Monday, December 1, 2014

What are some quotes from The Maze Runner that show it's dystopian?

Let's start with a dictionary definition of dystopia. The following comes from the Merriam-Webster dictionary:

An imaginary place where people lead dehumanized and often fearful lives.

That is a fairly broad definition, but various dystopian stories tend to have a few similar traits. The following list of traits isn't exhaustive, but it will help to relate quotes from the book to dystopian characteristics. First of all, information, freedom, and/or independent thought are often restricted or illegal in dystopias. Secondly, methods of surveillance are usually used to constantly monitor and control the population. Lastly, in many dystopias, citizens (in this case the Gladers) are taught to fear the outside world (the maze).
The following quote works well with the idea of the restriction of information:

And yet he didn't know where he came from, or how he'd gotten inside the dark lift, or who his parents were. He didn't even know his last name.

Thomas emerges from the elevator, and he knows next to nothing. The other boys present are equally clueless about the greater world at large. Their knowledge comes from previous experiences within the maze and the Glade. This next quote works well because it is just so full of questions:

How could a maze, with walls so massive and tall, be so big that dozens of kids hadn't been able to solve it after who knew how long trying? How could such a structure exist? And more importantly, why? What could possibly be the purpose of such a thing? Why were they all there?

The next quote works well for the surveillance trait of dystopias. Beetle Blades exist to spy on the kids:

Beetle blades—it's how the Creators watch us.

As for fear, a lot of quotes about the maze itself or the Grievers work well for this aspect:

"Grievers, we call 'em," Newt answered. "Nasty bugger, eh? Just be glad the Grievers only come out at night. Be thankful for these walls."
Thomas swallowed, wondering how he could ever go out there.

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