Gregor and the Prophecy of Bane
Chapter 20
by Suzanne, Collins,In Chapter 20, Twitchtip, despite her severe injuries, guides Gregor and Ares through the treacherous Labyrinth using her memory of scents from the Tankard. The maze proves challenging, with winding tunnels, sudden caverns, and tight passages, particularly difficult for Ares, who struggles to navigate on foot. The absence of rats suggests they believe Gregor’s group is no longer a threat, but Twitchtip warns that their scent will eventually attract attention. As they press forward, Twitchtip’s condition deteriorates, her bandages soaked in blood, yet she remains determined to help them reach the Bane.
Twitchtip reveals her past, explaining how she was banished and hid in the Labyrinth before fleeing to the Dead Land. She describes her uneasy alliance with Ripred, who allows her to stay only if she aids Gregor. This arrangement highlights the transactional nature of their relationship, leaving Gregor to ponder Ripred’s true motives. He questions whether Ripred’s actions are driven by kindness or manipulation, reflecting on the complexities of alliances in their perilous world. Twitchtip’s desperation for belonging underscores the harsh realities of their journey.
Exhausted and bleeding, Twitchtip collapses, admitting she can no longer continue. She urges Gregor and Ares to press on, as they are close to the Bane. In a poignant moment, Gregor bids her farewell with the phrase “Run like the river,” a rat’s expression of resilience. Leaving her behind, Gregor and Ares face a fork in the tunnel, struggling to choose the correct path. Their attempts lead them in circles, emphasizing the labyrinth’s disorienting nature. They eventually reach a cavern with multiple exits, further complicating their quest.
As they pause to eat, Ares voices his guilt over surviving while others, like Luxa and Henry, perished. Gregor reassures him, attributing their misfortunes to the prophecy that ensnared them. The chapter ends with Ares questioning whether killing the Bane will bring them solace, to which Gregor admits uncertainty. Their conversation underscores the emotional toll of their mission, blending determination with existential doubt as they prepare to face the Bane.
FAQs
1. How does Twitchtip navigate the Labyrinth, and what does this reveal about her character and past experiences?
Answer:
Twitchtip navigates the Labyrinth using her memory of scents from her time near the Tankard and her prior familiarity with the maze, having lived there for a year after being banished. This highlights her resilience and adaptability, as she survived alone in hostile environments like the Dead Land. Her expertise also underscores her value to Ripred’s group, as her keen sense of smell is a strategic asset. However, her physical deterioration (bloodied bandages, feverish eyes) shows the toll of her struggles, making her determination to guide Gregor and Ares despite her wounds a testament to her desperation for belonging and purpose.
2. Analyze the dynamic between Ripred and Twitchtip. How does their relationship reflect broader themes of survival and mutual exploitation in the story?
Answer:
Ripred and Twitchtip’s relationship is transactional: he offers her protection and a place in his pack only if she aids his mission to find the Bane. This mirrors Gregor’s own uneasy alliance with Ripred, where cooperation is driven by necessity rather than trust. The dynamic illustrates the harsh reality of their world, where survival often depends on leveraging others’ skills. Twitchtip’s fear of abandonment (“I’ll be on my own again”) underscores the theme of isolation, while Ripred’s conditional support reflects the pragmatic, often ruthless logic of leadership in conflict. The arrangement raises ethical questions about exploitation versus genuine camaraderie.
3. What symbolic significance does the phrase “Run like the river” hold in Gregor and Twitchtip’s farewell, and how does it contrast with “Fly you high”?
Answer:
“Run like the river” serves as a rat’s equivalent of “Fly you high,” a farewell wishing resilience and fluidity in adversity. Rivers are relentless and adaptable—qualities Twitchtip embodies as a survivor. The phrase contrasts with the bats’ “Fly you high,” which evokes freedom and elevation, reflecting cultural differences between species. For Twitchtip, running like a river implies perseverance in darkness, while Gregor’s initial use of the bat phrase highlights his outsider status. Their exchange humanizes Twitchtip, emphasizing shared respect despite their species’ enmity, and foreshadows Gregor’s growing understanding of the Underworld’s complexities.
4. How does the labyrinth’s physical structure mirror the characters’ emotional and psychological states?
Answer:
The labyrinth’s unpredictable paths—narrow tunnels, sudden caverns, and dead ends—mirror the characters’ turmoil. Gregor and Ares face literal and metaphorical disorientation, paralleling their grief (e.g., Ares’ guilt over Henry’s death) and uncertainty about their mission. The maze’s twists reflect Gregor’s internal conflict about Ripred’s motives and Twitchtip’s fate. The circular cavern with multiple exits symbolizes their overwhelming choices and the cyclical nature of their quest (e.g., returning to the same split three times). The oppressive, claustrophobic environment amplifies their isolation, echoing Twitchtip’s earlier life in the Dead Land.
5. Ares expresses guilt for surviving while others perished. How does his conversation with Gregor explore themes of fate, guilt, and the prophecy’s influence?
Answer:
Ares’ guilt stems from surviving his bondmate Henry and others like Luxa, feeling his existence is a “crime.” Gregor reassures him by invoking Vikus’ perspective: they are trapped in Sandwich’s prophecy, implying their actions are predestined. This dialogue examines whether free will exists in their world or if they are merely fulfilling roles. Ares’ despair (“How did it change so quickly?”) mirrors Gregor’s own loss of his father, linking their grief. The unresolved question—whether killing the Bane will bring closure—highlights the prophecy’s hollow promise: violence may not heal their pain, only perpetuate the cycle.
Quotes
1. “They must have witnessed your sister’s fate. The gnawers think they have defeated you, and the Bane is safe. But eventually one will get your scent, and then the fight begins.”
This quote from Twitchtip highlights the precariousness of Gregor and Ares’ mission, foreshadowing the inevitable confrontation with the rats. It underscores the tension between their current respite and the looming threat, emphasizing the rats’ overconfidence and the protagonists’ determination.
2. “Everything was conditional on Ripred getting something back from Twitchtip. Twitchtip was desperate to belong somewhere again. They had mutual need. Like Ripred and Gregor did. For Twitchtip, like Gregor, the question would be what would happen when that need ran out.”
This reflection by Gregor reveals the transactional nature of alliances in their world. It speaks to themes of survival, exploitation, and the fragility of relationships built on necessity rather than trust, mirroring Gregor’s own dynamic with Ripred.
3. “Run like the river, Twitchtip.”
This poignant farewell between Gregor and Twitchtip captures the bittersweet nature of their parting. The phrase, unique to rat culture, symbolizes resilience and adaptability, reflecting Twitchtip’s character and the harsh realities of their world where partings are often permanent.
4. “There is something wrong about it. My still being alive. When Henry and Luxa and Aurora are no longer. How many days ago was it that you first fell?”
Ares’ existential lament reveals his survivor’s guilt and the profound disorientation caused by the rapid, violent changes in their world. This quote encapsulates the theme of loss and the struggle to find meaning in the aftermath of tragedy.
5. “I don’t know. But I can tell you this, that world — it’s not ever coming back.”
Gregor’s stark realization underscores the irreversible nature of their losses and the permanent transformation of their reality. This quote serves as a powerful acknowledgment of change and the necessity of moving forward, even in the face of overwhelming grief.