Themes in Maze Runner

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Themes in Maze Runner
The main theme that comes out clearly for me in the book is memory and identity. This theme runs throughout and applies to all characters who are sent to the Glade. James Dashner brings this out clearly by using teenage vocabulary in the book. All Gladers lose their memories before being put in the box. Thomas memory loss is the worst of them all. He tries hard to remember who he is and why he has come to Glade. Throughout the novel, Thomas makes the recovery of his memory and true identity one of his main goals. The novel reads, ‘and yet he didn’t know where he came from, or how he’d gotten inside the dark lift, or who his parents were…’ (Chapter 1, page 2).In the process, he is faced with questions of self-worth and identity. He starts to question himself if really people are the sum of their memories and experiences in the past or one’s identity can exist regardless of present and past experiences. He wonders why he is in Glades. At first, thinking that Glades is a prison, he wonders whether he had been engaged in criminal activities that landed him there. Newt at the end of the novel concludes that regardless of one’s past identity, they become different. This suggests that a person is not the sum total of their past experiences and memories.
The Gladers have however not lost all their memories as highlighted in the novel. Their memories are instead suppressed deep in their minds, and these still determine their behaviors and feelings.

For instance, Thomas feels connected to Teresa immediately they meet and feels he can trust her despite her being a stranger. Later on, it is revealed that Thomas and Teresa had a close relationship before they both lost their memories. The novel thus suggests that personal relationships are so deeply rooted within people that they cannot be forgotten. It also suggests that people are defined by their present rather than the past. Despite their dark past, Thomas and Teresa who had helped design the Maze are presently focused on helping the Gladers escape. This is evidenced by the quote, ‘he couldn’t leave a friend to die, even someone as cranky as Alby’ (Chapter 18, page 120).
As most of the characters try to regain their memories and know their true identities, some don’t wish to fully recover the memories of their past experiences. Those that have been subjected to the change have seen traces of memories of their past and get devastated at them. Their past lives hurt them and leave them withdrawn and depressed. Ben sees Thomas past identity and tries to kill him while Alby loses his ability to lead. Thomas finally uses the glimpses of his painful memories to help the others escape from the Maze. This symbolizes that there are people who need to forget their past experiences so as not to despair and to move forward with life. Others however never lose hope despite their past and learn from their past mistakes in dealing with the present. This to me is a great lesson. In life, one needs to discover themselves. Those who despair quickly need to forget their unpleasant past so that they do not affect their future. On the other hand, those who do not easily give up should keep in memory past unpleasant experiences to help make the present and future better.
Works Cited
Dashner, James. The Maze Runner. Chicken House. 2013.