Character Development

“Where Am I? Who am I? Why am I so scared?” These are the words of Thomas from the book Maze Runner By James Dashner. Thomas was taken by W.I.C.K.E.D as a test subject for a major disease; throughout these tests he develops and becomes stronger as a person.

In the first book Maze Runner Thomas is very feeble and unstable for what he is about to face. First, he finds himself in a small dark box and is scared out of his mind. He is trying very hard to comprehend what he is doing there. After a certain period of time the box opens and he finds himself among many teenagers and some adults in a forest area. Many of the teenagers try to prepare him for what he is about to face; Thomas in neither physically nor mentally ready. Once the first test starts he starts to doubt himself and his self-esteem is damaged, but as he goes on his friends help him regain that and Thomas and his friends past the first test, but Thomas is still trying to get the movement of everything as he now is going to face The Scorch Trials.

 In The Scorch Trials Thomas has regained his self-esteem and is now ready to face anything. Although he starts to question his mental stability when he sees how fast his friends are dying out. In this mental state he starts to become delusional and very moody to everyone and he starts to think that everyone there is going to kill him. He then started going on a rampage trying to injure as many people as possible so they wouldn’t hurt him. As this is going on, his friends devise a plan to help Thomas and what they come up with is very bad but it works. One of his friends pretends to commit suicide I front of Thomas. Thomas then snaps out of his mental state and tries to convince his friend not to do it. Once the friend sees that Thomas is back to normal they continue through the trials. By the end of the book Thomas is now determined to get out of here and try to continue his life back home, but alas, there is one more thing he has to do in The Death Cure.

The book The Death Cure Thomas and a couple of his friends have made a plan to get out of this facility and back home. Once inside, he is concealed in a cell and he waits there for a number of days. Throughout this period he goes through many stages: he becomes depressed; delusional; he starts to hear voices; he becomes suicidal and then he becomes enraged, but throughout everything he can’t help but think of his friends and family. This in turn, gives him courage; strength and determination to get out of the facility. After awhile he is released and he commences with his plan, but somehow the guards at W.I.C.K.E.D find out he is planning an escape and try to prevent him from escaping. Thomas being determined as ever, he and his friends get out and start a new life.

Many kids go through life where they have to problem solve just like Thomas. They also may have mixed emotions or may go through something tough. From reading this book, kids could learn how to handle these situations.