Gregor and the Marks of Secret
Chapter 23
by Suzanne, Collins,In Chapter 23, Gregor and his companions witness a horrific massacre of mice (referred to as “nibblers”) trapped in a pit, killed by gas. Gregor struggles to shield his younger sister, Boots, from the truth, telling her the mice are merely sleeping. The group is deeply shaken by the senseless violence, as the mice were defenseless, including pups and non-combatants. Ripred, the rat, confirms there’s nothing they can do, and Luxa, visibly distressed, insists on seeing the scene through Gregor’s binoculars, only to confirm the grim reality. The group grapples with the brutality of the act, contrasting it with past battles where both sides had a fighting chance.
Boots, oblivious to the tragedy, begins singing and dancing to a nursery rhyme about nibblers, mimicking their movements. Gregor is disturbed by her innocent portrayal of the mice’s suffering, as the song’s lyrics eerily mirror the massacre they just witnessed. He abruptly stops her, realizing the song’s words—“Catch the nibblers in a trap, watch them spin and snap”—describe the mice’s agonized movements before death. The song’s next line, “Quiet while they take a nap,” further unsettles him, as it aligns with his lie to Boots about the mice sleeping.
Gregor becomes convinced the nursery rhyme is actually a prophecy by Sandwich, the Underland’s ancient seer. He argues the song’s verses predict the nibblers’ fate, pointing to lines like “Father, mother, sister, brother, off they go,” which reflect the extermination of entire families. The group is skeptical, but Ripred takes interest, focusing on the first verse: “Dancing in the firelight, see the queen who conquers night.” They debate whether Luxa could be the prophesied queen, though she dismisses the idea, noting she lacks gold. However, a volcanic eruption soon provides a literal interpretation, as lava—described as “gold, hot and bright”—flows from the mountain.
The chapter ends with the group beginning to accept Gregor’s theory, as the volcano’s eruption seems to fulfill the prophecy’s imagery. Ripred acknowledges Gregor’s insight, identifying the lava as the “gold” and the volcano as the “queen.” The discovery leaves them with a sense of foreboding, as the prophecy’s dark implications unfold, hinting at further tragedies to come. The chapter underscores themes of innocence, violence, and the unsettling power of ancient words shaping their reality.
FAQs
1. How does Gregor handle explaining death to Boots, and what does this reveal about his character?
Answer:
Gregor consistently tells Boots that dead creatures are “sleeping” to shield her from the harsh reality of death, as seen when he hides dead birds or avoids explaining the mice’s fate. This reveals his protective nature and deep care for his sister’s innocence. His reluctance to show her the binoculars further demonstrates his desire to spare her trauma, even when it means maintaining a comforting lie. However, his harsh reaction to her dancing shows his internal struggle between protection and honesty during this traumatic event.2. Analyze the significance of Boots’s song in relation to the events witnessed in the pit. How does Gregor interpret it differently from the others?
Answer:
Boots’s seemingly innocent song—with lines like “Catch the nibblers in a trap” and “Watch the nibblers spin and snap”—mirrors the horrific massacre of the mice, who writhed from poison before dying. Gregor, as an outsider to Underland’s traditions, is the first to recognize the song as a literal prophecy rather than a nursery rhyme. The others, accustomed to its playful context, initially dismiss his interpretation until Ripred connects the “firelight” and “gold” (lava) to the volcano, suggesting Sandwich’s words foretold the genocide.3. What ethical contrast does the chapter highlight between the battle with the ants and the massacre of the mice?
Answer:
Gregor reflects that while the ant battle involved mutual violence between armed opponents, the mice’s deaths represent unjust slaughter—trapped, defenseless, and including non-combatants like pups. This distinction underscores the moral weight of systemic extermination versus combat. The imagery of Cartesian curling in grief and Luxa’s plea (“Is there anything we can do?”) amplifies the helplessness felt by witnesses, making the event a pivotal moment in recognizing the Bane’s genocidal intent.4. How does Ripred’s interaction with Luxa (“My life for your life”) reflect their evolving relationship?
Answer:
Ripred’s acknowledgment of his debt being “paid in full” after saving Luxa signals a shift from their typically adversarial dynamic to mutual respect. His use of her name (a rarity) and Luxa’s solemn agreement suggest a truce forged through shared trauma. This moment humanizes Ripred, who earlier prioritized survival over morality, while Luxa’s acceptance hints at her growing maturity in valuing alliances beyond traditional loyalties.5. Why is the volcano’s lava described as “gold,” and how does this detail advance the prophecy’s revelation?
Answer:
The lava’s golden hue fulfills the song’s line, “Gold flows from her, hot and bright,” which Ripred identifies as literal rather than metaphorical. This tangible evidence convinces the group that the volcano (the “queen”) is central to the prophecy, shifting their perception of the song from folklore to a dire warning. The lava’s path toward the pit also symbolizes the inescapable spread of violence, tying the natural world to the Bane’s campaign of annihilation.
Quotes
1. “‘They’re sleeping.’ This was what he always told her when something died…If he couldn’t tell her that a pigeon had died, there was no way he could tell her about the mice.”
This quote highlights Gregor’s protective instinct toward his younger sister Boots, using the euphemism of sleep to shield her from the harsh reality of death—a theme that becomes painfully ironic when contrasted with the mass murder of mice later in the chapter.
2. “‘This has no precedent,’ said Nike. ‘This has too much precedent,’ said Ripred grimly.”
This exchange captures the tension between idealism and brutal realism in the face of genocide. Nike sees the mouse massacre as unimaginable, while Ripred recognizes it as part of a recurring pattern of violence—a key thematic conflict in the chapter.
3. “‘That’s not a song,’ said Gregor suddenly. ‘That’s a prophecy! Don’t you see?’”
A pivotal moment where Gregor realizes the nursery rhyme they’ve been singing is actually a dark prophecy unfolding before them. This revelation reframes the entire narrative, showing how historical patterns repeat themselves through coded messages.
4. “‘FATHER, MOTHER, SISTER, BROTHER, OFF THEY GO. I DO NOT KNOW IF WE WILL SEE ANOTHER.’”
These haunting lyrics from the prophecy/song encapsulate the chapter’s central tragedy—the extermination of entire families of mice. The childish rhyme becomes a chilling commentary on the indiscriminate nature of the violence.
5. “‘There’s your gold.’ He nodded at the volcano. ‘And there’s your queen.’”
The chapter’s climactic realization where natural phenomena (flowing lava) are interpreted as fulfilling the prophecy’s imagery. This moment blends literal and metaphorical meanings, showing how the characters begin to see their reality through the lens of prophecy.