The Fever Code
Chapter 57
by Dashner, JamesIn Chapter 56 of *The Fever Code*, Thomas experiences a mix of emotions during his flight on the Berg, a powerful aircraft navigating a devastated world. Initially unsettled by the motion, he eventually finds awe in the machine’s defiance of gravity and the fleeting beauty of the landscapes below. However, the view also reminds him of the world’s ruin—hidden horrors like Cranks and poverty lie beneath the surface. Teresa’s absence weighs on him, as their growing distance and her dedication to WICKED’s mission strain their once-close bond, prompting Thomas to consider a serious conversation with her.
During the flight, Brenda joins Thomas, and their conversation shifts from the impending expedition to the Scorch to his complicated relationship with Teresa. Brenda urges Thomas to express his feelings, highlighting Teresa’s deep care for him. Thomas admits their bond is profound but struggles with romance amid global collapse and the ethical dilemmas of WICKED’s experiments. The talk stirs unexpected emotions, leading Thomas to tear up as he reflects on the importance of friendship and his unresolved grief. Brenda comforts him with a hug, offering solace until the Berg begins its descent.
Upon arriving at the Scorch, the group is met with a harsh, sun-scorched wasteland. The Crank city in the distance is a crumbling, lifeless ruin, a stark reminder of the world’s devastation. Brenda and Jorge prepare to enter the city, driven by personal loss and a determination to find a cure. Thomas, however, is uneasy about the mission and the technicians’ mysterious plans. His anxiety grows as he learns his friends might be brought to the Scorch next, a revelation Brenda casually drops before departing with Jorge.
The chapter ends with Thomas left in unsettling silence, staring after Brenda as she disappears into the desert. Her cryptic comment about his friends lingers, leaving him with unanswered questions and a sense of foreboding. The scene underscores the bleak reality of their world and the sacrifices demanded by WICKED’s mission, while Thomas’s emotional turmoil hints at deeper conflicts to come.
FAQs
1. How does Thomas’s perception of the Berg flight evolve during the chapter, and what does this reveal about his character?
Answer:
Thomas’s experience with the Berg flight shows his adaptability and complex emotional responses. Initially, he hates the sensation due to nausea, then grows to appreciate the exhilaration of defying gravity in a ruined world, only to dislike it again. This fluctuation reveals his capacity for nuanced reflection—he recognizes beauty in power and freedom (“even gravity couldn’t keep it down”) but also grapples with discomfort. His awe at the view (“utter awe” at landscapes) contrasts with his awareness of hidden suffering below, highlighting his dual perspective as both an observer and a participant in the world’s devastation.2. Analyze Brenda’s advice to Thomas about Teresa. What underlying themes does this interaction highlight about relationships in the context of crisis?
Answer:
Brenda urges Thomas to express his feelings to Teresa, emphasizing that love persists even in dire circumstances (“People love. Best of times, worst of times”). This underscores the theme of human connection as a counterbalance to despair. Thomas’s hesitation (“It’s complicated”) reflects how trauma and mission-focused survival (e.g., “a dying world outside your home”) can suppress emotional vulnerability. Brenda’s perspective challenges this, suggesting intimacy remains vital amid chaos. The exchange also reveals Thomas’s unprocessed grief—his tears when discussing friends signal unresolved pain, showing how crisis both strains and intensifies bonds.3. What symbolic significance does the Scorch’s landscape hold in relation to the novel’s broader themes?
Answer:
The Scorch embodies resilience and devastation. Its “ruined skyscrapers like broken fingers” and “dirt and rust” mirror societal collapse, yet the mountains’ defiance (“We’re still here”) parallels the characters’ struggle to endure. The desert’s lifelessness contrasts with Thomas’s earlier aerial view of hidden beauty, reinforcing how perspective shapes hope. The “blistering-hot ground” and Cranks symbolize the Flare’s ravages, while Brenda’s mission there reflects sacrifice for cure. This setting thus encapsulates the novel’s core tensions: destruction vs. survival, and collective suffering vs. individual purpose.4. How does Brenda’s revelation about Thomas’s friends being brought to the Scorch create narrative tension?
Answer:
Brenda’s offhand comment (“they’re going to bring your friends out here next”) triggers Thomas’s alarm (“What did you mean?”), leaving the question unresolved. This cliffhanger heightens tension by implying WICKED’s secrecy and foreshadowing danger. The abrupt cutoff (Brenda running away) mirrors Thomas’s fragmented understanding of the experiments, while his whispered repetition of the question underscores his dread. This moment also ties to earlier unease about Teresa’s distance, suggesting WICKED’s manipulation of relationships. The tension thus propels the plot while deepening themes of betrayal and uncertainty.5. Contrast Thomas’s emotional responses to the Berg flight and the Scorch landing. How do these reactions develop his internal conflict?
Answer:
In the Berg, Thomas experiences transient awe and humor (joking with Brenda), but the Scorch evokes visceral dread (“This place was terrible”). His earlier reflection on planetary beauty gives way to focus on immediate threats (“Cranks,” “blinding sun”), showing a shift from philosophical contemplation to survival urgency. His anxiety about the tests (“hoped they didn’t take long”) contrasts with his earlier curiosity about the flight, revealing his conflict between duty and self-preservation. This duality mirrors his struggle to balance mission-driven resolve with personal fear, a key aspect of his character arc.
Quotes
1. “Living in such a ruined world really made you appreciate something so powerful that even gravity couldn’t keep it down.”
This quote captures Thomas’s awe at the Berg’s flight capabilities, contrasting technological marvels with the world’s devastation. It reflects the novel’s central theme of finding wonder amid dystopia.
2. “People love, Thomas. Best of times, worst of times. People love. You should make sure she knows how you feel.”
Brenda’s poignant advice to Thomas about Teresa highlights the enduring human capacity for connection despite apocalyptic circumstances. This represents the emotional core of the chapter.
3. “The sun flares might have taken some of its plant life away, but the stone and soil seemed to call out, ‘We’re still here. What else ya got?’”
This vivid personification of the landscape demonstrates the planet’s resilience against human destruction, mirroring the characters’ own struggles to survive against overwhelming odds.
4. “If we had a cure, a lot of people I love would still be alive… That’s why Jorge and I volunteered. I have to do my part.”
Brenda’s justification for risking her life in the Crank city reveals the moral imperative driving characters in this world - personal sacrifice for the greater good against the Flare virus.
5. “Hard to believe they’re going to bring your friends out here next, huh? Poor guys.”
Brenda’s offhand remark creates dramatic irony and foreshadows future events, leaving Thomas (and readers) with a sense of impending doom about the Maze trials to come.