The Scorch Trials
Chapter 33
by Dashner, JamesIn Chapter 33 of *The Scorch Trials*, Thomas and Brenda face a violent confrontation with a Crank, a deranged and infected individual. The chapter opens with Thomas being violently slammed against a wall by the Crank, who exhibits surprising strength despite his scarred and weakened appearance. Brenda attempts to intervene with her knife, but the Crank’s relentless attacks leave Thomas bloodied and disoriented. The scene is chaotic, with Thomas struggling to break free while Brenda maneuvers to strike the Crank, ultimately stabbing his forearm and forcing him to release his grip.
The Crank retreats briefly, but Brenda insists they cannot let him escape, fearing he will alert others. Thomas, despite his injuries, follows Brenda out of the opening, where they find the wounded Crank crouched nearby. The man snarls and bites at the air, but Brenda remains defiant, taunting him. However, the Crank suddenly retaliates with a swift kick, knocking both Thomas and Brenda to the ground. The struggle intensifies as the Crank lunges for the knife, prompting Thomas to tackle him in a desperate attempt to regain control.
Brenda quickly subdues the Crank, pinning him to the floor and demanding Thomas kill him to end the threat. Thomas hesitates, grappling with the moral weight of taking a life, even that of a dangerous enemy. Brenda’s urgency grows as the Crank’s inhuman screams fill the room, and she instructs Thomas to stab him in the heart. The tension mounts as Thomas, sweat-drenched and exhausted, wrestles with the decision, his internal conflict mirroring the physical brutality of the scene.
Ultimately, Thomas overcomes his hesitation and plunges the knife into the Crank’s chest, ending the confrontation. The chapter highlights the brutal realities of survival in a dystopian world, forcing characters to make harrowing choices. Thomas’s internal struggle and the graphic violence underscore the themes of morality and desperation, leaving readers to ponder the cost of survival in such a merciless environment.
FAQs
1. How does the Crank initially attack Thomas, and what makes his strength surprising given his physical condition?
Answer:
The Crank attacks Thomas by grabbing his shirt and repeatedly slamming him against a concrete wall, causing Thomas’s face to smash into the surface and blood to trickle from his nose. What makes the Crank’s strength surprising is his visibly weak and injured appearance—described as “scarred and bruised” and “horribly injured.” Despite his frail state, he exhibits unnatural, almost impossible strength, which shocks Thomas and adds to the tension of the scene. This contrast highlights the unpredictable and dangerous nature of Cranks in the story.2. Analyze Brenda’s role in the fight against the Crank. How does her quick thinking and actions impact the outcome?
Answer:
Brenda plays a crucial role in the confrontation by acting decisively and aggressively. She first attempts to slash the Crank’s hand with her knife, risking injury to Thomas in the process. When the Crank retaliates by kicking her, she quickly regains control, pins him down, and instructs Thomas to deliver the fatal blow. Her determination and combat skills are pivotal in neutralizing the threat. However, her frustration with Thomas’s hesitation also reveals her pragmatic survival mindset, contrasting with his moral struggle. Without her intervention, the Crank might have escaped or overpowered them.3. What internal conflict does Thomas face when Brenda demands he kill the Crank, and what does this reveal about his character?
Answer:
Thomas grapples with the moral dilemma of taking a life, even when faced with a deranged and dangerous enemy. His hesitation—shaking, sweating, and questioning whether he can “kill a man”—shows his humanity and reluctance to embrace violence. This conflict reveals that Thomas, despite his exhaustion and fear, retains a strong ethical compass. However, his eventual compliance (driven by necessity and Brenda’s insistence) also underscores the harsh realities of their world, where survival sometimes requires brutal choices.4. How does the author use sensory details to intensify the scene’s tension and brutality? Provide specific examples.
Answer:
The author heightens tension through vivid sensory descriptions. Thomas’s pain is palpable: his nose explodes with pain upon hitting the wall, and blood trickles down. The Crank’s “demonic wail” and later “piercing wail of pure terror” create an auditory horror. Visual details like the “trail of blood on the floor,” the “crimson goo” on the knife, and the “shadows dancing on the walls” add to the chaos. Thomas’s sweat pouring into his eyes and his thumping heartbeat further immerse the reader in his physical and emotional strain, making the scene visceral and unnerving.5. Evaluate Brenda’s statement: “We have to kill him!” Is this justified in the context of their situation? Why or why not?
Answer:
Brenda’s demand is pragmatically justified but morally complex. The Crank poses an immediate lethal threat—he attacks unpredictably, nearly overpowers them, and could alert other Cranks if he escapes. In their desperate circumstances, killing him may be the only way to ensure survival. However, the act still carries ethical weight, as Thomas’s hesitation shows. Brenda’s stance reflects the ruthless logic of their world, where mercy could mean death. While justified for survival, the scene forces readers to question the cost of such choices in a broken society.
Quotes
1. “Thomas couldn’t believe the strength of the Crank—it seemed impossible based on how he looked. Weak and horribly injured.”
This quote highlights the terrifying contradiction of the Cranks—their decaying bodies masking unnatural, unpredictable strength. It underscores the constant threat they pose and the psychological shock of their resilience.
2. “The man let out a demonic wail and let go of Thomas’s shirt. His hand disappeared through the doorway, leaving a trail of blood on the floor. His shrieks of pain continued, loud with trailing echoes.”
This visceral moment captures the brutality of survival in this world. The “demonic wail” and blood trail emphasize the dehumanization of both Cranks and their victims, while the trailing echoes foreshadow lingering consequences.
3. “But could he do this? Could he kill a man? Even a crazed lunatic of a man who wanted him dead? Who wanted his shuck nose, for crying out loud?”
This internal conflict represents the chapter’s moral climax. Thomas’s hesitation humanizes him amid violence, contrasting with Brenda’s pragmatism. The rhetorical questions mirror readers’ own ethical dilemmas about survival versus humanity.
4. “Thomas tightened his grip on the knife. Then he put his other hand on it for more support, all ten fingers clasped tightly around the handle, blade pointing toward the floor. He had to do this. He had to do it.”
The physical detail of the two-handed grip symbolizes Thomas’s irreversible transition into violence. The repetition of “had to” reflects the loss of innocence—a turning point where survival demands moral compromise.
5. “Thomas used all his strength and plunged the knife into the Crank’s chest.”
This stark conclusion represents the brutal culmination of the chapter’s tension. The abrupt, unadorned language mirrors the irreversible finality of the act, leaving readers to grapple with the emotional and ethical aftermath.