Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in The Mysterious Benedict Society, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Confidence and Growing Up
Deception vs. Truth
Loneliness vs. Friendship
Control vs. Freedom
Hope
Summary
Analysis
That night, S.Q. Pedalian brings Reynie and Sticky to speak with Mr. Curtain. Mr. Curtain tells the boys that he has made Martina an Executive partly because of what Reynie said about Constance: keep those you don’t trust close. It helps that Martina was already an excellent candidate for Executive. Mr. Curtain goes on that the real reason he called the boys to him was to appoint them both as Messengers. Sticky and Reynie are relieved and excited, and they return to their room, where Kate and Constance are waiting, to tell the girls the news.
Mr. Curtain thrives on deception, so it is difficult to assess which parts of what he says are actually true. However, what he says about following Reynie’s advice suggests that Mr. Curtain genuinely likes Reynie (as much as Mr. Curtain can like any child). This bodes well for Reynie’s status at the Institute—and, indeed, Mr. Curtain grants both Reynie and Sticky the jobs they need to move forward with their investigation.
Themes
They signal the news to Mr. Benedict on the mainland. He responds that the children must seek “with open eyes” to find “a place you must exit to enter.” The message is cut short, though, when Mr. Curtain comes out to the plaza, and the children are left unsure what the message is supposed to mean. Kate and Constance leave, and the boys go to bed. Reynie is writing a mental letter to Miss Perumal when Sticky asks if their promotion, which should be encouraging, scares Reynie as much as it does Sticky. Reynie laughs and admits that it does.
Mr. Benedict and his associates are the only adults the children can look to for guidance, but their distance is keenly felt. The adults can only provide help through riddles, and in this conversation, the riddle is cut short. Afterwards, Sticky admits to being afraid, and Reynie acknowledges that he feels the same. Both boys are scared, but they can be open about their fear with each other.
Themes
