifying as one of them.
3. “It brings back memories. Just little snippets, but definite memories of before we came to this horrible place… It’s like being given your old life back, only to have it snatched away again.”
Newt’s explanation of the Changing process reveals the cruel irony of the Gladers’ situation - the serum that saves their lives torments them with glimpses of a past they can’t fully recall or return to.
4. “Are they changed because they want to go back to their old life, or is it because they’re so depressed at realizing their old life was no better than what we have now?”
Thomas’s insightful question challenges assumptions about the Changing’s psychological effects, suggesting the trauma might come from remembering their pre-Glade lives were equally terrible.
5. “You’re disgusting when you eat… It’s like watching a starving pig eat his own klunk.”
Chuck’s crude humor provides necessary comic relief amidst the chapter’s heavy themes, while also showcasing the boys’ developing friendship through their ability to tease each other.