maze runner thesis

The Maze Runner

James dashner, everything you need for every book you read..

Memory and Identity

In The Maze Runner , all the characters lose their memories before arriving in the Glade . Without these memories, Thomas loses his sense of self. As such, recovering his memories becomes one of his main goals. During his struggle to discover his identity, Thomas questions whether people are the sum total of their memories and past experiences or if we have essential natures that exist regardless of our experiences. For example, early in the…

Stability and Order vs. Change and Chaos

Throughout the novel, a tension exists between the benefits of order for maintaining a self-sustaining society and the necessary changes that must occur for the Gladers to survive the Maze . Thrust into this mysterious and dangerous world, the boys use order and rules as a way of preventing panic and despair from taking hold of their lives. With a rigid system of laws, a well-defined leadership hierarchy, and daily work assignments, the boys set…

In The Maze Runner , many characters risk their lives for the sake of saving those around them in various acts of self-sacrifice. Thomas risks his own life, entering into the Maze to save Alby and Minho . In contrast to Thomas’s act of bravery, Minho leaves behind the two of them in order to save his own life. Like Thomas, Gally sacrifices himself on the night of the Grievers’ first raid so that no…

Like many books in the young adult genre, The Maze Runner can be interpreted as an extended metaphor for the challenges of growing up. In a metaphor for birth, all the kids are brought into the Glade with no possessions, memories, or identity. Even the metal box from which they come appears to symbolize the womb. To make the metaphor more obvious, Newt and Chuck both tell Thomas that most Gladers spend their first weeks…

Throughout the novel, the Gladers struggle to maintain hope despite the nightmarish and horrific nature of their circumstances. The three main leaders, Alby , Newt , and Minho , each have their own views about the best way for maintaining hope. Alby believes a system of laws and punishments will give the Gladers stability and the hope necessary for their continued search for an escape. In contrast, Newt thinks that work is the only thing…

Gender plays a small but significant role in the novel. For two years, the Glade consists of boys only, until Teresa arrives the day after Thomas . Since the boys have never encountered a girl before, Alby senses that there is a risk that some of the boys may rape Teresa, so he has guards protect her. Likewise, when Teresa first arrives, the boys catcall her, treating her like an object rather than a human…

The Maze Runner

By james dashner, the maze runner study guide.

The Maze Runner is the first book in a dystopian science-fiction trilogy aimed at the young adult reader. The story follows Thomas , a teenage boy, who awakens in an elevator with no memory of the past except his own name. When the doors open he finds himself in the Glade, a large open living area surrounded by stone walls. There are other children living in the Glad who also have no idea why they were brought there. Every morning in the Glade the stone walls are opened, revealing a maze. Every evening these doors are closed again. Every 30 days a new boy arrives.

The Maze Runner was written by James Dashner following the success of The Jimmy Fincher Saga . Although his publisher had pressed Dashner to write another book in the series, Dashner decided to try to reach a larger market with new material. He conceived of a story in which children are led into a large maze full of monsters and creatures to have their minds studied. The series has been critically well-received. Fox Searchlight Pictures has optioned the book for a film although the project has not yet been green lighted.

The Maze Runner Questions and Answers

The Question and Answer section for The Maze Runner is a great resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss the novel.

How do the graders ask the creators for something that they need

They wrote a note and put it in the box.

Thomas was surprised. "You mean, you can make requests? Supplies you want?" Why would the people who'd sent them there help so much? "Of course we can. Just drop a note in the Box, and there she goes....

There ends up being a twist with who the boy in the hooded sweatshirt is. Who is the boy and what do you think that the boy will do? Explain why your prediction makes sense.

The boy im the hooded shirt was Gally. We can predict that he will try to kill Thomas. My prediction makes sense because he tried to kill Thomas in the glade.

IF Thomas is correct about his suggestion at the end of chapter 50, what does it tell you about the Creators?

Thomas says that inside the Griever Hole is a computer and that plugging the code into the computer will disarm the Grievers and open an exit.

Study Guide for The Maze Runner

The Maze Runner study guide contains a biography of James Dashner, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis.

• About The Maze Runner
• The Maze Runner Summary
• Character List

Lesson Plan for The Maze Runner

• About the Author
• Study Objectives
• Common Core Standards
• Introduction to The Maze Runner
• Relationship to Other Books
• Bringing in Technology
• Notes to the Teacher
• Related Links
• The Maze Runner Bibliography

Wikipedia Entries for The Maze Runner

• Introduction
• Development

Experience the Joy of Learning

• Just Great DataBase
• Study Guides
• The Maze Runner

The Maze Runner Essays

Connections between The Maze Runner and Lost Memories Both my book, The Maze Runner, and the poem, Lost Memories, have something to do with lost memories. The main character Thomas awoke in a lift. He does not remember anything. The poems said "My mind went blank. " This is similar to what Thomas...

Thomas, an Incidental Hero A hero is a person of distinguished courage or ability, who sacrifices himself for other people, and leads people through difficult situations. In the book, The Maze Runner, there were many heroes but Thomas was the most heroic character. Even though Thomas was a new...

Maze Runner is a science fiction book by James Dashner. It takes place in a testing facility that is a giant maze in a post apocalyptic world. The main character Thomas' greatest fear is being stung by a griever. Grievers are large half mechanic half slug monster with mechanical arms and if it...

Maze runner Essay By: Brandon Stewart In the maze runner the world was hit by a massive solar flare which ruined a lot of the land on Earth. Because of this there was not enough food and supplies for everyone to have enough to eat and survive so the government created a disease called the “flare”...

?The Maze Runner Character Changes Summary: “When Thomas wakes up in the lift, the only thing he can remember is his first name. His memory is blank. But he’s not alone. When the lift’s doors open, Thomas finds himself surrounded by kids who welcome him to the Glade—a large, open expanse...

? Fabian Foerst January 10, 2014 6 set Three by Three THE MAZE RUNNER I read the maze runner by James Dashner for my second quarter independent reading book. This is the first of four books and each book has the same main character. I really enjoyed reading the book and I would give it a rating of...

1 185 words

October 11, 2013 Period 1 Maze Runner Book Report Thomas is the narrator and protagonist of the story. He arrives in the maze with no knowledge of who he is or was. He only remembers his name and nothing else about his life. Thomas proves to be brave and clever even though he only has a very...

Next comes the events in the rising action. Chuck starts to tell Thomas information about the Glade. He says once a month, another boy is pulled up to the Glade in the Box (elevator). Every boy is assigned a job and has certain tasks to perform so they survive. He accidentally slips out how the...

The Maze Runner by James Dashner, this book is about a boy named Thomas being brought to a completely different place with no recollection of his past, his family, but only his first name. Trapped behind walls (the Glade), they (Gladers) would need to somehow solve an unsolvable maze to escape...

Thomas is brought into a place known as the Glade, with no memories except of his name. He and other teenage boys call themselves Gladers, and have made a community in which each is assigned to a task belonging to different departments headed by a Keeper. The Glade is surrounded by a gigantic Maze...

Maria Leal October 16, 2014 5th period Book report #1 The mace runner / James dasher Publisher: Delacorte Press year: 2009 pages: 376 Genre: Young-adult, science fiction, post-apocalyptic Protagonist Thomas is brought into a place known as the Glade, with no memories of his past life except of his...

“If you ain’t scared… you ain’t human.” — James Dashner, The Maze Runner “You are the shuckiest shuck faced shuck in the world!” — James Dashner, The Maze Runner “Shouldn't someone give a pep talk or something?" Minho asked, pulling Thomas's attention away from Alby. "Go ahead," Newt replied...

2 460 words

“The Maze Runner” is the first book of a trilogy written by American author, James Dashner. Set in the dystopian, post-apocalyptic future, sixteen year old Thomas wakes up remembering nothing about himself except his name. His memory has been completely wiped, only retaining basic memories, as...

2 925 words

The Maze Runner is considered to be one of the most popular stories with teenagers and young people in general. Both a book and a film are imbued with a certain number of issues that the author tried to bring up. The following themes are ones that are present throughout all of the time...

1 507 words

“If you ain't scared… you ain't human.” — Page 45 — “You are the hucksterism shuck faced shuck in the world!” — — “Shouldn't someone give a pep talk or something?" Minho asked, pulling Thomas's attention away from Alby."Go ahead," Newt replied.Minho nodded and faced the crowd. "Be careful," he...

The Maze Runner is a young adult novel set in a post-apocalyptic world. The story begins in a dark metal elevator, where a teenage boy awakens with no real memories other than the fact that his name is Thomas. When the elevator stops and the doors open, Thomas finds himself surrounded by teenage...

1 067 words

A boy finds himself in a dark metal elevator with the sounds of chains and pulleys around him. The smell of burnt oil, combined with the motion of the elevator, nauseates him. He has no recollection of how he came to be in the elevator, but knows that his name is Thomas. In fact, his name is the...

Still confused, and with the large group of boys staring at him, Thomas assesses his surroundings. He notes that “they stood in a vast courtyard several times the size of a football field, surrounding by four large walls made of gray stone and covered in spots with thick ivy” (5). He also notes...

Home — Essay Samples — Entertainment — The Maze Runner — Literature review: The Maze Runner

Literature Review: The Maze Runner

• Categories: Literature Review The Maze Runner

About this sample

Words: 544 |

Published: Jan 4, 2019

Words: 544 | Page: 1 | 3 min read

Works Cited

• Dashner, J. (2009). The Maze Runner. Delacorte Press.
• The Maze Runner. (n.d.). In Goodreads. Retrieved from https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6186357-the-maze-runner
• The Maze Runner Summary. (n.d.). In SparkNotes. Retrieved from https://www.sparknotes.com/lit/maze-runner/summary/
• Campbell, J., & Moyers, B. D. (2018). The Power of Myth. Anchor.
• Hero's Journey. (n.d.). In The Hero's Journey. Retrieved from http://www.thewritersjourney.com/hero's_journey.htm
• Vogler, C. (2007). The Writer's Journey: Mythic Structure for Writers (3rd ed.). Michael Wiese Productions.
• Foster-Harris, W. (1993). The Basic Patterns of Plot. University of Oklahoma Press.
• Propp, V. (1984). Morphology of the Folktale (2nd ed.). University of Texas Press.
• Hero's Journey: The 12 Steps. (n.d.). In Mythcreants. Retrieved from https://mythcreants.com/blog/the-heros-journey-the-12-steps/
• The Hero's Journey in Film: The Maze Runner. (n.d.). In Prezi. Retrieved from https://prezi.com/tadnnfmyg0l3/the-heros-journey-in-film-the-maze-runner/

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Screen Rant

The maze runner ending & the real experiment explained.

2014's movie adaptation of The Maze Runner ends with some major reveals about Thomas and the experiments, setting up the franchise's future.

• The Maze Runner's ending is action-packed with twists and reveals, setting up the future of the franchise.
• Thomas, Teresa, and the Gladers escape the maze and uncover the truth behind WCKD's experiments.
• Gally's unexpected appearance, Ava Paige's faked death, and Phase Two tease lead to a dramatic conclusion.

The Maze Runner 's ending is packed with action, twists, and reveals as Thomas and the Gladers escape from the Maze and the future of the franchise is put into motion. 20th Century's adaptation of James Dashner's novel of the same name came out in 2014 and followed Dylan O'Brien's Thomas as he wakes up in the Glade and searches for answers regarding the maze and his past. His life and that of the other Gladers changes with the arrival of Teresa (Kaya Scodelario), who is the first girl to be sent to the location after all this time.

Together, Thomas and Teresa push the rest of the Gladers to fight for their freedom and escape their seemingly endless captivity. This comes with pushback from Gally (Will Poulter), while the new friends Thomas has made - Maze Runner characters Newt (Thomas Brodie-Sangster) , Minho (Ki Hong Lee), and Chuck (Blake Cooper) - follow his lead. Following battles with Grievers and a race through the maze, the Gladers emerge to what they believe to be safety. The Maze Runner 's ending comes with major revelations about the maze's purpose, the state of the world, and the setup for future Maze Runner movies .

How Old Every Actor Is In The Maze Runner Compared To Their Character

Wckd's full maze experiment plan & flare virus connection explained, a video from wckd reveals the true reason for the maze.

Upon escaping from the maze, Thomas and the other Gladers are shocked to find a laboratory littered with dead bodies. They soon find a video recording from Ava Paige, an official at World Catastrophe Killzone Department, better known as WCKD. Paige fills in the Gladers that they have been part of an experiment the company has conducted in the aftermath of a devastating solar flare that hit Earth creating famine, fire, and the death of billions . The solar flare brought about a disease that transformed into the Flare Virus , which transforms anyone it infects into Cranks, extremely aggressive zombie-like individuals.

This new knowledge comes after Thomas already unlocked his memories of his past. He and Teresa used to work for WCKD and were responsible for monitoring the test subjects in the maze experiments, like Newt, Minho, and others. However, it is not until they get to the laboratory and see Paige's video that Thomas and the others realize that they were all test subjects to try and create a cure for the Flare Virus . WCKD's plan was to test individuals who were immune to the virus and try to find a cure based on their unique or different brain activity.

Just as the group begins to comprehend all the vital information that has come their way, they begin to see soldiers attacking the laboratory, leading Paige to pull a gun and point it at her head. Her last words are, "Remember, WCKD is good," before she pulls the trigger. The video comes to an end and Thomas finds Paige's body on the floor of her office. They are then faced with an open door and a chance for freedom, although more tests are sure to come.

Maze Runner Originally Rejected Dylan O'Brien (For A Weird Reason)

Where thomas & the others go after maze runner's ending, they fly over the scorch to a new destination.

The final moments of The Maze Runner 's ending revolve around a group of masked and armed soldiers as they rush into the lab and escort the Gladers out. They emerge on the sandy dunes that surround the maze and lab and are taken away on a helicopter. However, The Maze Runner never identifies who these men are or where everyone is going now that they are free from WCKD's maze. All they are told from one unmasked soldier is that they are safe and that "everything is going to change" now as they fly over a post-apocalyptic city landscape.

Where Thomas and the Gladers are going in The Maze Runner 's ending is directly connected to the plot of the sequel, Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials . They might think that they are free from WCKD's grasp, but the reality is that this is all part of the continued experimentation and monitoring that the company wants. These soldiers that the Gladers are with work for WCKD , and they are all simply being transported to a new location after leaving Site A. So, even though Thomas and the rest feel safe, whether they are further depends on whether WCKD is, indeed, good.

Why Paige Fakes Her Death

It's all part of her elaborate ruse.

One of the final twists in The Maze Runner 's ending is that Ava Paige is not dead after she faked her demise. This is revealed as Paige emerges at the head of a table with other members of WCKD claiming the incredible success of the Maze Trials, even noting her surprise with how many survivors there were. However, the decision to fake her death in the first place is questionable. Paige's faked death and video at large are arguably unnecessary , as all the same information could come after Thomas and the other survivors are "rescued."

The best explanation for Ava Paige's faked death is that she believes it is a necessary part of evaluating the test subjects further. Going through the trouble of faking her death and the entire laboratory attack is overboard if her ultimate goal is just to get the Gladers to Phase Two. Her curiosity about how Thomas and Teresa specifically would react to seeing her death could have influenced her decision. Furthermore, there's a chance she simply thought that the best way to communicate her message that "WCKD is good" would be through her apparent willingness to die for their cause.

How Did Gally Follow The Group Out Of The Maze?

A minor detail confirms what gally did.

The sudden appearance of Gally in The Maze Runner 's ending comes as a shock to the Gladers and audiences once he appears in the lab. When Gally is first shown, he is revealed to be holding a gun in his right hand and another device in his left, which he drops. The brief time spent holding the second device makes it a blink-and-you'll-miss-it detail, but it is confirmed that Gally is holding one of the keys from the Grievers . These keys open doors in the maze and are how the other Gladers managed to escape and enter the lab.

The big question that comes from this is how exactly did Gally get a hold of one of these keys. He was left behind in the Glades, meaning he had to travel through the entire maze by himself. The injection on his neck from the Grievers indicate that he encountered one of the last ones that were alive and took it. Since it took the entire strength of the other Gladers to defeat the Grievers they encountered, its possible that Gally's key came from one of the monsters that the others killed.

What Happens To The Glades After The Experiment?

The books provide an answer.

One question that rises from The Maze Runner 's ending is what happens to the Glades now that the experiment is over. The test subjects are shown leaving an empty facility, but WCKD is then shown to have seemingly re-established operations at the base. However, WCKD does not relaunch the Maze Trials portion of the experiments. The film series never revisits the mazes , but the books do. During The Death Cure 's ending , Thomas and others re-enter the maze to find other Immunes as part of WCKD's (known as WICKED in the books) plan to restart the trials.

Although there are a number of ways The Maze Runner movies changed the books, what happened to the mazes might be somewhat similar. They could have remained in the world as built structures that have since become obsolete and non-operational. However, since the franchise never returned to the Glades, it is unconfirmed exactly what happened to the mazes next. Since this was not a focal point of future installments, though, the safe bet is that they ceased to have any importance.

There are four mazes confirmed to exist in the Maze Runner movie franchise.

Maze Runner's Phase Two Tease Sets Up The Scorch Trials

The sequel's story is teased by ava paige.

The Maze Runner 's ending directly sets up the second installment of the franchise, Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials , in a few ways. One of the biggest comes with Ava Paige's mention that the Maze Trials are complete and it is time for WCKD to start Phase Two of the experiments. The next part of the plan is directly explored in The Scorch Trials as Thomas, Teresa, and other survivors come to learn more about WCKD's experiments and the state of the world. The exact nature of Phase Two involved preparing the test subjects for harvest to collect more data.

How The Maze Runner's Ending Compares To The Book

The movie adapts the book's ending with a good amount of accuracy.

As with any book adaptation, The Maze Runner 's ending is not a completely direct recreation of James Dashner's novel, but the key aspects are retained. The biggest difference comes with the laboratory setting and Gally's presence. In the book, the Gladers find a lab full of scientists, including Ava, who are all very much alive. There is no video recording like in the movie, as the attack on the lab happens in real time as the soldiers look to save the Gladers. However, Ava does not die or fake her death as part of the experiment.

Gally still returns in The Maze Runner 's ending in the book, but it is indicated that he was directly brought to the lab by WICKED. He is being controlled by Ava and forced to try to kill Thomas. Chuck still dies as a result of this attempt, but Minho does not seemingly kill Gally with a spear . Thomas instead attacks Gally, and he is left behind as the rest of the Gladers escape. The survivors are then told about the Flare, WICKED's experiments, and more by one of the soldiers supposedly rescuing them.

While The Maze Runner does a moderately good job of getting the bones of Dashner's book into the movie adaptation, the differences are apparent. Whether the book or movie ending works better will likely depend on the viewer. In any case, The Maze Runner 's ending set up a great future for the book and movie versions of the story.

The Maze Runner

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Unraveling the Maze: Exploring the Ending of The Maze Runner

I n 2014, 20th Century Fox released “The Maze Runner,” an adaptation of James Dashner’s novel of the same name, which captivated audiences with its thrilling action and gripping storyline. The film follows protagonist Thomas, portrayed by Dylan O’Brien, as he navigates a mysterious maze alongside his fellow Gladers, searching for answers about their past and their purpose in the maze.

The Journey to Freedom

At the heart of “The Maze Runner” is the Gladers’ quest for freedom. Led by Thomas and Teresa, the group challenges the oppressive forces of the maze and the sinister organization known as WCKD. With the help of friends like Newt, Minho, and Chuck, they confront terrifying creatures known as Grievers and overcome numerous obstacles to escape their captivity.

Revelations and Twists

As the story unfolds, the Gladers uncover shocking truths about their existence and the world around them. They learn that they were part of a WCKD experiment designed to find a cure for the deadly Flare Virus, which has ravaged the planet. Thomas and Teresa, who were once employees of WCKD, realize their roles in monitoring the test subjects and seek redemption for their past actions.

A Desperate Escape

The climax of “The Maze Runner” sees the Gladers confronting WCKD’s leader, Ava Paige, and discovering the true nature of their captivity. Amidst chaos and gunfire, Paige sacrifices herself, leaving the Gladers to face an uncertain future. They are rescued by masked soldiers and airlifted to safety, but their newfound freedom comes with lingering questions and doubts.

The Setup for the Sequel

As the film concludes, the stage is set for the next chapter in the Maze Runner saga. The Gladers, believing they are finally free from WCKD’s grasp, are unaware that they are still pawns in a larger game. The promise of a new beginning is overshadowed by the ominous words of their rescuers: “Everything is going to change.” This tantalizing tease sets the tone for the sequel, “Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials.”

What is the significance of Ava Paige’s faked death?

Ava Paige’s apparent demise serves as a dramatic plot twist and underscores the manipulative tactics employed by WCKD. By faking her death, Paige seeks to control the narrative and maintain her authority over the Gladers, further blurring the lines between ally and adversary.

How does Gally reappear in the ending, and what does it signify?

Gally’s sudden reappearance in the climax adds an unexpected twist to the story and raises questions about his allegiance. His possession of a key from the Grievers hints at his survival in the maze and his potential collaboration with WCKD, setting the stage for future conflicts.

What happens to the Glades after the experiment concludes?

The fate of the Glades and its inhabitants remains uncertain, as the film does not provide definitive answers. However, the subsequent novels and films explore the aftermath of the experiment and its impact on the characters’ lives.

“The Maze Runner” delivers a thrilling conclusion filled with action, suspense, and revelations that pave the way for future installments. As Thomas and the Gladers embark on a new journey, audiences are left eagerly anticipating the next chapter in their quest for truth and freedom. With its gripping storyline and memorable characters, “The Maze Runner” captivates viewers and leaves them hungry for more.

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The YA dystopia craze died because it didn’t evolve

The Hunger Games kicked off an obsessive interest in dark teen dramas that died for reasons besides oversaturation

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Note: This essay on the Hunger Games phenomenon and the rise and fall of YA dystopias was originally published in 2021. It has been updated and republished due to the 2023 release of the prequel movie The Hunger Games: Songbirds & Snakes. .

The 2010s saw the rapid rise and equally rapid fall of the YA dystopian genre, with The Hunger Games and its followers dominating headlines and popular culture. It’s been argued that the dystopia boom was inspired by cynicism and anxiety in the wake of the 9/11 attacks , but for those of us who became teenagers in the YA dystopia-obsession era, the films in particular served a different function: They cultivated a distrust for the government, expressing and amplifying how millennials around the world were tired of tyrannical leaders.

The Hunger Games in particular helped popularize what had already become a thriving literary subgenre, with books from Lois Lowry’s 1993 novel The Giver to Scott Westerfeld’s Uglies series shaping the dystopian boom. And then the wave of Hunger Games copycats oversaturated the market and killed the fad — or so the popular story goes. Author Suzanne Collins calls back to it with her novel and now movie The Hunger Games: Songbirds & Snakes , but she’s unlikely to revive the subgenre, even if the movie turns out to be a hit. There are good reasons the YA dystopia boom ended, and they were built into its premises and execution all along.

The intensity of the fad certainly contributed to its end. In 2014 alone, four would-be blockbuster YA dystopian films hit theaters: The Hunger Games Mockingjay — Part 1, The Maze Runner, Divergent , and The Giver. But saturation isn’t enough to kill a genre, as the last decade’s rolling wave of new superhero films proves. The YA dystopian genre died because it didn’t evolve. Book after book and film after film laid out the same tropes, with the same types of characters all suffering the same generic oppression and experiencing the same teen love triangles. The Hunger Games struck a chord because of its lurid themes and the way it intensified its era’s anxieties about capitalism, imperialism, wealth and power inequality, and technology, but its followers largely added more gimmicks and different kinds of violence, and called it a day.

The Hunger Games emerged from similar adults-vs.-youth stories like Battle Royale , but added new layers about media propaganda and the authoritarian structure. Suzanne Collins was inspired by Greek mythology, reality-TV programming, and child soldiers, and she used those ideas to give her books more texture. Her protagonist, Katniss Everdeen, is relatable and down to earth: She doesn’t want to become a revolutionary or a hero, she just wants to keep her little sister Primrose safe. Her deteriorating mental health feels realistic, and it was mostly unprecedented in a genre full of bold teen heroes who came through the most horrifying adventures completely unscathed.

Following the Hunger Games series, subsequent YA dystopia films weren’t as richly realized, and the creators didn’t seem to care about the traumatic experiences their young protagonists went through. It’s unrealistic to have a film about teenagers overthrowing tyrants but little to no focus on their emotions. Katniss wasn’t endlessly stoic — Collins allows her to be vulnerable, and to learn that feelings are a sign of strength rather than a weakness. Many of the smash-the-state dystopia stories that followed avoided that kind of focus on feelings — or just followed the Katniss pattern of anxiety and anguish, without finding new territory to explore.

The Hunger Games series focuses on ending a brutal regime that executes children for sport, which requires a revolution and a complete restructuring of society. But the stories always stopped right after the latest oppressive regime fell, as if that would solve all of society’s problems. While actual teenagers were struggling with their own idealism and a wish for a better world, fiction was telling them that systematic oppression is simple and easily solved with a standard good-vs.-evil fight, and that nothing that comes after that fight is interesting or relevant. The stories of how these dystopic societies were rebuilt would be more novel and enticing, but there was never room in YA dystopias for that kind of thought or consideration.

Which left nowhere for these stories to go after the injustices were overturned and the fascist villains were defeated. They all built momentum and excitement around action, but few of these stories ever considered what young-adult readers want to know: After one cruel leader is gone, what comes next? Injustice rarely ends with the death or departure of one unjust ruler, but YA dystopian stories rarely consider the next world order, and how it could operate differently, without stigmatizing its people. Revolution, post-apocalyptic survival, and restructuring society are fascinating topics, but apart from the Hunger Games’ brief coda about Katniss’ future PTSD, most YA dystopia stories just don’t explore these areas.

And just as YA dystopian stories weren’t particularly interested in the future, they also were rarely that interested in their pasts, or even their present. They almost never explored their societies in any depth, beyond declaring them to be evil, violent, and controlling. We don’t really know much about the destructive regimes in the Maze Runner or Divergent series — we just know they’re bad. The run of dystopian movies in particular only offered the quickest, shallowest explanation of why a government would force its children into mazes, or make them kill each other. The Capitol’s desire to terrorize its citizens in The Hunger Games, or The Maze Runner ’s focus on population control and disaster response — these are political excuses for mass murder, but not nuanced ones.

At the same time, YA dystopian stories were always too dependent on the hero model, where a single teenager sparks a revolt and does the bulk of the work in taking down a totalitarian state. Although that’s an empowering vision, it feels like a dated, hollow model to the young adults engaging in actual collective action. We’re arguably living in dystopian times, amid a changing world where authoritarianism and fascism are on the rise, both in America and around the world . And resistance to it has to be cooperative, not dependent on Chosen One heroes. Inequality and oppression are driven by institutions, not single villains who could easily be brought down. The simplicity of stories where one brave young person stops a monster and revolutionizes a society quickly started to feel like simplistic fantasy.

Part of the way these dystopian fantasies avoided reality was by avoiding the real and relatable issues that teenagers face. Katniss, Divergent ’s Tris, and Maze Runner ’s Thomas are all teenagers, but their stories’ primary concession to their ages are the minor love triangles they face. Their stories explore issues around technology, environmental destruction, and government control, but without, for instance, explicitly drawing parallels between the innovative ways teenagers use technology, or interact with the education systems designed to shape them. Teenagers experience a plethora of emotions as we grow up, but these dystopian films rarely felt authentic about teen angst or anxieties — their heroes felt just like generic adult heroes, played by younger actors.

Of course, non-white people barely exist in the dystopia-film wave. The few BIPOC characters are never fully developed, and the audience never gets to learn about their stories. Studies highlight that white characters are far better represented in YA literature than other groups, which may help explain the way some fans were weirdly bothered by Black characters in the Hunger Games movies — in such a white-leaning genre, they not only didn’t expect anything else, they couldn’t handle it when it arrived.

These dystopias suggest that they take place in some sort of post-racial utopia, but they get there by suggesting non-white people wouldn’t exist in a dystopian society. Despite Jennifer Lawrence and Shailene Woodley dominating the genre with messages of female empowerment , they still live in fantasy worlds that amplify some real-world issues, like government overreach and profound inequality, but that barely address the other real issues facing women and teen girls, like gender discrimination and harassment. Pretending none of these things would exist in dystopian society, when we know from real experience that oppressive regimes actually significantly compound the issue, feels shallow and false.

But who knows, as the march against new fascist regimes continues, the genre may revive in a new form. Trends come and go, but they tend to be cyclical — and the second or third time around, they’re more likely to have evolved. As the diversity wave spreads through different cinematic and literary genres, from fantasy to romance to sci-fi and beyond, the YA dystopia genre could revive in new forms. With the rise of more BIPOC creatives in the industry, maybe we’ll get a distinctive YA dystopian film with more characters of color.

Not everybody wants to live in or imagine a dystopian society. The dystopian fad may have faded in part because young readers and viewers are ready for some positivity, and for less fantastical, simplified problems and solutions. But it may also be that they’re doing the work themselves now. Young people are mounting more and more sophisticated political campaigns against the real-world dystopic futures they’re facing, from the climate crisis and the revival of authoritarian governments to nation-specific problems like sectarian violence, wars, white nationalism, and terrorist attacks. Eventually, it might be possible for authors to take inspiration from that reality, and revive the genre in more convincing and compelling forms.

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