Journal #1 The Maze Runner

The Maze Runner

Pg. 112 ''Five feet. Four feet. Three. Two. Thomas knew he had no choice. He moved. Forward. He squeezed past the connecting rods at the last second and stepped into the Maze."

    At this moment most people would be struck with a fear similar to 1000 kilojoules of electricity running through your body, paralyzing you where you stand. Instead, Thomas defies the natural human impulse and steps forward into the maze. I chose this quote because I think Thomas' actions are inspiring and instructive to us.

    In this quote I can see the slim percent of our population that have the means to make a difference. When everyone else fails they stay strong and continue to believe in themselves. I can see both and absence and a presence of this in my life. In some moments I know exactly what I want to do, and in others I seem unable to make a decision. Thomas, fights continually against both the Creators and the Gladers and somehow manages to never give up hope. For example, when he is stuck outside the walls, instead of breaking down and becoming useless he begins to formulate a plan that would save Alby's life, as well as Minho's and his own. I believe all great leaders have this quality. One can examine those from the second world war even. The admirable soldiers continue to fight for their freedom and peace, even though their comrades were dieing and it seemed like they weren't advancing at all. Reading this passage allows us to evaluate ourselves and inspires us to make a change.

    In conclusion, this passage conveys the important message to never give up on oneself. It gives a valuable lesson in leadership, and causes us to improve our own personal qualities.

"The Perils of Indifference" and "The Lottery"

1)    "A Dangerous Absence of Emotion" - Elie Wiesel's original title implies the worst action humanity can take is inaction. Elie's explanation of the reasoning behind this inaction is indifference or, an absence of emotion. Indifference is "a strange and unnatural state in which the lines blur between light and darkness, dusk and dawn, crime and punishment, cruelty and compassion, good and evil." (pg. 443) Wiesel proves this by providing examples like The Final Solution, and the St. Louis tragedy. One can further justify Wiesel's argument by using examples such as the Rwandan Genocide, and discrimination against the First Nations of Canada and African-Americans in the United States. In conclusion, one can agree that the worst response, is no response at all.

2)    The conclusion to Shirley Jackson's short story "The Lottery" is shocking in many ways. It's gruesome ideals horrifies the reader and immediately turns them against the reasoning of the book. Yet, time and again research has proven that when put under pressure a human being will always conform to the group. This idea is also shared in William Golding's "Lord of the Flies". In Golding's novel a group of typical and rational young school boys crash on an abandoned Island. As the story progresses the group of boys steady conform to the irrational leadership of a savagely violent child named Jack. The disturbing novel affirms the conclusion of "The Lottery" and furthermore sets the reader upon opposing the discomforting logic.

3)    Elie Wiesel's speech relates to Shirley Jackson's short story "The Lottery" in two specific ways. Firstly, the most prominent connection is between Wiesel's adamant statement on indifference, and the emotions of the townspeople as the follow through with their gruesome and ironically named "Lottery". One could argue against this connection by saying that "they're talking of giving up the Lottery'' (pg. 231) but the weakness to this argument is in the actions of the people. The mood of the entire crowd personifies not only indifference - as if the lottery is a bothersome ordeal that will be over soon - but also conformity.
       This leads to the second connection. In Wiesel's speech there is an underlying message that warns about the dangers of conformity. She points out countless examples of conformity such as the Final Solution when the world stood by and did nothing. Not only indifferent, but unified in a sheepish inability to act. Likewise, the townsmen are equally horrifying in their unity. The best example of this is found in the repulsive conclusion when the crowd stones Mrs. Hutchinson to death. In conclusion, one can agree that Elie Wiesel's "The Perils of Indifference", and Shirley Jackson's "The Lottery'' are directly relatable in the issue's of human indifference and conformity.

A Daring Rescue

      I walked in the door and immediately knew something was wrong. It seemed quiet, too quiet. I pulled out my weapon, the holster silently clanging against my leg. Taking a few steps forward I saw the first assailant. Sending two fists flying faster than a speeding bullet, I engaged and disposed of the adversary. The first punch dislocating his jaw, and the second finishing him for good. Moving stealthily through the building, I searched for the second man. The police had warned me that he would have a hostage with him. Sighting the pair, I crept to well positioned vantage point. Her beauty hit me like a one ton brick. Time stood still, and she took my breath away. She was the cats meow. The apple of my eye. Slipping into the shadows, I stalked closer. Pouncing like a tiger I viciously attacked the man. A violent odor surrounded him like a plague and I gaged back vomit. He threw a punch, his fist catching my shoulder and causing me to bite the dust. I jumped up and danced away from him. My shoulder ached furiously. His fist had felt like a freight train. Charging towards him I punched his lights out for good. The woman swayed unsteadily on her feet, and promptly fainted into my arms. I marched proudly out of the building, and recieved a hearty applause from the surrounding police. "Well done, Sir" the captain said.
      "That was easy as pie" I said. I handed the woman off into the ambulance and slid my card into her pocket. Getting into the my waiting escort car, I gave one last wave, and drove away.

The Power of the Mind

      I sighed in frustration as, yet again, the spoon snapped back into it's original shape. The effort of that last try left my brain pounding. The blood began to rush to my face in embarrassment as my teacher began a long-winded lecture on how telekinesis required perfect concentration. With my cheeks flushed cherry red, I stumbled over an apology. In a gruff voice, he said "try again". Groaning with dread, I picked the spoon up again, half wish I could just bend the annoying piece of metal with my hands, and half wishing I had the skill to completely change the state of the solid to a liquid or gas. But I guess all telekinesis masters started somewhere. Drawing my power together, I sent it barreling at the spoon. A flash of light, and the spoon was mine. I could move it anyway I wanted. I felt it's every imperfection. With gentle tenderness, I eased it into a "A" shape, and slowly progressed to an "B". I continued going through the alphabet until "K", when suddenly with a sharp crack the spoon shattered into pieces. Metal fragments shot everywhere. Dismayed at the destruction of the spoon, but happy with my success, I looked to my teacher for approval. Grunting, he dismissed me from the lessons. Nearly shouting with relief, I ran off to take a nap before my next lesson began.
      I absentmindedly steered through the hallways of the secret Academy, daydreaming about my past. I had first joined when my gifts had been discovered by my startled and suddenly disinterested parents when I had accidentally made every dish in the kitchen explode. They pawned me off as quick as possible, wanting no part in my further upbringing. The masters at the Academy had told me I had great potential and so far, I was full-filling their predictions. I was now two years into my studies, and had seventeen left. The extensive training prepared those blessed with the Power of the Mind to protect the citizens of Earth. Our gift was not the only kind of power, but it has proved to be the most effective through hundreds of generations. The advantage of mind control is not only the obvious strategy of controlling your adversary, but also having the ability to literally control every animate and inanimate object. Distance is no issue in the realm of the mind. These qualities make us infinitely powerful. So much so, that the masters will forever watch over us once we graduate.
      I was now rounding the last corner and head of me, I saw the plain grey door to my bedroom. I sent a burst of energy at the door handle and opened the door as I neared. Slipping out of my dark brown coarse training garment I donned a velvety, exceedingly comfortable sleeping robe. Sitting down on my mediation mat I entered a semi-sleeping, semi-trance state that would restore my energy many times the rate normal sleep would. The room started to disappeared slowly, first colour, then everything blacking out.