Gregor and the Code of Claw
Chapter 2
by Suzanne, Collins,In Chapter 2 of *Code of Claw*, Gregor is eager to rejoin his friends in the Firelands, but Mareth, a soldier, stops him, emphasizing that wartime demands discipline. Mareth reveals that Solovet, previously disgraced for weaponizing the plague, has been reinstated as head of the Regalian army due to her strategic ruthlessness against the rats. Gregor is outraged, arguing that her past crimes should not be overlooked, but Mareth insists orders must be followed. The chapter highlights Gregor’s internal conflict between his desire for autonomy and the harsh realities of war.
Gregor realizes he must conceal his intentions to return to the Firelands, as Solovet likely views him as a weapon to be deployed at her discretion. Reflecting on Ripred’s advice to plan carefully, he decides to avoid drawing suspicion. Instead of immediately seeking Ares, he visits his mother, who is severely ill with pneumonia. The encounter underscores Gregor’s guilt and concern for her safety, complicating his priorities as he weighs his responsibilities to his friends against his duty to his mother.
A doctor privately advises Gregor that his mother would be safer in the Overland, given the impending war, but official channels refuse her relocation. This revelation forces Gregor to confront the dire consequences of leaving her in Regalia. The doctor’s whispered warning adds urgency to Gregor’s dilemma, as he grapples with the moral and practical challenges of protecting his mother while fulfilling his role in the conflict.
Determined to act, Gregor seeks Vikus’s help to bypass the council and send his mother home. Vikus, though sympathetic, reveals his previous attempts have been denied, highlighting the bureaucratic obstacles Gregor faces. The chapter ends with Gregor’s frustration mounting, as he realizes he may need to take matters into his own hands to ensure his mother’s survival, even as the war threatens to consume everyone around him.
FAQs
1. Why does Mareth prevent Gregor from leaving immediately, and what does this reveal about Gregor’s role in the war?
Answer:
Mareth stops Gregor because, as a soldier during wartime, Gregor cannot act independently but must follow orders—specifically those of Solovet, who has been reinstated as head of the Regalian army. This highlights Gregor’s strategic importance; he is viewed as a valuable weapon against the rats, feared by their enemies. Mareth’s intervention underscores the tension between Gregor’s personal desires and his obligations as a soldier, emphasizing the loss of autonomy he faces in wartime (e.g., “You cannot go running off when the mood strikes you. You will be expected to follow orders”).
2. Analyze the ethical dilemma surrounding Solovet’s reinstatement. How does Gregor’s reaction reflect broader themes of justice and wartime pragmatism?
Answer:
Solovet’s reinstatement despite her role in the plague weapon scandal reveals the moral compromises of war: her ruthlessness against rats is prioritized over accountability for human and bat deaths. Gregor’s outrage (“She still killed all those people…”) underscores the tension between justice and survival. The chapter critiques how war erodes moral boundaries, as Solovet’s trial is postponed and her actions are reframed as heroic. Gregor’s bitterness foreshadows how war can distort societal values, a theme reinforced by Mareth’s resigned acceptance (“Whatever my private opinion… it is of no matter”).
3. How does Gregor’s visit to his mother complicate his priorities, and what strategic insight does the doctor provide?
Answer:
Gregor’s desire to return to the Firelands conflicts with his duty to his critically ill mother, who suffers from pneumonia. The doctor privately advises that wartime makes Regalia unsafe, urging Gregor to leverage his influence to send her to the Overland—a risky suggestion that highlights the hidden dangers of the war (“with the war commencing, the palace may come under attack”). This forces Gregor to weigh loyalty to his friends against his mother’s survival, revealing the personal sacrifices demanded by war and the limits of official protocols (“That is what I must say… but now you must weigh the dangers”).
4. Evaluate Mareth’s warning: “Not everyone here is your friend.” How does this moment shape Gregor’s subsequent actions?
Answer:
Mareth’s warning exposes the political tension in Regalia, where loyalty to Solovet may override personal alliances. This prompts Gregor to adopt secrecy and caution, as seen when he feigns compliance (“lay back down in bed to look like a model patient”) and plans to visit his mother as cover. The warning reinforces the theme of distrust in wartime, pushing Gregor to strategize rather than act impulsively (e.g., his internal monologue: “If he was going to get back… he would have to do it in secret”). It also foreshadows potential betrayals or surveillance.
5. How does Gregor’s interaction with Vikus contrast with his earlier defiance of Solovet’s authority? What does this reveal about his character?
Answer:
While Gregor openly rejects Solovet’s command (“Not of me”), he appeals to Vikus for help transporting his mother, showing pragmatic flexibility. His frustration with Vikus’s deference to the council (“he couldn’t help being frustrated”) reveals his desperation to protect family, contrasting with his rebellious stance toward military authority. This duality highlights Gregor’s growth: he channels his defiance into strategic actions (e.g., seeking unofficial solutions) rather than outright rebellion, balancing his roles as a warrior and a son.
Quotes
1. “During wartime, you are a soldier. Perhaps the most valuable one we have. You cannot go running off when the mood strikes you. You will be expected to follow orders.”
This quote marks a pivotal moment where Mareth confronts Gregor about his wartime responsibilities, establishing the central conflict between personal agency and military duty. It introduces the theme of Gregor’s reluctant role as a weapon in the war.
2. “Now that we are at war with them, a person who thinks of little but killing rats is of great value. So the council has reinstated her as head of the Regalian army.”
This reveals the moral compromise of reinstating Solovet despite her crimes, showcasing how wartime pragmatism overrides justice. It highlights the novel’s exploration of how conflicts reshape moral boundaries.
3. “Whatever my private opinion of the situation is, it is of no matter. Solovet is now in command.”
Mareth’s resigned statement encapsulates the theme of blind obedience in military structures. His personal conflict mirrors Gregor’s growing disillusionment with Regalia’s leadership.
4. “Not everyone here is your friend.”
This ominous warning from Mareth underscores the growing atmosphere of distrust in Regalia and foreshadows Gregor’s need for secrecy. It represents the shifting alliances and hidden dangers in wartime politics.
5. “Warrior, if she were my mother, I would use whatever influence I have to get her back to the Overland… And with the war commencing, the palace may come under attack.”
The doctor’s whispered advice creates a crucial dilemma for Gregor, forcing him to choose between his mission and his mother’s safety. This moment heightens the personal stakes of the war.