The Mysterious Benedict Society

Jillson lectures that all of society’s problems are the result of bad government. She uses an analogy with the words “poison apples, poison worms” (213), which Reynie recognizes from the hidden messages they heard through the Receiver.

Abruptly Reynie feels extremely angry with Jillson. He feels like yelling and running away. Reynie looks at Sticky, who is glaring at his quiz as if he wants to destroy it. He looks at Kate and Constance, who both look ready to scream. After class, the team realizes that their strong anger is all in their heads, and they seem to be the only ones experiencing it.

Constance weakly asks if the others hear anything. Reynie comments that Mr. Benedict had predicted that this would happen, that those who are normally immune to the hidden messages would feel irritable and confused when the power was boosted. Because Constance is more sensitive than the others, she can directly hear the Messenger’s voice.

That night the team sends a Morse code message. The reply urges them to “become what you are not” (219), as they are running out of time.