- "Ben of the Builders, you've been sentenced to Banishment for the attempted murder of Thomas the Newbie. The Keepers have spoken, and their word ain't changin'. And you ain't coming back. Ever."
- — Alby, The Maze Runner
Banishment was a punishment given to a Glader who had committed an extreme crime and involved the Glader being forced into the Maze as the Doors shut, leaving them with only some food and a bag. This punishment had to be decided by the Keepers, and the First-in-Command and Second-in-Command. Banishments were held in public where everyone could see them, to keep the Gladers from violating the rules by means of fear and manipulation. Every time there had been a banishment, the corpse of the banished Glader were found just outside the Doors the day afterwards.
Banishment of Ben[]
Ben went completely insane after going through the Changing. Later, Newt said no one had ever gone as mad as Ben before. When Thomas was in the Deadheads, Ben suddenly appeared from the woods, acting like a complete maniac, accusing Thomas and saying that he should be killed. Ben then attacked him with a knife, which was seen by Alby, who then stopped him from hurting Thomas. The day after that, the Keepers dragged Ben out by force. The Keepers, using a large pole with a collar, shoved Ben outside the Glade, into the Maze. Ben's last screams were blocked out when the Walls close. He was killed by Grievers during the night right near the Griever Hole and his remaining clothes were seen at the exit to the Maze.
Banished[]
- Ben
- 3 Unknown Gladers
Trivia[]
- Newt said there had been three Banishments, excluding Ben, which were all as nasty as the one Thomas had seen.
- The Banishments use a long aluminium pole comprised of multiple smaller poles that fit together. The end pole has a leather collar for holding the person in place and can be detached to pull the rest of the pole back into the Glade.
- During the Gathering to discuss what to do with Thomas since he entered the Maze, Newt shuts Gally up by saying that he will be arranging another Banishment just for him for his bad behavior. Later on, Gally says that he should arrange a Banishment for Newt because of his embarrassing inability to lead the group.