Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in The Maze Runner, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Memory and Identity
Stability and Order vs. Change and Chaos
Sacrifice
Growing Up
Hope
Sexism
Summary
Analysis
Thomas hears a voice calling his name and realizes it is Chuck. When he wakes, Chuck tells him that he’s been out for three days and that Zart, the Keeper of the farmers, along with two other boys were taken by the Grievers. Thomas tells Chuck to get Newt so that they can call a Gathering. Then he contacts Teresa in his head and tells her that he remembers more now. Thomas says they’ve done bad things but he has a plan to escape the Maze. With regret, Thomas says that some people may die in the process.
Thomas’ experiences during the Changing do not crush his hopeful spirit. Undeterred by the memories that return to him, he immediately makes plans for escape. In terms of the allegorical meaning of the Changing, Thomas comes out of puberty more mature, proactive, and self-assured.
Themes
When Newt arrives, Thomas tells him that the Maze is actually a test designed to see if the Gladers will continue to fight and hold onto hope despite the seemingly impossible odds against them. Thomas says that the Grievers’ nightly raids are the last and most dire stage in the test. Thomas tells Newt to call a Gathering so that Thomas can explain his plan for escaping the Maze.
