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Chapter 14
Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in The Mysterious Benedict Society, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Confidence and Growing Up
Deception vs. Truth
Loneliness vs. Friendship
Control vs. Freedom
Hope
Summary
Analysis
That night, only Kate comes through the ceiling panel to visit the boys, since Constance fell asleep in the girls’ dorm. Kate complains about how much studying she has to do, and Sticky offers to help, but she turns him down, frustrated. Sticky is hurt by her rejection, but Kate doesn’t notice. Reynie points out that many of the pointless lessons they learn in class echo the messages they heard through the television, and the children resolve to find out how the lessons fit with the hidden messages. They prepare to report their findings to Mr. Benedict, but Mr. Curtain and some Executives are in a position outside to see the message, so the children give up for the night. Kate climbs up her rope to the ceiling panel and disappears, prompting the boys to marvel at how she moves.
When Sticky offers to help Kate study, he is reaching out to her in a gesture of friendship, since his knowledge is the only part of himself in which he is confident. Kate unthinkingly rejects him, prompting Sticky to doubt himself and his friendship with Kate. Still, he likes and respects her, and he pauses to admire her athletic ability with Reynie.
Themes
Reynie lies awake, trying to calm himself by writing a mental letter to Miss Perumal. He manages to calm down, and he is close to falling asleep when Sticky asks if he’s awake. Reynie wants to go to sleep, but he also wants to be there for Sticky, so he gets up. Sticky points out that the coast is clear, so they send a Morse message using the light switch. Sticky is terrified that they will be caught, having spent the last few hours obsessing over the Waiting Room, but Reynie promises to keep watch, so they send their message to the mainland and receive an affirmation in response. As they go to bed, Sticky is still nervous. Reynie searches for something to say that will ease both their nerves, but he can’t think of anything.
Reynie has been separated from Miss Perumal for days, but she is still in his thoughts, and thinking of her is his only source of comfort. Despite his own unease and exhaustion, Reynie wants to be a good friend to Sticky, so he helps him send the Morse code message. Reynie values their friendship, but he is too afraid of their situation to effectively comfort Sticky. His inability to help himself or his friend is yet another reminder that the children are out of their depth in their mission at the Institute.
Themes
Sticky is too anxious to sleep, which leaves him exhausted in class. He is further distracted when he sees the Messenger who went to the Waiting Room, who still looks distraught. Nervous and distracted, Sticky falls asleep in class. Martina gets him in trouble, and in revenge, Kate ties Martina’s shoelaces to her desk. Constance scolds Kate for making more enemies, but Kate reminds her that Martina was already their enemy. She asks if Constance expected Kate to let Martina get away with it, and Sticky points out that one of Martina’s insults was actually correct––she called him bald, and he is, because he disguised himself with hair remover when he ran away. This makes the children laugh, but their laughter falls away as they remember their troubles.
Kate once again proves her dedication to her friends by taking revenge on Martina. She already considered Martina her enemy because she was an enemy of the boys, which speaks to the strength of the bond among the Mysterious Benedict Society. The children experience a brief moment of youthful joy, like normal students, while they laugh at Sticky’s baldness, but that happiness fades quickly. Their childishness is quickly eroding as they face the dangers of the Institute.
Themes
