"If anything, gives us even more reason to get our butts out there. If the sun's really gone, won't be long before plants and animals drop dead, too. I think the desperation level just went up a notch." (34. 27)
The definition of manipulation is to "control or play upon by artful, unfair, or insidious means especially to one's own advantage." The Creators are pretty good at it, no? By upping the desperation level, they are forcing the boys into more desperate reactions.
"Leader?" Minho barked a grunt that was probably supposed to be a laugh. "Yeah, call him leader all you want. Maybe we should call him El Presidente. Nah, nah—Admiral Alby. There you go." (12.17)
Minho mocks Alby for being a leader, but everyone defers to his decisions nonetheless. Would you say he was the Leader? Which type of leadership is more effective, de facto or de jure? (Not up to date on your Latin legal terms? Neither are most people, but it makes you feel really smart. Go ahead and Google it, we'll wait.)
Quote 3
Minho continued. "Alby didn't wanna go back to his old life. He freaking sacrificed himself for us—and they aren't attacking, so maybe it worked. We'd be heartless if we wasted it." (55.51)
Good point, Minho—you're always thinking. Is a sacrifice truly sacrifice if nothing good comes out of it? If nothing does, then isn't it just a tragedy?
Quote 4
"We always have at least eight Runners, including the Keeper. One for each Section. It takes us a whole day to map out our area—hoping against hope there's an exit—then we come back and draw it up, a separate page for each day." Minho glanced over at one of the trunks. "That's why those things are shuck full of Maps." (32.49)
It's actually kind of amazing that there are eight kids there who want to explore as much as Thomas does. It must be a pretty strong urge to choose Running over peacefully playing in the gardens all day.
"Better get as much of the Maze run as we can. With our new decorated sky, maybe other weird things have happened out there. We'll tell Newt and Alby about this tonight. Don't know how it helps, but at least we know now where the shuck Grievers go." […] Thomas sat and stared, waiting for Minho to make a move. Several minutes passed in silence and Thomas realized his friend must be as fascinated as he was." (35.35)
In all this staring, neither of them realized that it was the exit they'd been searching for?
"Life in the Glade might not be sweet livin', but at least it's safe. Plenty of food, protection from the Grievers…" (32.61)
There's a certain amount of security that comes from routine. Although life in captivity isn't optimal, it can have its benefits. They aren't dealing with the Flare, after all.