The Scorch Trials
Chapter 34
by Dashner, JamesIn Chapter 34 of *The Scorch Trials*, Thomas grapples with the moral weight of killing a Crank—a Flare-infected man—in self-defense. The act leaves him physically and emotionally drained, his guilt overwhelming as he struggles to reconcile the brutality of the act. Brenda, pragmatic and focused on survival, urges him to move on, warning that the noise may attract more Cranks. Thomas, however, demands an escape from the oppressive darkness of the tunnels, yearning for daylight as a reprieve from the relentless horrors they’ve endured.
Emerging from the underground, Thomas and Brenda find themselves in a desolate cityscape marked by decay and death. The towering buildings and scattered corpses amplify the dystopian dread, but they press forward, navigating the ruins while avoiding detection. Brenda directs them toward the distant mountains, their supposed sanctuary, though the path remains uncertain. Thomas scans the environment anxiously, hoping for signs of his missing friends, the Gladers, while dreading further encounters with the infected.
As night falls, Brenda insists they seek shelter, leading Thomas to a secluded alley with abandoned trucks. Despite Thomas’s initial reluctance, she convinces him the location is defensible. Inside a rusted truck cab, exhaustion and pain weigh heavily on Thomas, compounded by the grim realization that he may now be infected with the Flare. His thoughts spiral into guilt over killing the Crank, and Brenda attempts to comfort him, emphasizing that his actions saved both their lives.
Their conversation shifts to shared grief and survival, with Brenda expressing gratitude for Thomas’s companionship in their dire circumstances. Thomas, though haunted by loss and uncertainty, acknowledges the solace of not being alone. The chapter closes with a moment of quiet connection between them, underscored by the ever-present threat of the Cranks and the looming journey toward the mountains—a fragile hope in a world unraveling around them.
FAQs
1. How does Thomas react emotionally and physically to killing the Crank, and what does this reveal about his character?
Answer:
Thomas experiences profound guilt and trauma after killing the Crank, describing his body as a “tense coil of rusty wire” and his insides as “full of poison.” He grapples with the brutality of the act, wishing it could have been less personal (e.g., shooting from a distance). This reveals his moral complexity and humanity—despite the life-or-death circumstances, he struggles with the weight of taking a life. His reaction contrasts with Brenda’s practicality, highlighting his empathetic nature and lingering innocence despite the harsh world he inhabits. The chapter emphasizes his internal conflict through visceral imagery (e.g., scrubbing his hands obsessively) and dialogue about nightmares.2. Analyze the significance of Thomas’s demand for daylight. How does this symbolize his broader psychological state?
Answer:
Thomas’s insistence on daylight (“I want daylight. Now.”) symbolizes his desperation for clarity, safety, and moral certainty after the traumatic events in the tunnels. The darkness represents both physical danger (Cranks, confinement) and psychological turmoil (guilt, fear of the Flare). His rejection of the “long black tunnels” mirrors his desire to escape ambiguity—whether about his survival, his infection, or his actions. The transition to the gray, ruined cityscape offers partial relief but maintains a tone of desolation, reflecting his unresolved trauma. This moment underscores his growing exhaustion with relentless adversity and his need for hope (symbolized by light/open spaces).3. How does Brenda’s pragmatic approach to survival contrast with Thomas’s emotional turmoil, and what role does this dynamic play in their relationship?
Answer:
Brenda prioritizes immediate survival, urging Thomas to move on quickly after killing the Crank (“We need to go”) and rationalizing the act as necessary. Her focus on practical solutions (e.g., finding shelter in the truck) contrasts with Thomas’s guilt and existential dread. This dynamic creates tension but also mutual dependence: Brenda relies on Thomas’s physical strength, while Thomas needs her resilience to navigate the city. Their exchange in the truck—where Brenda acknowledges his sacrifice—softens the contrast, showing how their differences balance each other. Her reassurance (“You saved mine, too”) hints at a deepening bond forged through shared trauma.4. The chapter ends with Brenda’s unfinished statement: “They killed my d…” What narrative purpose does this cliffhanger serve, and how might it connect to broader themes of the story?
Answer:
The abrupt cutoff creates suspense, hinting at Brenda’s unresolved backstory and potential personal losses (likely “dad” or “family”). This mirrors the novel’s themes of fragmented memories and institutional cruelty (WICKED’s experiments). The interruption also parallels Thomas’s own fragmented understanding of his past and the larger world. By leaving Brenda’s trauma unspoken, the text emphasizes the pervasive, unprocessed grief in their dystopian reality. It invites readers to question how her history might influence her loyalty, motivations, or eventual choices regarding Thomas and the Gladers’ mission.5. Evaluate the portrayal of the post-apocalyptic cityscape. How does its description contribute to the novel’s atmosphere and themes?
Answer:
The city is depicted as a decaying, lifeless wasteland (“broken windows,” “dead bodies,” “smell of rot”) with only distant, feral Cranks as inhabitants. This reinforces themes of societal collapse and dehumanization. The juxtaposition of towering buildings (symbols of past civilization) with ruin highlights the irreversible damage of the Flare. The “gray twilight” and oppressive heat amplify the bleakness, mirroring Thomas’s hopelessness. Notably, the mountains—visible but distant—represent the elusive “safe haven,” emphasizing the grueling journey ahead. The setting underscores the novel’s central tension: survival in a world where humanity’s remnants are as dangerous as the disease itself.
Quotes
1. “He’d just killed a man. He’d taken the life of another person. His insides felt full of poison.”
This quote captures Thomas’s visceral guilt and moral turmoil after killing a Crank to survive. It represents a pivotal moment in his character development, showing the psychological toll of violence in their dystopian world.
2. “I want daylight. I don’t care what it takes. I want daylight. Now.”
Thomas’s desperate plea symbolizes his exhaustion with the darkness—both literal and metaphorical—of their journey. This marks a turning point where he rejects the oppressive underground and demands clarity/safety.
3. “You didn’t just save your own skin, ya know. You saved mine, too.”
Brenda’s reassurance reframes Thomas’s violent act as necessary protection, highlighting the moral complexity of survival in their world. This exchange deepens their bond while addressing the chapter’s central theme of justified violence.
4. “All the pain inside him transformed into something for Brenda, almost like what he’d felt for Chuck.”
This introspective moment shows Thomas’s emotional growth as he channels grief into compassion. It contrasts his earlier guilt with a renewed sense of purpose in protecting others.
5. “Being alone would suck even worse.”
Thomas’s simple admission underscores the novel’s recurring theme of human connection as survival. In a chapter dominated by violence and despair, this highlights the redemptive power of companionship.