“If you ain’t scared,’ Alby said, you ain’t human” (Dashner 9). Fear is a part of all humans, without it, we would not be able to survive. It helps to warn us of potential threats, however when put into foreign situations, fear can cause further anxiety as we are not familiar nor comfortable with the circumstances. In the book, the Maze Runner, fear is exhibited through multiple forms such as, the setting/atmospheres, characters, and conflicts. All of which showcase a key theme when we are put into fearful situations bravery prevails, helping us to accomplish a task that scares us with bravery.
The setting and atmosphere in the story showcases the theme, when we are put into fearful situations bravery prevails, helping us to accomplish a task that scares us with bravery. The sun was setting, as the doors to the maze were about to close, Thomas noticed that Minho was trying to drag Ably out of the maze. Since, Alby was stung by a griever Minho was struggling to get him out of the maze. Thomas tried to run into the maze to help them, as he knew if he didn’t they would be stuck in the maze overnight.
Unfortunately, Thomas could not help them out in time, leaving three of them stranded in the maze overnight. While in the maze they realized that no one has ever made it out alive of the maze when being trapped overnight. While in the maze, “Thomas couldn’t think of any nightmare that could equal this hideous thing coming toward him. He fought the fear, forced his body to remain perfectly still, hanging there in the vines” (Dashner 127). The characters endure immense stress and fear as they try to escape the grievers.
It even says that he “fought fear” The atmosphere creates a very stressful mood, Thomas’s fear was put aside and he was ready to face a fearful situation, which shows courage and bravery. At the very beginning of the story, Thomas was confined in a small metal box going to an unknown destination, he had no idea where he was going nor remembered anything about his past except for his name. “The lightless elevator swayed back and forth as it ascended, turning the boy’s stomach sour with nausea: a smell like burnt oil invaded his senses, making him feel worse.
He wanted to cry, but no tears came; he could only sit here, alone, waiting” (Dashner 1). Thomas experienced a great deal of stress, when in this unfamiliar setting. The theme, when we are put into fearful situations bravery prevails helping s to accomplish a task that scares us with bravery. This relates to Thomas’s struggle, because when in a time a fear he withstood harsh conditions. He was patient, even when he felt as though he could cry he didn’t he just waited, bravery triumphed.
The described setting and atmospheres portrays the theme, when we are put into fearful situations bravery prevails helping us to accomplish a task that scares us with bravery. The characters in this story demonstrate the theme, when we are put into fearful situations bravery prevails helping us to accomplish a task that scares us with bravery. Alby’s charterer is hown as a leader amongst the boys, he has been there the longest. He posses leader qualities; he has to be a role model for the other boys and show bravery in times of fear.
As Alby was showing Thomas around he had many questions for him. “What are those things? He wondered, irritated that Alby hadn’t answered him earlier. The secrecy was very annoying. ” (Dashner 45). Thomas hated the way that Alby was being secretive, however Alby has valid reasons and secrets to protect as a leader. Taking into consideration that he is the leader he has the rights to know about everything in the Glade and the progress he runners have gotten in the maze. Alby doesn’t want to say anything to the boys because he could loose their hopes or have them fear about any danger.
Alby never releases any information to the boys unless it is crucial. He has to be brave in front of all the boys even in situations of fear because they look up to him as a leader and they mock his actions since he is of higher authority. Thomas’s character can be seen as courageous, later in the story he also proves to be a leader among the boys. Although he is shown as courageous Thomas is also scared at time. Even hough Thomas’s character is portrayed as brave he has doubts and fear at times. However, this is all a part of Thomas’s character his character can display a key theme in the story.
This scene takes place when Thomas sees Minho and Alby that might not make it out of the Maze so he goes in to try and save them. “Thomas knew he had no choice. He moved. Forward. He squeezed past the connecting rods at the last second stepped into the Maze. The walls slammed shot behind him, the echo of it boom bouncing off the ivy-covered stone like mad laugher” (Dashner 112). “Thomas felt the need to do the right hing by saving them. He knew, that at night, that givers are out in the maze, however was willing to put his fears aside and put his friends first in doing this heroic action.
This relates to the theme because in that time of indecisiveness he chose to save his friends and put his fear to the side. Overall, the characters in the story represent the when we are put into fearful situations bravery prevails helping us to accomplish a task that scares us with bravery. The conflict in this story shows the when we are put into fearful situations bravery prevails helping us to accomplish a task that cares us with bravery. Through the story Thomas has many internal struggles with himself.
Right when he sees Minho and Alby trying to escape he struggles with whether he should go after them our play it safe by staying in the Glade. “There were only seconds left until it shout completely. They had no chance of making it in time. No chance at all.. Thomas hear Newt screaming from behind him. ‘don’t do it,Tommy! Don’t you bloody do it! … Thomas knew he had no choice. He moved. Forward. He squeezed past the connecting rods at the last second and stepped into the Maze” (Dashner 112). Thomas had tough decision to make when deciding to go in and help his friends.
This could be called an internal struggle because of his indecisiveness he has an internal conflict on whether he should help his friends which would be staying locked in the maze or stay in the Glade. In this scene Thomas pauses deciding whether to go or not. His fear was put aside for that moment which gave him the bravery to go save his friends. When Minho and Thomas were stuck the maze, many conflicts arose such as them vs. the givers. “Thomas hated every millisecond of waiting. He just wanted to close his eyes and ever see another griever again…
The tactic had worked for Thomas earlier, and judging by the horrible screeching sound that escaped from the first griever it had worked again. The monster had flew off the edge of the cliff” (Dashner 138). Thomas and Minho were both scared when faced with a conflict with one of the grievers in the maze. Although they were frightened they came up with a way to kill the griever. They couldn’t just run away now they had to be brave to fight the grievers and so they did. The conflicts in this book showcase the theme, when we are put into fearful situations bravery prevails elping us to accomplish a task that scares us with bravery.
In conclusion, the theme when we are put into fearful situations bravery prevails helping us to accomplish a task that scares us with bravery, is clearly presented in the book the Maze Runner through the setting/atmosphere, characters, and conflict. Fear drives out the best bravery and helps us as humans accomplish things we never would think to be possible. Even with scenarios that we don’t know we will still do try the make the best out of it. If someone says they are never scared its apart of human nature everyone gets scared.
