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Motifs are recurring structures, contrasts, or literary devices that can help to develop and inform the text’s major themes.
Sounds
A combination of unnerving sounds helps establish the strange, often dangerous setting of the novel and creates an atmosphere in which sensory input becomes psychological warfare. As Thomas is Initially deprived of his sight in the darkness of the box, the sound of grinding metal introduces him to his odd new world. He doesn’t spend much time in the Glade before the clacking of the beetle blades lets him know that the Gladers are always being watched. The grinding stone of the closing Doors provides an effective reminder of what happens when a Glader doesn’t follow the rules. The Grievers’ many sounds, including whirring, clicking, and death-like moans, serve as an eerie announcement that these horrid creatures are approaching before they can be seen. As the Grievers pursue Thomas on the wall, the sound of splitting rock inspires sheer terror. The many machine-like sounds in the Glade stand in contrast to the sounds of birds and farm animals, reinforcing its unnatural and manufactured state. These terrible sounds creep into the Gladers’ psyches and ultimately serve as a method of control to keep the Gladers afraid and in line.
Found family
Torn from their homes and lacking even memories to sustain them, the Gladers develop strong attachments that resemble familial structures. As the Greenie, or newest member of the society, Thomas doesn’t initially have a place in the family. When young Chuck is assigned to look after Thomas, he takes on the role of Thomas’s first friend and quickly becomes more like a little brother. Chuck’s constant chatter, practical jokes, and idolization of Thomas reinforce his annoying little brother role. Thomas’s protective instinct toward the younger boy, his anger toward those who have ripped Chuck from his home, and his promise to get Chuck back to his true family illustrate his willingness to step into the big brother role. As the newbie, Thomas also looks up to and learns from Minho, suggesting that he sees the Runner as a big brother of his own. Though he knows that he and the other Gladers have been forced together in this environment, Thomas wants to belong. He feels compelled to be a Runner to serve this found family to the best of his ability, and he puts his life on the line to protect them as if they were his own kin.
Self-sacrifice
Acts of self-sacrifice serve to illustrate the personality traits of several different characters throughout the novel. Shortly after Thomas arrives in the Glade, he risks his safety to help Alby and Minho as the walls close. Though he breaks the Number One Rule, his heroic act of self-sacrifice shows his desire to protect his newfound friends. Gally, haunted by traces of memory of the real world from the Changing, sacrifices himself to a Griever rather than face the potential of a return home. His self-sacrifice is motivated by fear. When Thomas sacrifices himself to a Griever’s sting to go through the Changing and access his memories, he’s motivated by a desire to help the others solve the Maze. Alby would rather die than go home, but when he sacrifices himself to the Grievers, he’s also motivated by a desire to save his friends. Chuck, an unlikely hero, commits the ultimate act of self-sacrifice when he jumps in front of Gally’s knife to save Thomas. By sacrificing his life, Chuck repays Thomas, his big brother figure, for watching out for him, and he helps to ensure that the remaining Gladers will have Thomas to guide them into an uncertain future.
