The City of Ember

by Jeanne DuPrau

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Student Question

Who is Sadge in "The City of Ember" and what is his fate?

Quick answer:

Sadge Merrall is a clerk in the Supply Depot who ventures into the Unknown Regions surrounding the City of Ember. His return is marked by a state of panic and distress, suggesting he encountered something terrifying. Although the nature of his experience remains a mystery, it has clearly affected his mental state, lending credibility to rumors of monsters in the area. Sadge's fate underscores the dangers of exploring beyond the city's boundaries.

Expert Answers

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Sadge Merrall is a clerk in the Supply Depot. He's made the brave decision—or foolish, depending on how you look at it—to venture forth into the Unknown Regions, the vast area of darkness surrounding the City of Ember. Yet even in such darkness, Sadge must have seen something—something really scary and unnerving—because when he comes back, he's in a terrible state, crying, shouting, and howling. Clearly, something pretty disturbing must have happened to him. All those tales about strange monsters lurking in the Unknown Regions appear to have credence all of a sudden. For the time being, however, exactly what happened to Sadge remains a total mystery. But there's no doubt that whatever it was has caused the poor man to take leave of his senses and go out of his mind completely.

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