The Scorch Trials
Chapter 9
by Dashner, JamesThomas wakes up disoriented and in pain, haunted by Teresa’s harsh words and a disturbing dream that leaves him questioning its reality. Newt, standing by his bed, tries to lighten the mood with sarcasm, but their conversation quickly turns to their dire situation—trapped in a bricked-up room with no food or clear escape. Despite the grim circumstances, Newt remains optimistic, drawing parallels to their arrival in the Glade, where they had to organize and adapt to survive. Thomas, though skeptical, begins to consider that their current predicament might also be part of a larger, purposeful test.
The discussion shifts to the origins of the Glade, with Newt recounting how the original Gladers overcame their initial terror and built a functional society despite their wiped memories. Thomas, intrigued, asks about the logistics of their early days, and Newt explains how they relied on trial and error to establish order. This history reinforces Newt’s belief that their current confinement is another deliberate challenge, though Thomas worries about the lack of resources and the possibility of abandonment. Newt dismisses these fears, insisting that their captors wouldn’t go to such lengths only to let them starve.
As days pass without food, hunger becomes an unbearable torment for Thomas and the other Gladers. The group grows weaker, their movements sluggish and their spirits crushed. Thomas obsesses over Teresa’s betrayal, which adds emotional weight to his physical suffering. The cycle of sleep, water, and exhaustion dominates their existence, with death feeling increasingly imminent. Despite this, Thomas clings to fleeting hope, though his body and mind are pushed to their limits.
On the third day, a mysterious humming sound interrupts the monotony, but Thomas, too exhausted to investigate, drifts back into sleep. Minho eventually rouses him, hinting at a potential change in their situation. The chapter ends with Thomas on the brink of another discovery, leaving the reader to wonder whether this signals salvation or another cruel twist in their ordeal.
FAQs
1. How does Thomas’s physical and emotional state at the beginning of the chapter reflect the broader challenges faced by the Gladers in their new environment?
Answer:
Thomas wakes up with intense physical pain (“his head felt like several chunks of ice had been hammered through his ears”) and emotional turmoil over Teresa’s betrayal and his confusing dream-memory. This mirrors the Gladers’ collective struggle: they are disoriented, starving, and trapped in an unfamiliar place with no clear purpose. The chapter emphasizes their deteriorating physical condition (“Skin pale, eyes sunken”) and psychological despair, showing how their circumstances erode both body and spirit. Thomas’s personal suffering—his nausea, hunger (“gnawing beast”), and grief over Teresa—parallels the group’s larger battle for survival and meaning in this new “test.”2. Compare Newt’s perspective on their current situation to his account of the Glade’s early days. What does this reveal about his leadership and worldview?
Answer:
Newt draws parallels between their current confinement and the Glade’s founding, noting that both scenarios involved waking up with wiped memories in a controlled environment. He recalls how the original Gladers organized themselves despite fear, trusting there was a purpose (“If someone had wanted to kill us, why wouldn’t they have just killed us?”). This shows his pragmatic leadership: he focuses on actionable steps (e.g., exploring, assigning roles) and maintains cautious optimism. His insistence that “we’re obviously here for a buggin’ purpose” reveals a worldview shaped by resilience and adaptability, even in dire circumstances. However, his sarcasm (“original Gladers”) hints at weariness, suggesting his optimism is hard-won.3. Analyze the symbolic significance of hunger in this chapter. How does it function beyond a physical challenge?
Answer:
Hunger is depicted as a relentless “animal trapped inside” the Gladers, representing both their physical decline and psychological unraveling. It becomes a metaphor for their helplessness and the slow erosion of hope—Thomas notes how water only intensifies the feeling, mirroring how small comforts (like Newt’s reassurance) fail to alleviate their despair. The hunger also strips away distractions, forcing them to confront deeper fears (e.g., Teresa’s betrayal, the vanished corpses). By describing hunger as a “festering disease,” the chapter ties it to the group’s collective dread, making it a visceral symbol of their precarious survival and the unseen forces manipulating them.4. Why does Thomas hesitate to share his dream-memory with Newt, and what does this suggest about his character development?
Answer:
Thomas actively suppresses thoughts of the dream (“forcing thoughts of Teresa and the dream—memory?—into a dark corner of his mind”) and chooses not to share it, likely due to distrust and emotional exhaustion. Earlier in the series, he sought answers aggressively, but now he prioritizes short-term survival over solving mysteries. This shift reflects his trauma: Teresa’s betrayal and Chuck’s death have made him wary of vulnerability. His silence also underscores his growing self-reliance—he internalizes struggles rather than burden others, even Newt, whom he trusts. However, his avoidance hints at unresolved guilt or fear about the dream’s implications (e.g., “those awful things about his brain”).5. Evaluate the chapter’s ending. How does the abrupt interruption of the humming sound and Thomas’s inability to react create suspense?
Answer:
The humming sound—a potential turning point—is introduced only for Thomas to ignore it, falling asleep instead. This juxtaposition of urgency (Minho’s weak voice) and paralysis (Thomas’s exhaustion) heightens tension by delaying resolution. Readers are left wondering if the sound signifies rescue, danger, or another test, while Thomas’s inability to act underscores how starvation has crippled the group’s agency. The cliffhanger (“what he thought was just a few inch…”) mirrors the Gladers’ fragmented understanding of their environment, forcing audiences to sit with uncertainty, much like the characters. This technique reinforces the novel’s themes of helplessness and unpredictability.
Quotes
1. “I guess back then we all just had a sense that there was obviously a purpose to us having been sent there. If someone had wanted to kill us, why wouldn’t they have just killed us? Why would they send us to a huge place with a house and a barn and animals?”
Newt reflects on the Gladers’ initial arrival in the Maze, drawing parallels to their current predicament. This quote captures the group’s recurring theme of seeking purpose in their suffering, reinforcing their resilience despite dire circumstances.
2. “You’re one depressing piece of klunk, slinthead. Nah, with all those corpses magically disappearing and the brick walls, I’d say this is something more like the Maze. Weird and impossible to explain. The latest and greatest mystery.”
Newt rebukes Thomas’s pessimism with dark humor, emphasizing the surreal nature of their trials. This exchange highlights the group’s dynamic and their growing acceptance of inexplicable horrors as part of their reality.
3. “Hunger. It’s like an animal trapped inside you […] After three full days of not eating, it felt like a vicious, gnawing, dull-clawed animal was trying to burrow its way out of his stomach.”
Thomas’s visceral description of starvation underscores the physical and psychological toll of their ordeal. This metaphor anchors the chapter’s tension, making the Gladers’ suffering palpable to the reader.
4. “She’d been the only thing he could grasp for hope after the Maze and Chuck’s death. And now she was gone, there was no food, and three long days had passed.”
This introspective moment reveals Thomas’s emotional fragility after Teresa’s betrayal. The quote ties together loss, abandonment, and despair—key emotional throughlines in the chapter’s exploration of survival under extreme duress.