21/10/12
The Maze Runner by James Dashner
75-95

1) In this section of the book, Thomas wakes up after a terrible night of no sleep after Ben's attack. He goes to his first training lesson with the Keeper of the Bloodhouse. Keeper is a term for a person who is in charge of each station of jobs in the Glade. The Bloodhouse is where they raise and slaughter animals. Thomas doesn't think he can stomach working there, because the slaughtering is too bloody. When he was done in the Bloodhouse, Thomas was wandering around when a Runner appeared through the West Door, much earlier than usual. The boy collapsed, and Thomas called for help. The boy's name was Minho, and was the Keeper of the Runners. Minho told Alby and Thomas that he had found a dead Griever, a rare sight, and they made a plan to go see it the next day. After this excitement, Thomas went to rest, but was interrupted by Chuck who told him that Ben was still alive, the arrow just missing his brain. He was to be Banished that night. Later, a gathering was held near the South Door where Ben was put in front of everyone from the Glade, and found guilty of trying to kill Thomas. The Banishment continued with each one of the ten Keepers grabbing a long metal pole, attaching the collar at the end of the pole to Ben's neck. As this happened, Ben began to go crazy, begging for mercy and forgiveness. As the doors closed for the night, Ben was pushed out of the Glade, and locked out, despite his pleading. The pole was pulled back just as the doors closed, and Ben was officially Banished, a fate that everyone feared. Thomas felt bad for he was the reason of this Banishment, and found himself crying.

2) "With one last violent effort, Ben was finally able to twist his neck in the circle of leather so that his whole body turned to face he Gladers. Thomas couldn't believe he was still looking upon a human being-the madness in Ben's eyes, the phlegm flying form his mouth, the pale skin stretched taut across his veins and bones. he looked as alien as anything Thomas could imagine.
          'Hold!" Alby shouted.
         Ben screamed then, without pause, a sound so piercing that Thomas covered his ears. It was a bestial, lunatic cry, surely ripping the boy's vocal cords to shreds. At the last second, the front Keeper somehow  loosened the larger pole from the piece attached to Ben and yanked it back into the Glade, leaving the boy to his Banishment. Ben's final screams were cut off when the walls closed with a terrible boom.
         Thomas squeezed his eyes shut and was surprised to feel tears trickling down his cheeks" (Dashner, 95.) I believe that this quote is important because it shows how animalistic the Glader lifestyle is. This quote finished off the section that I read, and the ending shows a little bit more about Thomas than you know yet. After you read this section, you see that Thomas is actually a very kindhearted person. Although Ben tried to kill him, Thomas feels sorry for him and his Banishment punishment. One could infer from this discovery that Thomas might have to make a judgement later in the story, and his kindheartedness will affect this.

3) Personally, I have a couple connection to the text that I read. One of these connections would be the kindheartedness of Thomas. I believe that if I was put in his position, I would also feel responsible for Ben's cruel punishment. As the Banishment took place, I would probably have feelings similar to Thomas's. Also, it was said that Thomas wasn't fond of the Bloodhouse where they slaughtered animals. Even though I don't mind blood, I wouldn't want to spend every day killing animals with blood everywhere either.