The Scorch Trials
Chapter 47
by Dashner, JamesIn Chapter 47 of *The Scorch Trials*, Thomas experiences a vivid and unsettling dream while sleeping on hard rock. The dream transports him to a memory—or vision—of himself at fifteen, standing with Teresa in front of a bank of screens displaying live feeds from the Glade and the Maze. The footage, captured by beetle blades, shows Gladers like Minho, Newt, and Alby alive and active, contradicting Teresa’s statement that “they’re all dead.” Thomas feels detached from his younger self, confused by the conversation about dead Creators, replacements, and a mysterious “killzone.” The dream hints at a larger, darker plan involving patterns and sacrifices, leaving Thomas disturbed upon waking.
Upon awakening, Thomas finds Harriet and Sonya watching him intently. They demand to know what he has learned, signaling a shift in their attitude. Though still wary, they express doubts about their mission to kill him, suggesting a possible alliance. Thomas, still grappling with the dream’s implications, tries to buy time by engaging in a tense conversation. When he asks if they’ve reconsidered killing him, Harriet and Sonya remain pragmatic, framing their dilemma as a choice between his life and the survival of their group. Thomas argues that their orders might be a test, urging collaboration instead of violence.
The dialogue escalates as Sonya presses Thomas to admit what he would do in their position. He acknowledges the gravity of their choice but insists he wouldn’t kill him if roles were reversed, claiming the situation feels like a setup. Harriet and Sonya exchange glances, revealing their underlying skepticism about their mission. They agree to gather the others for a discussion, hinting at a potential truce. Thomas, however, remains anxious, sensing urgency to resolve the conflict before Teresa returns, whose absence and role in his dream add to his unease.
The chapter ends with a cliffhanger as Harriet and Sonya leave to rally the group, leaving Thomas to ponder his next move. The dream’s cryptic references to “patterns” and the “killzone” weigh heavily on him, suggesting deeper layers to the Gladers’ ordeal. Meanwhile, the shifting dynamics among the group introduce hope for Thomas’s survival, though the threat of Teresa’s return looms large. The chapter masterfully blends psychological tension with plot progression, leaving readers eager to see how the confrontation will unfold.
FAQs
1. What significant dream does Thomas have in this chapter, and what key details does it reveal about his past?
Answer:
Thomas dreams of being fifteen years old with Teresa, standing in front of a bank of screens displaying live footage from the Glade and the Maze. The dream suggests they were involved in monitoring the Gladers, possibly as part of the Creators’ team. Key revelations include: 1) References to “all the original Creators dead,” implying a shift in leadership, 2) Discussions about “patterns” and “the killzone” as critical objectives, 3) Teresa’s statement that replacements have “a year to train,” hinting at a planned timeline for the trials. The dream blurs the line between memory and vision, leaving Thomas (and readers) questioning his true role in the experiments.2. How does the conversation between Thomas, Harriet, and Sonya reveal the moral dilemma at the heart of their situation?
Answer:
The conversation presents a classic utilitarian dilemma: whether to sacrifice one life (Thomas) to save many (the group). Sonya frames it starkly: “If the two options were you die or all of us die, which one would you pick?” Harriet adds pragmatic concerns about following orders despite doubts. Thomas counters that killing him may be a test of their judgment, suggesting WICKED’s trials operate on multiple deception levels. This exchange highlights the psychological manipulation at play—forcing subjects to make impossible choices while obscuring the true rules of their experiment. The moral tension escalates as Harriet and Sonya reveal their growing skepticism about their mission.3. Analyze how Thomas’s dream connects to the broader themes of memory and identity in the novel.
Answer:
The dream sequence intensifies the novel’s exploration of fragmented identity and manipulated memory. Thomas experiences the vision as both observer and participant—he’s “inside this boy who’s supposed to be him” but lacks full understanding, mirroring readers’ disorientation. References to “memory” versus constructed scenarios (“Is it a memory?”) underscore WICKED’s tampering with subjects’ pasts. The dream’s content (monitoring Gladers, discussing Creators’ deaths) suggests Thomas may have been complicit in the trials, complicating his self-perception as a victim. This duality—witnessing his possible past actions while being hunted in the present—drives the psychological tension central to the series.4. Why is Teresa’s absence during Thomas’s conversation with Harriet and Sonya significant, and what might it foreshadow?
Answer:
Teresa’s absence creates narrative tension on multiple levels. Practically, it allows Thomas to speak freely about his doubts without her influence, as shown when he urges the group to talk “before Teresa gets back.” Thematically, it parallels the dream version of Teresa who advocated ruthless efficiency (“No matter how many die”), contrasting with her present-day alliance with Thomas. Her stated reason for leaving—scouting for pursuers—may mask ulterior motives, foreshadowing potential betrayal or hidden agendas. This absence also emphasizes Thomas’s isolation, forcing him to rely on his own judgment amid conflicting loyalties.5. How does the chapter use the concept of “patterns” as both a literal and metaphorical element?
Answer:
Literally, “patterns” refer to the Maze’s unsolved mysteries and the “killzone” (likely the Glade’s destruction), representing WICKED’s experimental objectives. Thomas and dream-Teresa repeat “the patterns” like a mantra, emphasizing their importance to the trials’ success. Metaphorically, patterns represent: 1) The cyclical nature of the characters’ suffering, 2) WICKED’s manipulation of predictable human behaviors under stress, and 3) The recurring moral choices that test subjects’ humanity. The term’s vagueness in the dream (“Somehow Thomas knows… the patterns”) mirrors the characters’ limited understanding of their roles in WICKED’s grand design, creating suspense about what completing these patterns truly entails.
Quotes
1. ““I can’t believe they’re all dead,” Teresa says.”
This quote reveals a pivotal moment in Thomas’s dream-memory, hinting at a major catastrophe involving the Creators of the Maze. It underscores the gravity of their situation and foreshadows the high stakes of the Gladers’ survival.
2. ““All that matters now are the patterns. The killzone. Nothing else.””
Thomas’s chilling statement in his dream reflects the cold, calculated mindset required for their mission. The repetition of “the patterns” emphasizes the mechanistic, almost inhuman focus on variables and outcomes over individual lives.
3. ““If the Variables don’t work, they’ll end up the same anyway. Everyone will.””
Teresa’s grim pronouncement captures the ruthless logic of WICKED’s experiments. This quote crystallizes the moral dilemma at the story’s core—sacrificing some to potentially save all—while hinting at an apocalyptic scale of consequences.
4. ““If you could choose, and the two options were you die or all of us die, which one would you pick? This is all about you or us.””
Sonya’s blunt question to Thomas mirrors the ethical quandaries from his dream, now playing out in reality. It forces Thomas (and readers) to confront the brutal utilitarianism governing their world.
5. ““I think it’s some kind of test and maybe you’re not really supposed to do it.””
Thomas’s insight represents a turning point where he begins trusting his instincts over external directives. This challenges the group’s assumptions and suggests WICKED’s trials operate on deeper psychological levels than apparent.