ENG3UA The Marrow Thieves and Maze Runner Comparative Essay

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Aurelis and Petrushkina 1 Alannah Aurelis and Sophie Petrushkina Mrs, Vella ENG 3UA 31 March 2021 Survival is innately difficult, much less in a dystopian world. In Dimaline’s The Marrow Thieves and Wes Ball’s The Maze Runner the strength of relationships between characters ensures the survival of the group, by building a strong community despite the struggle with developing a sense of identity and experiencing a loss of innocence. The integrity of each character is questioned throughout the two plots because of the dystopian society and its challenges. This individualistic battle with identity causes a forced maturity through a sacrifice of virtues. While battling with these factors, a sense of community must be established to ensure survival. Frenchie from Dimaline’s The Marrow Thieves and Thomas in Wes Ball’s The Maze Runner demonstrate that forming strong relationships can result in a loss of innocence that increases the likelihood of survival.Being that Frenchie is the youngest in his blood- bonded family he was more protected resulting in an abundance of ignorance in his younger years. This made it difficult for him to develop into his role as a protector and hunter in his adopted-family. At Frenchie’s awakening he ponders “If they were embarrassed for me, no one made a motion or mouthed a reproach. They just let me be broken, because soon I wouldn’t be anymore. Eventually, I wouldn’t be alone, either. Any maybe tomorrow I’d wake up and find myself closer to home” (Dimaline 17). Being young and new to the adopted family Frenchie struggles with being integrated, but Miigwans kindness and willingness to help makes Frenchie’s transition more bearable both mentally and physically. His union with his adopted-family gives him people to trust and the comfort in knowing that everyone is always looking out for each other. As a leader or protector in his adopted-family, Frenchie starts to become aware of the horrors that the family is exposed to. He struggles with accepting the harm that is done to those he cares for and loves. Travis pleads “‘Come on now! Don’t be stupid, kid! We can get out of here. Let’s go! Come on, kid! I didn’t mean it! It’s nothing personal!’ Frenchie continues ‘I

Aurelis and Petrushkina 2 heard him whine a little at the end of his plea. But then, maybe it was just the wind. I pulled the trigger and the wind stopped blowing’” (Dimaline 137). Up until now Frenchie has not come across traitors or explicitly seen death and this disheartens Frenchie when he loses RiRi, someone he cares for deeply resulting in him shooting and killing Travis. This is a major portrayal of loss of innocence that leaves Frenchie with more awareness and protection of his adopted-family. He is willing and able to do anything to help them all survive. Similarly, In The Maze Runner Thomas is the Greenie for a while and struggles with his maturity and finding his place. Being a Greenie, all of the boys make an effort to help Thomas become aware of and understand all of the danger. Unfortunately, Thomas is too inquisitive for their submissive way of living. Newt explains “But when those other boys started coming up, one after the other, he saw the truth. And he learned that the most important thing is that we all have each other. Because we're all in this together” (Ball’s The Maze Runner ). At this point Newt explains that all of the Gladers must work together, fulfilling their roles to create a self-sustaining society and look out for each other. He tries to differ Thomas from messing with their system that is currently working seamlessly. Similarly, Miigwan looks out for Frenchie and helps him get integrated and succeed in his roles in his adopted-family. At this point Thomas has more experience and creates strong relationships that drive his decisions and actions. He is willing to put his life on the line to save the life of those he cares for. Minho exclaims forcefully “I think in all the time we've been here, no one's ever killed a Griever before. When I turned tail and ran, this dumb shank, stayed behind to help Alby. Look, I don't know if he's brave or stupid. But whatever it is, we need more of it. I say we make him a Runner” (Ball’s The Maze Runner ). After running into the maze to try to save Alby, Thomas ends up killing a Griever and returns to the glade safely with Minho and Alby. Thomas’ bravery and his closeness to Alby allow him to be inquisitive and find a way for the gladers to get out of the maze. Comparably, after Frenchie witnesses the death of RiRi he is filled with bravery and a desire to protect his adopted-family. In Conclusion, it can be noted that Frenchie and Thomas are caring individuals who’s strong beliefs drive their actions. The relationships they form with leaders and young ones of the group force them to go through a loss of

Aurelis and Petrushkina 3 innocence which helps them to be more aware and better prepared, thus increasing their chance of survival. Dimaline’s The Marrow Thieves ’s Miigwan and Wes Ball’s The Maze Runner ’s Alby showcase two important identities of leadership, wisdom and superiority, which serve the community through individual relationships to ensure survival. Through Dimaline’s The Marrow Thieves , Miigwan, a middle-aged Anishnaabe man and the leader of the group, guides and teaches the young about their history and identity, to help the group understand their reasons and means to survive. “Stories about men and women who promised themselves to God only and then took whatever they wanted from the children, especially at night. Stories about a book that was like a vacuum, used to suck the language right out of your lungs. And I didn't have time to share them, not now” (Dimaline 107). The difficult experiences and rich history must be passed down as a way of understanding for the community, which must be passed down as a means of understanding for the importance of their survival. This role is placed upon Miigwan as the leader, through story and with his credibility, he struggles how to do this to the younger generation. This information gives an understanding of the culture’s identity and connects them together as a community. Miigwan strives to keep the group together in order to ensure survival by using his superiority as a reason for his group to listen and follow his directions. “I wanted to throw up. I felt the bile burn at the base of my throat. This was my family. I didn’t want to know all this. I couldn’t take it anymore. ‘Stop. Please’” (Dimaline 99). Although it is challenging to convey the difficult history to others, as the leader Miigwan must do this in order for others to understand the roots and reasons for the running and means for survival. No matter the circumstances and repercussions, no matter how uncomfortable it may make Frenchie in this situation, now others can understand what holds the group together as a community, and the identity that they carry as Indigenous survivors. In comparison to Miigwan’s leadership through seniority and superiority, The Maze Runner ’s Alby demonstrates leadership through experience and credibility, resulting in the common goal of the survival of their closely-bonded communities. The Maze Runner ‘s Alby, the leader of the Gladers, has authority over much of what

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