The Scorch Trials
Chapter 19
by Dashner, JamesIn Chapter 19 of *The Scorch Trials*, Thomas and the Gladers hear the chilling screams of a girl in the distance as they traverse the barren landscape. The unnerving sound evokes memories of their past horrors, particularly the Griever stings from the Maze. Despite their fear, the group debates whether WICKED has created new threats, with Thomas speculating that worse dangers may lie ahead. They decide to rest briefly, eat, and continue their journey under cover of darkness, though the girl’s screams persist, heightening their unease.
As they resume running, the Gladers discuss WICKED’s motives, pondering the Rat Man’s cryptic remarks about “Variables” and their role in the trials. Thomas reflects on their predicament, realizing that despite knowing they’re being tested, survival remains their only focus. The group presses on toward the flickering lights of a distant town, which appears larger and more organized than they initially thought. The possibility of reaching it by the next day fuels their determination, even as the eerie screams continue to unsettle them.
Thomas engages Aris in conversation, learning about the parallels between their experiences and Group B’s Maze. Aris recounts his group’s similar ordeal, including the coded Maze, the sudden escape, and the tragic death of a girl named Rachel. The symmetry between the two groups’ trials strikes Thomas as bizarre, raising questions about WICKED’s intentions. The revelation that Aris was Teresa’s counterpart in Group B adds another layer of complexity, leaving Thomas grappling with the implications.
The chapter ends with Aris hinting at a possible explanation for the existence of two groups, leaving Thomas intrigued but unsettled. The girl’s screams crescendo, amplifying the tension as the Gladers press forward. The chapter underscores the psychological toll of WICKED’s experiments, blending mystery, horror, and the characters’ relentless drive to survive despite the unknown dangers ahead.
FAQs
1. What is the significance of the girl’s screams that Thomas and the Gladers hear in the desert?
Answer:
The girl’s screams serve as a disturbing parallel to the experiences the Gladers had in the Maze with the Grievers. Thomas immediately connects the sound to the screams of Ben, Alby, and himself after being stung by Grievers, suggesting WICKED may have created new horrors for their trials. The unnatural, chilling quality of the screams heightens tension and foreshadows unknown dangers ahead. This moment also reinforces the psychological torment WICKED inflicts on the subjects, as the characters are forced to relive traumatic memories while facing new threats in the Scorch.2. How does Aris’s description of Group B’s Maze experience compare to the Gladers’ (Group A) experience?
Answer:
Aris reveals striking similarities between the two groups’ ordeals: both had members arrive monthly, a final pair (Rachel/Aris and Teresa/Thomas), comas, Maze codes, and violent endings where a previously missing member (Beth/Gally) killed someone (Rachel/Chuck). The key differences are the gender composition (Group B was all girls except Aris) and survival rates (Group B lost fewer members). These parallels suggest WICKED is running controlled experiments to compare responses across variables, possibly to identify patterns in human behavior under extreme stress.3. Why does Thomas feel that knowing they’re being tested by WICKED doesn’t change their behavior?
Answer:
Despite understanding they’re part of WICKED’s trials, Thomas recognizes the Gladers continue acting on instinct—focusing on survival and the promised cure. This reflects the inescapable nature of their circumstances; awareness of manipulation doesn’t provide alternatives when starvation, dehydration, and external threats persist. The discussion about “Variables” and “blueprints” highlights their powerlessness—they lack information to strategize beyond immediate needs. Thomas’s observation underscores the psychological realism of their responses, as theoretical knowledge can’t override primal survival drives in life-or-death situations.4. Analyze how the setting of the Scorch contributes to the chapter’s tone and themes.
Answer:
The barren, moonlit desert amplifies themes of isolation and uncertainty. Darkness obscures threats (like the screaming girl), while the distant town’s flickering fires suggest both hope and danger. The wasteland setting—possibly destroyed by sun flares—mirrors the characters’ psychological desolation after the Maze. Physical harshness (dust, exhaustion) parallels WICKED’s emotional cruelty, reinforcing the “trial by fire” motif. The decaying urban structures ahead also symbolize the collapsed world they must navigate, both literally and metaphorically, as they uncover WICKED’s secrets.5. What might Aris’s cryptic statement (“I think I know why there were two groups”) imply about WICKED’s goals?
Answer:
Aris’s unfinished suggestion hints at WICKED using Group A and B as controlled experiments to study gendered responses, leadership dynamics, or specific variables like Thomas/Teresa’s telepathy. The mirrored structures imply comparative analysis—perhaps testing resilience, moral choices, or conflict resolution under identical conditions with one altered factor. This aligns with the Rat Man’s mention of “killzone patterns,” suggesting WICKED seeks data on catastrophic scenarios. The interruption by the girl’s scream also implies the truth is horrifying enough to warrant distraction, foreshadowing darker revelations about the trials’ purposes.
Quotes
1. “There was something unnatural about it, something that chilled Thomas inside and out. The darkness only added to the creepiness.”
This quote captures the eerie atmosphere of the chapter as the Gladers hear a girl’s screams in the distance. It reflects the constant tension and psychological horror that permeates their journey through the Scorch.
2. “In some ways it felt like they should behave differently because of this, and yet they just kept going, fighting, surviving until they could get the promised cure.”
This insight from Thomas highlights the group’s resigned determination despite knowing they’re being manipulated by WICKED. It shows their survival instinct overriding their awareness of being test subjects.
3. “If WICKED can create Grievers, they can create plenty of other freaks of nature that might be worse.”
Thomas’s grim observation underscores the ever-present threat of new horrors in their world. This quote represents the characters’ growing understanding of WICKED’s capabilities and the unpredictable dangers they face.
4. “It all gave Thomas a big fat headache.”
This simple yet effective line conveys the mental toll of trying to understand WICKED’s complex experiments. It follows Aris’s explanation of the parallel Maze experiences, showing how overwhelming the revelations are for Thomas.
5. “I think I know. Why there were two groups. Are two groups.”
Aris’s mysterious statement at the chapter’s end creates suspense about the purpose behind Group A and Group B. This cliffhanger quote sets up important revelations about WICKED’s testing methodology and the characters’ roles in it.