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
At lunch the next day, Reynie and Sticky tell Kate and Constance about the Whisperer. They reveal that Mr. Curtain is considering training Reynie and Sticky as Executives after the Improvement, and that they would get to use the Whisperer once a week for their service. Constance is doubtful that the Whisperer can be worth it, and both boys are reluctant to admit how happy the machine makes them. A new round of hidden messages starts up, which causes all four children discomfort, especially Constance.
The Whisperer is causing divisions in the group. Reynie and Sticky are embarrassed that the Whisperer has enticed them so strongly, which leads them to keep their feelings secret from Kate and Constance. Mr. Curtain has not identified the Mysterious Benedict Society as spies, but he is unknowingly sabotaging their ability to work as a team.
Themes
A Messenger comes to the table and invites Reynie and Sticky to eat with the other Messengers, but the boys pretend to have a contagious stomach virus to get out of it. Kate compliments Sticky on his boldness, but Sticky is ashamed; he actually wanted to join the Messengers. He guiltily wonders if his convictions are so weak that a simple invitation can sway him. Reynie is concerned that the Whisperer saps too much of his energy to be a Messenger and an effective spy. Constance irritably reveals that the voice she is hearing in the hidden broadcast is Reynie’s. Sticky realizes that Mr. Curtain can record thoughts, and Reynie notes that Mr. Curtain’s journal entries suggest this is a new development. This explains why Mr. Curtain won’t need Messengers after the Improvement: he can have all his messages pre-recorded.
Sticky’s fear of being unwanted also manifests as an eagerness to be wanted by others. This tempts him to accept the Messengers’ invitation, since their offer indicates that they want to spend time with him. Realizing this about himself only worsens Sticky’s already low self-confidence. Reynie is struggling as well. He fears that he will not be able to balance his duties without burning out. The possibility of failure is very real, especially as Reynie takes on more and more responsibility, and this highlights the negative effect the mission has on the children.
Themes
Reynie suspects that once Mr. Curtain has all his messages recorded, he will boost them to full-strength. Reynie doesn’t mention this, though, because he doesn’t want to frighten Constance. She has shut her eyes tightly in anxiety, which gives Reynie an idea. He recalls Mr. Benedict’s message that they should explore with “open eyes now,” implying that their eyes were previously closed––or, Reynie realizes, blindfolded. The children use Sticky’s memory and Kate’s gift for estimating distances to track the path the boys took to the Whispering Gallery. It appears to lead only to grass, but Reynie suggests that the phrase “exit to enter” in Mr. Benedict’s message means that they must exit the buildings to enter a place they can’t access from indoors.
Once again, the members of the Mysterious Benedict Society use their unique skills to help the mission. Without Sticky’s memory, Kate’s sense of distance, and Reynie’s knack for puzzles, they could not succeed, which exemplifies why Mr. Benedict insisted that each of them is crucial for the success of the mission. The wording of “exits” and “entrances” in Mr. Benedict’s clue is also the second time these words have been significant—the children last heard the words used when Milligan told them that “for every exit, there is also an entrance.” This recurring language highlights the novel’s motif of doubleness. It also speaks to the importance of creative problem solving, as turning an entrance into an exit (or vice versa) mirrors how the children use things for tasks besides their intended purpose.
Themes
Reynie concludes that the traps near the island’s boulders are intended to keep students away from the boulders themselves, which hide secret entrances. Sticky asks how Mr. Benedict would know this, and Reynie points out that Mr. Benedict must have used his telescope to see Jillson bringing Sticky into a secret passage to the Waiting Room. Sticky tears up at the thought that he didn’t go to the Waiting Room for nothing.
Sticky has mostly recovered from his time in the Waiting Room, but his experience there was clearly traumatic, and it continues to affect him greatly. When he learns that being brought to the Waiting Room gave valuable information to Mr. Benedict, he is comforted to know that his suffering at least helped the mission. Once again, a child has endured horrors for the sake of defeating Mr. Curtain.
Themes
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Later that day, the children hunt for a secret passage near the boulders behind the dormitories. They find an entrance, but they can’t determine how to open it. They try a variety of methods, until a frustrated Reynie kicks a boulder and the stone door swings open. Reynie realizes the doors must be built to accommodate Mr. Curtain’s love of speed and his habit of ramming his wheelchair into doors. The children enter, and they make their way through the secret passage until they come to a metal door. Sticky resolves to confront it more bravely than he confronted the Waiting Room, so he gives the door a kick. The door doesn’t open, however, and Sticky only injures his foot. Reynie points out that this door is locked with a numeric keypad.
Sticky has demonstrated great courage in continuing to help the Mysterious Benedict Society after enduring the Waiting Room, but he still considers himself a coward. He tries move past his cowardice and push onward bravely, but he just hurts his foot and embarrasses himself. Instead of proving his bravery, this gesture has only brought Sticky more shame. To truly realize his potential, he must confront his shame and self-loathing head on, just as he faced his fear of the Waiting Room.
Themes
On the locked door is a note that reads “LOSE the new code? Turn OVER for a new code!” The children turn over a note, but find only a different note from Jackson, scolding S.Q. for leaving this clue. After some deliberation, it strikes Reynie that “LOSE” turned “over” (that is, upside-down) becomes the numbers 3507. Now that they have the code, the children worry about what might be on the other side of the door. They wonder if it might be a trap. They have no chance to investigate further, however, because Kate hears Mr. Curtain’s wheelchair approaching. The children hurry through the door.
Jackson does not appreciate S.Q.’s wordplay and scolds him for leaving a clue to the code. The contentious relationship between these two Executives suggests that Mr. Curtain’s henchmen do not function with the same cohesion as the Mysterious Benedict Society. While Mr. Benedict, his associates, and the children value ingenuity and teamwork, Mr. Curtain only cares about control, so his Executives simply carry out his exact orders without bonding with each other.
Themes
