During the opening scene of The Maze Runner, directed by Wes Ball, Thomas (Dylan O'Brien) is abruptly woken inside a dark, moving elevator, with no recollection of how he got there.or of anything that regards to his past. Thomas quickly panics in a state of amnesia, as the elevator climbs further and further up. Once being jostled to a screeching halt, Thomas finds him self surrounded by a group of unfamiliar young men - they refer to them selves as "The Gladers". The Gladers are solely comprised of teenage boys who have all ended up in The Glade the same way Thomas has. They have established a hierarchy and a way of living, despite being trapped between four immense concrete walls. Alby (Aml Ameen) quickly establishes him self as the leader - as he was the first to arrive at The Glade, followed closely by Newt (Thomas Sangster). .
Over the following few days, Thomas learns that each Glader has a specific role in the community. Thomas quickly sets his sight on being a "Runner"- one who is responsible for venturing out, and mapping the lay out of the ever changing Maze that surrounds The Glade. Little does he know that those who don't make it back before night fall, are never seen again. Throughout the movie Thomas develops from a meek newcomer, to a full fledged runner who saves the community. The use of symbolism throughout the movie is what sets the stage for the plot. Thomas, along with the other Gladers, arrive to The Glade in a dark, musty, confusing box, that once it reaches its destination, opens its bog doors to a brand new (well lit) world. Now doesn't that sound a little bit like being born? When the kids emerge from the elevator, they are in a state of amnesia - they don't even remember their own names until several hours later. Upon arrival, the boys find themselves in a grassy field, what provides them with that they need to sustain life; land to grow and harvest crops, space to keep animals, food, shelter.
