
The Maze Runner
Chapter 59
by Dashner, JamesThe chapter begins with the Gladers, including Thomas, Chuck, Minho, and Newt, encountering a group of mysterious observers dressed in black coats with an indecipherable word stitched on them. The observers appear emotionless and detached, silently watching the boys. Minho identifies them as “The Creators” and reacts with anger, shouting threats. The tension escalates when a loud beeping alarm fills the chamber, and a door swings open, revealing a woman in a white shirt with the word “WICKED” emblazoned on it and a hooded boy. The woman’s cold demeanor and cryptic remarks about their survival being “amazing” further unsettle the group.
The woman reveals the hooded boy to be Gally, a former Glader presumed dead, whose presence shocks everyone. Gally appears visibly distressed, trembling and unable to speak coherently. The woman dismisses the Gladers’ outrage, condescendingly implying their ignorance and insisting they should be grateful for their ordeal. Thomas notices Gally’s strange behavior, reminiscent of Alby’s earlier transformation, and senses something is terribly wrong. The woman ominously mentions a “final Variable,” heightening the sense of impending danger. Gally’s sudden outburst, claiming he is being controlled, foreshadows the tragedy about to unfold.
In a horrifying turn of events, Gally produces a dagger and hurls it at Thomas. Chuck, in a selfless act, dives in front of Thomas and is fatally struck. The scene is described in agonizing detail, with Chuck convulsing and bleeding as Thomas desperately tries to save him. The other Gladers stand frozen, realizing the futility of intervention. Chuck’s final words, asking Thomas to find his mother, underscore the emotional weight of his sacrifice. Thomas is left shattered, cradling Chuck’s lifeless body as the reality of his friend’s death sinks in.
The chapter ends with Thomas overwhelmed by grief and guilt, unable to comprehend the senseless loss of Chuck. The woman’s earlier words about “dark times” now carry a chilling resonance, leaving the Gladers—and the reader—to grapple with the brutality of their world. The abrupt violence and Chuck’s death mark a pivotal moment in the story, deepening the mystery of WICKED’s motives and setting the stage for Thomas’s resolve to confront the forces manipulating them. The emotional intensity and sudden tragedy highlight the high stakes of their struggle for survival and freedom.
FAQs
1. How do the Gladers react when they first see the observers in black coats, and what does this reveal about their relationship with these figures?
Answer:
The Gladers react with shock, fear, and hostility upon seeing the observers. Thomas notes their “deathly silence” and describes the observers as “sallow and gaunt,” evoking unease. Minho’s immediate outburst—spitting and screaming threats—demonstrates deep resentment, while Newt and Thomas express confusion about the observers’ intentions. This reaction underscores the Gladers’ perception of the observers as antagonistic “Creators” who have manipulated their suffering. The lack of empathy from the observers (their emotionless demeanor and clinical note-taking) further emphasizes the power imbalance and dehumanization the Gladers have endured.2. Analyze the significance of Gally’s reappearance and his controlled behavior. How does this develop the theme of manipulation in the chapter?
Answer:
Gally’s return as a manipulated pawn highlights the extreme control WICKED exerts over the Gladers. His trembling, choked speech (“They can control me”) and violent actions under coercion mirror Alby’s earlier suffering, suggesting a pattern of psychological torture. The woman’s cold reference to Gally as the “final Variable” reduces him to an experiment, reinforcing the theme of dehumanization. His attack on Thomas—contrasted with his tearful, conflicted appearance—illustrates how WICKED weaponizes individuals, eroding trust and autonomy. This deepens the moral ambiguity of the trials, questioning whether any participant truly acts of their own free will.3. Why does Chuck’s death have such a profound impact on Thomas, and how does it reflect the broader stakes of the Gladers’ situation?
Answer:
Chuck’s death shatters Thomas emotionally because Chuck symbolized innocence and hope—his final plea to “find my mom” humanizes him beyond the Maze’s brutality. Thomas’s despair (“Anyone but Chuck”) underscores the personal cost of WICKED’s experiments. The helplessness of the Gladers (no one moves to help) mirrors their broader powerlessness against the Creators. This moment crystallizes the stakes: the Gladers are not just test subjects but individuals with shattered lives, making WICKED’s clinical detachment (“Everything has gone according to plan”) even more horrifying.4. How does the woman’s dialogue with the Gladers reveal WICKED’s ideology, and what contradictions exist in her statements?
Answer:
The woman’s dialogue exposes WICKED’s utilitarian ideology. She claims the Gladers will feel “grateful” for their suffering, framing cruelty as necessary for a greater good (“Dark times”). Yet her tone is condescending (“I’d expect more maturity”), and her pride in their survival rate (“so few dead”) clashes with her earlier expectation of more deaths. This contradiction reveals WICKED’s hypocrisy: they demand gratitude while offering no empathy or transparency. Her dismissal of Minho’s demands for authority figures (“you have no idea”) further underscores WICKED’s authoritarian control.5. Compare the observers’ passive role (watching through windows) with the woman’s active intervention. How do both actions serve WICKED’s goals?
Answer:
The observers’ passive surveillance reflects WICKED’s detached data collection, treating the Gladers as variables in an experiment. Their silence and note-taking dehumanize the Gladers, reducing trauma to data points. In contrast, the woman’s active intervention (introducing Gally as the “final Variable”) forces a crisis to test the Gladers’ reactions, demonstrating WICKED’s hands-on manipulation. Both methods serve the same goal: to push the Gladers to their limits under controlled conditions. The juxtaposition highlights WICKED’s dual approach—cold observation and calculated cruelty—to achieve their unknown ends.
Quotes
1. “They’ve probably revved the Grievers back up… they’re probably coming right—”
Newt says this as the Gladers face the mysterious observers, capturing the constant tension and looming threat of the Grievers that has defined their existence in the Maze.
2. “Everything has gone according to plan, Mr. Newton. Although we expected a few more of you to give up along the way.”
The woman’s cold, calculated remark reveals the cruel nature of the experiment and the indifference of the Creators, underscoring the Gladers’ suffering as part of a larger, manipulative design.
3. “They … can control me … I don’t—”
Gally’s fragmented words expose the horrifying reality of the Creators’ control over the Gladers, hinting at the psychological and physical manipulation they endure, which adds depth to the chapter’s themes of power and resistance.
4. “Thomas… Find … my mom. Tell her …”
Chuck’s dying words to Thomas are emotionally devastating, highlighting the personal cost of the Maze and the Gladers’ lost humanity, while also serving as a pivotal moment that fuels Thomas’s resolve.