Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in Ready Player One, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Reality vs. Illusion
Nerds, Underdogs, and Obsession
The Individual vs. the Collective
Inequality, Elitism, and Corporate Power
Utopia vs. Dystopia
Summary
Analysis
The shield dissolves and there is suddenly nothing separating the Sixer army from the gunters. Wade is stunned to find that every single gunter around him rushes toward the Sixers, even though many of them are headed straight toward “certain death.” Sorrento receives the vast majority of gunter fire, but his robot remains undamaged. Aech, Shoto, Art3mis, and Wade all direct their blasts at Sorrento, and Art3mis’ beam weapon disables one of the robot’s cannons. In return, Mechagodzilla blasts blue lightning at them. The team escapes, but Wade points out that they probably don’t have a chance of destroying Mechagodzilla. Wade suggests he distract the robot while the others head for the castle; Shoto agrees but quickly takes on the job of distracting Sorrento himself.
As a gigantic monster that seemingly can’t be damaged or destroyed, Mechagodzilla becomes a metaphor for IOI itself. However, note that it only appears as though Mechagodzilla is an unbeatable opponent. In reality, there is arguably no such thing, and—as Wade’s plan of distracting the robot indicates—perhaps only a change of tactic is needed.
Themes
Aech and Art3mis abandon their robots and head for the castle. Shoto attacks Mechagodzilla, slicing off its right arm, but the robot retaliates by destroying Shoto’s robot in a ball of fire. Shoto’s name disappears from the Scoreboard, confirming that his avatar is dead. While Wade is distracted, Sorrento takes the opportunity to cut his robot in half. Luckily Wade ejects himself from the robot just in time. He is almost crushed by Mechagodzilla’s foot, but—in a fury of rage at Sorrento—activates the Beta Capsule, thereby turning himself into Ultraman.
Using white beams, Wade knocks Mechagodzilla to the ground, to the cheers of surrounding gunters. As Sorrento struggles to get the robot upright again, Wade slices the robot in half using a blade of energy. Sorrento attempts to escape inside the robot’s head, but Wade blasts it, killing Sorrento’s avatar in the process. Wade returns to normal and goes to meet Aech and Art3mis at the castle. They take out their keys and, after Wade declares “three is a magic number,” two additional keyholes appear. The trio insert their keys and turn them in unison. The field of stars opens up in front of them once again. Just as they are about to jump in, there is a massive explosion. The chapter ends with Wade saying: “And then we all died.”
This passage begins on a triumphant note, with Wade killing Sorrento. This sense of triumph continues when it turns out that Wade was right—for one reason or another, Halliday did want to force competitors to come together and unlock the Third Gate as a trio. However, this brief moment of triumph and hope disappears immediately when, out of nowhere, Wade explains that everyone dies.
Themes
