Blog Post #17: The Maze Runner *Spoiler Alert*

          I am continuing to read the book The Maze Runner by James Dashner. I would first like to talk about how my thoughts changed on the character archetypes. The hero is still unidentified, though starting from chapter 17, when he is trapped in the Maze with Alby and Minho, it feels that Thomas has turned into a hero. He first of all, saved Alby by almost risking his own life, and defeated four Grievers. But ultimately, I still predict that all the Gladers will be heroes. As I read on, we got introduced to Minho, another Keeper. I believe that even though there are many Keepers in the Glade, the ones who talk to Thomas and walk him through and teach him are the real mentors, such as Newt, Alby, and Minho. For the shadow of the book, I don't think it's the Changing anymore because I find out later that people only go through it if they've been attacked by a Griever, which Ben did. I still don't know an actual person who might be the shadow, but I still think it's possibly the Glade and the Maze. as for the shape-shifter, I think I know for sure what it may be. There's actually no shape-shifter and I think it's because the two different sides are very clear and direct. The Gladers are innocent teens who have no idea where they are or how to get out while the "bad side" may be the Creators. According to Newt and Alby that's who made this horrifying place.
       
         Mainly in this blog post, I'd like to discuss my character's (Thomas) archetypal journey. I think there were many positive people and events that impacted Thomas. Even though some may be mean, or never serious with him (for example, Gally) I think that everyone was a good person. They're all Gladers, they're all there because of the same reason, and basically, they're all at the same position. No one is an enemy towards anyone because in order to survive in the Glade they have to work together and get along. Events that may have impacted Thomas were when he learned about the way things worked around the Glade. One example would be that when Alby gave Thomas his tour around during the second day he arrived, Alby demanded absolutely no questions asked until the end. The author didn't point this out, but what I think this teaches me about living in the world is that you have to be always moving. You don't have time to stop and ask questions in life, and sometimes, you have to go with the flow. Questions equal uncertainty which equals confusion which then equals not being able to move forward. It may not have been pointed out by the author, but this part made me realize this.

         Again, I don't think there are any negative people in the Glade, but a negative thing would obviously have to be the scary Grievers as well as where this story is set: the Glade/ the Maze. The Maze is definitely a scary concept to think about: only the best of the best will find their way around the Maze, it changes (course) every night, for two years no one has figured a way out yet, etc. One very important event that really stood out to me was Ben being banished. To recall, Ben was the kid who had to go through the changing. I think Thomas described him as being one or two years younger than him. Thomas was wandering around the woods once (around chapter 11) and Ben had tried to attack him. Ben was claiming that Thomas is a bad person and Thomas described him as looking like an uncontrollable beast. A little later on, Chuck tells Thomas that Ben is being Banished for trying to kill Thomas (page 88). The whole chapter 14, Thomas described what he saw in front of him as the Keepers took a collar attached to a long pole, and put the collar around Ben. Ben was then thrown into the Maze, just before the doors shut tight for the night. I think this is a negative event that impacted Thomas because it made him feel guilty at first, like he was the reason why Ben had to be banished. But it wasn't Thomas' fault at all. I think what this teaches me about living in the world is that you have to have self-control. You need to control your own actions, what you say, etc. If you don't, then everything will just be bad for you. Ben's banishment also shows that there are no second chances in life. Second chances are only for the lucky ones. While the Keepers were getting ready for Ben's banishment, Ben was pleading to be given a second chance. His banishment teaches me that you have to get things right the first time. Sure, everyone makes mistakes, but that would take us back to self-control, back to what you choose to do and not to do, just like in Ben's situation. I think this is a fantastic event to show us these two important life lessons.

         I don't want to talk about how Thomas changed/ what he's learned/ what he accomplished overall just because I haven't finished the whole book yet. But I would like to talk about those things, after he got trapped in the Maze with Alby and Minho. I'm up to page 143 right now, so they still haven't got out yet, but Thomas did accomplish a few things mentioned before: he risked his own life for Alby and defeated the Grievers. Because of these events I think he has changed emotionally, mentally, and physically. To start off, I think he changed physically because he was doing tons of running in the Maze, the strength he used to tie Alby up on the stone walls, the strength he used to climb/ swing back down to the ground, etc. He built up stamina, momentum, and especially endurance while trying to escape from the Grievers. I look up to him for that because he's really young, maybe a little older than me. And probably before he's never done so much running in his life. The most important changes were the mental and emotional ones. He changed mentally because he had to think of a quick way to hide from the Grievers. He not only had to think of himself but Alby as well because he was down. Thomas knew he couldn't run like Minho told him to do because he knew he couldn't leave Alby. Again, I look up to him for that because he didn't of himself and also, he was extremely fast of thinking up a plan. Finally, he changed emotionally because after defeating the Grievers with the help of Minho, he broke down crying. This shows all the pain he endured, all the strength he used, and all the little risks he had to take. The crying also represents the emotional impact on him while he was sin the Maze. I wouldn't exactly say there were emotional changes, but definitely a lot of emotion involved.

         I absolutely love this book because of the action put into it. It's definitely a page turner and gets you interested on every page. I'm not fully done with the book, but I already know it is one of my top favorite books of all time.