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Chapter 38
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
Mr. Curtain escapes the island, but Mr. Benedict successfully convinces governmental officials to raid the Institute. His claims are finally credible now that Milligan remembers the government passwords of his days as a secret agent; further, Kate stole Mr. Curtain’s journal from the Whispering Gallery during their escape. Most importantly, the Whisperer is no longer broadcasting Mr. Curtain’s messages. The Emergency ends, and “minds closed to truth were opening again.” Government officials frequently come through Mr. Benedict’s house in search of clues, but Mr. Benedict believes Mr. Curtain is too smart to be captured by adults. Only children could ever have beat him. With Mr. Curtain removed, Mr. Benedict and his associates begin helping the victims of brainsweeping: “recruited” children, Helpers, and many Executives. Milligan leads the search for these people, and Mr. Benedict modifies the brainsweeping machines to restore memories.
Earlier in the story, Mr. Curtain claimed to value “open minds,” but in reality he has been closing minds against the truth. With him gone, the public’s minds are open again, and truth can flow freely. Mr. Benedict proves another way in which he is the direct opposite of his brother: Mr. Curtain disdains children, while Mr. Benedict believes that only children could ever be smart enough to take on Mr. Curtain. Mr. Benedict also reverses the function of the brainsweeping machines, turning them into restorers of truth.
Themes
Mr. Benedict insists that the children are the true heroes of the adventure. A few weeks after leaving the Institute, everyone sits down to have their first proper dinner since the children returned home. Kate asks how Mr. Benedict found the secret exit, and Mr. Benedict explains Milligan found it. Kate teases that “it’s always about entrances and exits” with Milligan, and he responds with a hearty laugh. Milligan spent years in sadness after “exiting” his life as a father, and now he has “entered” it again.
Kate notices that Milligan often finds and discusses entrances and exits, and she is right that these words have appeared a number of times throughout their adventure. Milligan’s belief that he is “exiting” one life to “enter” a better one also applies to many of the characters, and they find their entrances over the course of the chapter.
Themes
At the other end of the table, Reynie is puzzling over what to call Miss Perumal, who is sitting beside him. His absence in the past weeks made Miss Perumal realize how much she loved him, and immediately upon his return, Miss Perumal asked to adopt him. He gave his consent with a tearful hug. Reynie decides to call Miss Perumal something in Tamil, her native language, and he plans to ask Sticky about Tamil words for mother. Sticky is also at the table. He seems to be the only unhappy member of the group, though he tries to hide it. He asks how Mr. Benedict disabled the Whisperer, and Mr. Benedict explains he finished what the children began. He convinced the Whisperer he was Mr. Curtain and gave it orders that confused it beyond function.
In addition to finding a family among the Mysterious Benedict Society, Reynie has reunited with Miss Perumal. She has adopted him, granting him a mother to look to for guidance and protection when he needs it. Sticky has yet to fully overcome his own loneliness, but he tries to conceal this to avoid spoiling his friends’ joy.
Themes
Rhonda brings out a cake for Constance’s birthday, and it is then that the other children learn that Constance is turning three years old. They realize this is why she is so stubborn and so prone to naps—she is only a toddler. Constance insists that she is not stubborn.
Constance is perhaps the greatest example in the story of something that is more than it appears. At the start of the book, the other children see Constance as a rude, unhelpful, and immature girl who obstructs the team’s progress. She has instead proven to be a loyal friend, a valuable ally, and exceptionally intelligent and mature for her extremely young age. Still, she retains some of her contrariness, as seen when she stubbornly insists that she is not stubborn.
Themes
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The next day, Mr. Benedict pulls Sticky aside to inform him that his parents have arrived. Mr. Benedict explains that after Sticky ran away, Sticky’s parents became ashamed of how they had treated him. Influenced by Mr. Curtain’s messages, they convinced themselves Sticky was “better off” without them. Sticky recalls hearing this phrase, which he had taken to mean his parents were better off without him. Mr. Benedict continues to explain that the Washingtons realized they needed Sticky even if he didn’t need them, so they have put all their resources into locating their son. They began their search before the Whisperer was disabled, indicating that their love was powerful enough to resist the broadcasts. Sticky starts to cry and runs to his parents. They reunite, and the household throws an impromptu party in celebration.
Neither Mr. Benedict nor Sticky’s parents attempt to excuse the Washingtons’ behavior toward their son. However, the Washingtons make clear they regret their actions and love Sticky more than any prize money he could win for them. Sticky realizes that he is, in fact, wanted by people who love him, and he reunites with his parents.
Themes
During the party, Number Two finds Mr. Benedict asleep on his desk with an expression of pure joy. He has asked Constance if she would be “willing to adopt [him] as [her] family,” and she accepted. Later, Kate and Reynie discuss how all the children are finding their families. Constance in particular is getting a father and two sisters, since Mr. Benedict already adopted Number Two and Rhonda years ago.
Mr. Benedict has followed his own advice to Reynie about building a family with people you love. He has already adopted Number Two and Rhonda, and when Constance is the only member of the Society left without a family, he offers to adopt her. He honors Constance’s independence and agency by asking if she will adopt him as family, granting Constance the power in the situation so she does not feel condescended to. Mr. Benedict’s excitement at her acceptance demonstrates how much he has come to love his new daughter.
Themes
The children are engaged in a snowball fight while their families watch happily. Mr. Benedict is so happy that he laughs himself to sleep over and over until the sun sets. Number Two wakes him and asks him to call the children inside for dinner. Mr. Benedict says that they should be allowed to play. If only for the moment, the four members of the Mysterious Benedict Society get to be children.
The members of the Mysterious Benedict Society have suffered terribly over the course of the book, both physically and mentally. They have taken on responsibilities far too great for children their age, so Mr. Benedict is happy to see that they have a short opportunity to be children again.
Themes
