Gregor and the Curse of the Warmbloods
Chapter 4
by Suzanne, Collins,Gregor learns from Ripred that his bat, Ares, has contracted a deadly plague in the Underland, likely transmitted by mites in the Waterway. Despite initial shock and despair, Gregor clings to hope, reassured by Ripred that Ares is strong and may survive with Regalia’s medicines. Ripred reveals that Gregor and his sister, Boots, must return to the Underland to initiate a search for the cure, as the crawlers demand Boots’ presence. The conversation ends with Ripred’s ominous warning that rats will forcibly escort them if they don’t comply, leaving Gregor and his father anxious about breaking the news to his mother.
Upon returning home, Gregor struggles to find the right moment to explain the situation to his mother, who is exhausted from work but enjoying a rare family dinner with Mrs. Cormaci. The cheerful atmosphere contrasts with Gregor’s inner turmoil as he agonizes over the impending Underland journey. His attempts to hint at Mrs. Cormaci’s departure fail, delaying the difficult conversation. When he finally reveals the truth to his mother, her reaction is immediate and fierce—she adamantly refuses to let Gregor and Boots return, traumatized by past ordeals in the Underland.
Gregor’s father attempts to mediate, appealing to their moral obligation to help the Underlanders who once saved their family. However, his mother remains unmoved, prioritizing her children’s safety over the plight of the Underland. The tension escalates when strange scratching sounds emerge from the walls, suggesting the presence of rats—a threat that blurs the line between the ordinary and the supernatural. Gregor’s mother grows increasingly alarmed, realizing the rats may be a direct message from the Underland, forcing her to confront the inevitability of the situation.
The chapter ends on a cliffhanger as the scratching intensifies, implying that the Underland’s demands cannot be ignored. Gregor’s family is caught between fear and duty, with his mother’s resolve tested by the unseen forces encroaching on their home. The looming midnight deadline and the rats’ presence underscore the urgency of their decision, leaving the reader anticipating the next steps in Gregor’s perilous journey.
FAQs
1. How does the plague spread in the Underland, and why is this significant to the plot?
Answer:
The plague spreads through warm-blooded animals but can be carried and transmitted by bloodsucking or carnivorous insects like mites. This is significant because Ares contracted the plague when attacked by mites in the Waterway, then spread it to rats in the Labyrinth. The transmission method raises the stakes, as it shows the plague can spread indirectly, making containment harder. Ripred’s explanation also highlights the biological rules of the Underland, which differ from surface-world diseases, adding urgency to finding a cure before it devastates both humans and creatures.
2. Analyze Ripred’s negotiation tactics with Gregor’s family. What psychological strategies does he use to pressure them into returning to the Underland?
Answer:
Ripred employs a mix of urgency, guilt, and veiled threats. He emphasizes Ares’s suffering and hope in Gregor (“he believes help is on the way”) to appeal to Gregor’s bond with his bat. The threat of rats sending an “escort” if Gregor and Boots don’t comply introduces fear. By dangling the consequences of inaction (“if you take that hope away…”), he manipulates Gregor’s sense of responsibility. Ripred’s abrupt exit after snarling about his hunger further unsettles the family, reinforcing the urgency and danger of the situation.
3. How does Gregor’s mother react to the news of his planned return to the Underland, and what does this reveal about her character?
Answer:
Gregor’s mother reacts with absolute refusal, shouting, “You are never going down to that place again!” Her visceral response—gripping a chair until her knuckles turn white—reveals deep trauma from past experiences (her husband’s imprisonment, Boots’s kidnapping). Her bitterness (“I can [turn my back on them]”) shows protective ferocity, prioritizing family safety over moral obligations to the Underland. Unlike Gregor’s dad, who acknowledges the ethical dilemma, her stance reflects a mother’s single-minded focus on survival, shaped by years of hardship and loss.
4. What role does dramatic irony play in the scene with Mrs. Cormaci’s prolonged visit? How does it heighten tension?
Answer:
Dramatic irony arises because readers know Gregor’s midnight deadline, while Mrs. Cormaci remains oblivious, leisurely extending dinner. Gregor’s internal panic (“who knew when [she’d] clear out?”) contrasts with the cheerful party atmosphere, creating tension. The mundane delay (cake, conversation) juxtaposed with Gregor’s dread of rat escorts makes the eventual reveal more impactful. This irony underscores the family’s precarious dual reality—surface-world normalcy vs. Underland crises—while emphasizing Gregor’s isolation in his knowledge.
5. The chapter ends with rats scratching inside the walls. Predict how this cliffhanger might influence the family’s decision. Support your answer with textual evidence.
Answer:
The rats’ presence likely forces Gregor’s mother to concede. Earlier, Ripred warned of an “escort” if they refused, and the surface-world rats (implied to be Underland allies) manifest this threat. The invasion of their home breaches the family’s illusion of safety, proving resistance futile. Gregor’s dad already acknowledged the moral weight of helping (“We can’t just turn our backs”), and the physical threat may override his mother’s objections. The cliffhanger suggests the Underland’s power to disrupt their surface life, leaving no choice but compliance.
Quotes
1. “‘He’s bad. He was the first case in Regalia. They think he contracted the plague when he was attacked by those mites in the Waterway. Then he must have passed it on to the rats in the Labyrinth,’ said Ripred.”
This quote reveals the dire situation with Ares and the origin of the plague, setting up the central conflict of the chapter. It introduces the high stakes and the urgency of finding a cure.
2. “‘Yes, he’ll try and hang on because he believes help is on the way. Because the warrior, his bond, will come. There will be a meeting. Then a search for the cure will begin. Of course, if you take that hope away …’ Ripred let the sentence dangle on purpose.”
Ripred’s manipulative yet truthful statement highlights Gregor’s pivotal role as the “warrior” and the psychological stakes involved. The dangling threat underscores the consequences of inaction.
3. “‘Your mom. You tell your mom this from me. If you and your sister don’t show up, the rats will send an escort,’ said Ripred.”
This quote demonstrates the Underland’s ruthless determination and the lack of choice Gregor’s family truly has, foreshadowing the later rat invasion in their apartment. It marks a turning point in the chapter’s tension.
4. “‘No, you do not! You are not! You are never going down to that place again!’ she said.”
Gregor’s mother’s vehement refusal captures the family’s trauma from previous Underland experiences and the emotional core of the chapter’s conflict. Her protective fury contrasts with the inevitability of Gregor’s return.
5. “And suddenly, it was as if the kitchen were alive. Scores of small, clawed feet were running around and around inside the walls. Only a thin layer of plaster separated Gregor and his parents from them.”
This climactic moment shows Ripred’s threat materializing, forcing the family to confront the Underland’s power. The visceral description marks the point of no return in the narrative.