The Maze Runner
Chapter 17
by Dashner, JamesIn Chapter 17 of *The Maze Runner*, Thomas experiences a moment of frozen disbelief after the Door to the Glade closes, trapping him, Minho, and the injured Alby inside the Maze. The atmosphere turns ominous as darkness falls, with the towering walls resembling tombstones. Thomas is terrified of the consequences of his impulsive decision to enter the Maze, but his attention is quickly diverted when he hears Alby’s cries. He rushes to help, only to find both Alby and Minho in dire condition, with Alby appearing near death after an apparent attack by a Griever.
Minho reacts with hostility toward Thomas, chastising him for breaking the rules and coming to their aid, declaring them all as good as dead. Thomas, frustrated by Minho’s lack of gratitude, tries to understand what happened to Alby. Minho reveals that Alby was stung by a Griever, which can “play dead,” and without the Serum administered before sunset, Alby’s survival is unlikely. Thomas struggles to accept their grim fate, questioning Minho about past survivors and the nature of the Grievers, but Minho insists that no one has ever survived a night in the Maze.
As despair sets in, Thomas suggests climbing the vine-covered walls to escape, but Minho dismisses the idea with exasperation, accusing Thomas of naivety. Their tension escalates into a physical confrontation, with Minho lashing out in fear and frustration before breaking down. Thomas witnesses Minho’s vulnerability as he admits his overwhelming terror, revealing the emotional toll of their hopeless situation. Despite Minho’s resignation, Thomas remains determined to find a solution, refusing to give in to despair.
The chapter highlights the dire stakes of being trapped in the Maze after dark, emphasizing the brutality of the Grievers and the fragility of human resilience under extreme pressure. Thomas’s defiance contrasts with Minho’s defeatism, setting up a pivotal moment where survival instincts clash with the harsh reality of their circumstances. The emotional intensity and escalating danger underscore the chapter’s tension, leaving readers anxious for the characters’ fate.
FAQs
1. What are the immediate consequences of Thomas entering the Maze after the Door closes, and how do Minho and Alby react to his decision?
Answer:
Thomas’s decision to enter the Maze after the Door closes traps all three of them outside the safety of the Glade at night, a violation of the Number One Rule. Minho reacts with anger and despair, calling Thomas “the shuckiest shuck-faced shuck there ever was” and declaring they are all as good as dead. Alby is unconscious and severely injured from a Griever attack, leaving him unable to respond. Minho’s harsh reaction stems from his knowledge that survival outside the Glade at night is nearly impossible, and Thomas’s actions have sealed their fate. The chapter highlights the tension between Thomas’s attempt to help and Minho’s pragmatic acceptance of their doomed situation.2. How does the chapter reveal new information about the Grievers and their methods of attack?
Answer:
The chapter provides critical details about the Grievers’ behavior and attacks. Minho explains that Grievers can “play dead,” luring victims into a false sense of security before attacking, as happened to Alby. Instead of biting, they “prick” their victims with needles, injecting something that causes severe physical deterioration (like Alby’s rapid decline). Additionally, while Grievers primarily come out at night, Minho clarifies they can appear during the day, contradicting Thomas’s earlier assumptions. The mention of a “Serum” as a potential antidote for stings hints at a broader system of survival mechanisms in the Glade, though it’s inaccessible to them now.3. Analyze the psychological states of Thomas and Minho in this chapter. How do their coping mechanisms differ?
Answer:
Thomas and Minho exhibit starkly different responses to their dire situation. Thomas clings to hope, brainstorming escape ideas (e.g., climbing the vines) and questioning Minho’s defeatism. His anger and frustration reveal his struggle to accept their impending death. In contrast, Minho oscillates between anger, sarcasm, and despair, exemplified by his outburst: “We’re dead, you hear me? Dead!” His matter-of-fact tone about their fate suggests prior trauma from losing other Gladers. However, his momentary breakdown (“I’ve never been this scared before”) humanizes him, showing fear beneath the tough exterior. Their dynamic underscores Thomas’s optimism versus Minho’s hardened realism born from experience.4. Why does Minho dismiss Thomas’s suggestion to climb the vines, and what does this reveal about the Gladers’ prior attempts to escape?
Answer:
Minho reacts with frustration to Thomas’s vine-climbing idea, sarcastically remarking, “You really think we’ve never had the ingenious thought of climbing the freaking walls?” This implies the Gladers have tried and failed to scale the walls before, likely due to unseen obstacles (e.g., Griever interference, the Maze’s design, or the vines’ instability). His dismissal highlights the Gladers’ exhaustive but futile efforts to escape, reinforcing the Maze’s inescapability. It also underscores Minho’s resentment toward Thomas’s naivety, as the latter lacks the institutional knowledge of past failures.5. How does the chapter’s setting contribute to its tone of hopelessness?
Answer:
The setting intensifies the hopelessness through vivid imagery and symbolism. The closed Door seals their fate, while the “veil of darkness” and walls resembling “tombstones” evoke death and entrapment. The encroaching nighttime, when Grievers are most active, heightens tension. The graveyard reference—where slain Gladers are buried—serves as a grim reminder of their predecessors’ fates. Even the vines, which might seem like an escape route, are implied to be a dead end. These elements create a claustrophobic, oppressive atmosphere, mirroring the characters’ despair and the Maze’s role as an inescapable prison.
Quotes
1. “A thick silence followed the thunderous rumble of the Door closing, and a veil of darkness seemed to cover the sky, as if even the sun had been frightened away by what lurked in the Maze.”
This opening line sets the ominous tone for the chapter, vividly portraying the terror of being trapped in the Maze after dark. The personification of the sun “frightened away” emphasizes the unnatural danger of the Grievers.
2. “You’re the shuckiest shuck-faced shuck there ever was. You’re as good as dead, just like us.”
Minho’s harsh words to Thomas highlight the brutal reality of their situation and establish the chapter’s central conflict. This quote represents the Gladers’ hardened survival mentality versus Thomas’s hopeful defiance.
3. “Since we didn’t make it back before sunset, probably. Could be dead in an hour—I don’t know how long it takes if you don’t get the Serum.”
Minho’s matter-of-fact explanation about Alby’s fate introduces the critical concept of the Serum and the unforgiving rules of the Maze. This reveals the life-or-death stakes of their world.
4. “I’ve never been this scared before, dude. Not like this.”
Minho’s vulnerable admission marks a turning point where his tough exterior cracks, showing the true terror beneath. This moment humanizes the typically hardened Glader and underscores the unprecedented danger they face.
5. “They don’t freaking bite you. They prick you…There could be dozens all over his body.”
This disturbing revelation about the Grievers’ attack method escalates the horror of their situation. The “prick” detail makes the creatures more terrifyingly clinical than mere monsters, adding to the chapter’s mounting dread.