49 pages • 1 hour read
Gordon KormanThe Hypnotists
Fiction | Novel | Middle Grade | Published in 2015A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Themes
Indirect Versus Direct Control
In The Hypnotists, Gordon Korman examines the nature of control by exploring both direct and indirect ways of exerting influence over others. Like many science fiction and fantasy novels, Korman uses one supernatural element to symbolize and investigate a very human experience. In this novel, hypnosis is a hyperbolized way of exploring power dynamics and the ethics of control.
Hypnosis is the most direct form of control featured in the novel. It allows a hypnotist to infiltrate the mind of another person and command them to do something against their will, whether it injures them or others. Hypnotized people do not remember what they have done, allowing the hypnotist total control and freedom with seemingly little long-term consequence or accountability. The concept of hypnosis brings up the issue of consent as hypnotists can make people do things that they would never do, or that they have explicitly expressed they do not want to do. Dr. Mako is interested in finding ways to enhance and perfect the hypnotic power, showing his dangerous and opportunistic ambitions. Axel Braintree, on the other hand, recognizes the danger of using this kind of direct control and actively seeks to help other hypnotists stop using their power. Ultimately, Dr. Mako’s character arc shows how using this kind of direct coercion causes harm to others and demonstrates his fundamental disregard for the safety and autonomy of others.
At Sentia, Jax and his classmates use direct control on paid study participants. Although the subjects have consented to be in the study and receive some kind of compensation in exchange, there are still power dynamics at play, as they ultimately do not know what will be done to them or how it will affect their behavior. Jax is willing to participate in this kind of hypnosis because he does not see any direct harm it may cause, as he does not fully understand Sentia’s purpose at this point. Once he begins to understand how all these studies contribute to Mako’s unchecked power, he views all Sentia activities as unethical.
Jax’s powers also work the other way, directly controlling him and influencing his actions without his consent. Even though Jax is the one making the commands at the beginning, he does not understand his power and does not intend to command people to explicitly do what he says. He feels guilty about commanding his opponent to play badly and miss during the basketball game in the early chapters. He did not choose to have these abilities and does not know how to control them when they appear. He learns that this ability is a family legacy that he has inherited, which is both extraordinary and burdensome. Jax’s relationship with his power features both direct and indirect control. His powers physically impact his behavior, and the pressure to measure up to his illustrious family history encourages him to study and work hard at Sentia.
Korman contrasts the direct control of hypnosis with more indirect forms of coercion and control in social and emotional dynamics. Whereas hypnosis takes away all choices from a person, indirect control gives them a choice. Dr. Mako uses this strategy when he instructs Jax to comply with his election plan or else he will activate a post-hypnotic suggestion to harm Jax’s parents. Jax does have a choice, but choosing not to go along with Dr. Mako’s plan will kill his parents—putting him in a compromised position. The illusion of choice causes Jax to feel complicit as if he is responsible for helping Dr. Mako and should bear some of the blame. This is an abusive tactic that psychologically damages Jax, eroding his sense of self and moral center. He feels both powerless and responsible for the damage Dr. Mako causes.
Another form of indirect control is the communal or social contract. Communities regulate themselves by creating rules or general protocols of decorum. When somebody violates those protocols, they touch on a taboo. These communal rules help a society function well. The Sandman’s Guild is a good example of this kind of functional control. All the sandmen share a life philosophy that they should not use their powers for selfish aims, and they hold each other accountable through the support group. Through this mutual and consensual social contract, they can live more moral lives and live by their principles despite the intense temptation hypnosis causes for them.
Morality in the Face of Temptation
In The Hypnotists, the relationship between temptation and morality is a central theme that unfolds as Jax learns about the power of his hypnotic abilities and the concurrent temptation to abuse them. This internal conflict catalyzes Jax's growth and development of his moral principles.
Initially, Jax uses his powers by accident, unknowingly hypnotizing those around him to behave in ways that benefit him. His desire for the bus to drive faster endangers the other riders. His command for the other basketball team to play badly leads to an undeserved win. These incidents often lead to negative consequences, harm, and chaos, prompting Jax to reflect on his actions and question the morality of his hypnosis. This natural initial instinct to use his powers selfishly reveals an inherent reality about human nature: the tendency to prioritize one's desires and interests over others. However, Jax's subsequent feelings of guilt demonstrate an inherent moral strength, showcasing his capacity for empathy and self-awareness. Later, the Sandman’s Guild builds on this vision of human nature, recognizing the natural impulses to behave selfishly but agreeing to help each other strive for a more empathetic and just existence.
Jax also experiences the temptation in less overtly selfish ways. He considers using hypnosis to help his best friend Tommy talk to a girl he likes or bolster his confidence. Though he wants to help his friend and feels empathetic toward him, he knows there is a slippery slope involved with using the power for small things and decides against it. He also knows that it would not be right to erode the autonomy of the girl Tommy likes, even as he wants to help Tommy. Jax also understands that power often has unintended consequences, and he doesn’t have full control over how a hypnotic experience will go. While others increasingly care little about that collateral damage, Jax refuses to give in to that temptation.
Once Jax joins Sentia, he joins a community with a purported aim and internal code. At Sentia, Jax is instructed to use his powers for the sake of knowledge, rather than personal gain. This pursuit aligns with Jax's inner moral principles, allowing him to harness his abilities without seeming to compromise his values. The controlled experiment environment allows him to practice on consenting, paid subjects without risk of harm. However, Jax soon begins to see how other students at Sentia give in to the temptation to violate the rules and use their hypnotic power selfishly. For example, the Singhs use the power in their constant competition with each other, and Wilson and DeRon use it to intimidate and bully Jax due to feeling threatened by his skill and Mako’s favoritism toward him. Competition serves as another form of temptation, testing Jax's resolve and moral character.
Ultimately, Dr. Mako embodies the dangers of succumbing entirely to the temptation of selfishness and abuse of power. He uses the power to surround himself with influential friends. He plants post-hypnotic suggestions that bolster his reputation. When he faces resistance from Jax, he responds oppressively and violently, using his powers to control Jax and force him to continue helping him. He has no regard for morality or safety and sees everyone around him as a tool to either help or hinder his political control. His willingness to hurt Jax, kill his family, and destroy innocent civilians in pursuit of power, knowledge, and personal gain represents the consequences of unchecked ambition.
In contrast, the Sandman's Guild provides a counterpoint to Dr. Mako's corruption, showing Jax what it means to consciously resist temptation and strive for moral integrity. Though the Guild members are not perfect and sometimes make mistakes, they support each other in their efforts to be good people. Nothing is tempting about their organization; they run it from a derelict laundromat and offer no promises of influence or elite acceptance like Sentia. As Jax learns more about Dr. Mako's true nature, he finds himself drawn to the Guild's philosophy, recognizing the importance of accountability and moral responsibility. Jax sees that the true moral consciousness is more important than the past infractions the sandmen make. He comes to respect their openness and honesty.
Heroism Against Destructive Forces
In The Hypnotists, the author explores how heroism can address destructive forces through Jax’s complex character arc. Central to the narrative is the dual challenge that Jax must address: combating the malicious Dr. Mako and navigating the dangers his hypnotic capabilities pose to himself and others. Through this duality, Korman highlights the importance of overcoming both external and internal challenges in the face of destruction forces and relying on community support to do so.
Dr. Mako represents a significant destructive influence in the text. His actions—namely, inflicting harm toward innocent individuals, manipulating democratic processes, and further hoarding power for his selfish gain—pose a clear threat to society, one that becomes increasingly dangerous as he enlists Jax’s help to secure Senator Douglas’s election through undemocratic means. The external conflict that Jax must address is to thwart Mako’s dangerous plans and protect those threatened in his path, including Jax’s parents. Because Mako’s threats are increasingly severe, he serves as a clear antagonist that drives the narrative’s plot and its stakes forward. As a result, Jax must act heroically to counter the nefarious plans of bad actors around him.
However, Korman establishes a form of heroism that goes beyond addressing external destructive forces. Jax’s internal struggle is equally central to the narrative and his quest toward acting heroically. As a character with a powerful hypnotic ability, the text positions Jax as the “chosen one,” endowed with a unique penchant for hypnosis due to his influential hypnotic familial lineage on both sides. This birthright endows Jax with not only extraordinary abilities but also significant responsibilities. Despite this, Jax’s initial understanding of his responsibility is fraught with confusion and moral tension, something that propels the plot forward.
The ethical dilemmas Jax faces throughout the novel are central to his development as a complex hero. His hypnotic powers, while a source of skill, also hold inherent danger; the very abilities that make him special and someone the Sentia Institute seeks out in the first place also can cause significant harm if misapplied or exploited. Jax’s internal conflict revolves around grappling with the implications of his hypnotic power and its potential for unintended consequences when others like Dr. Mako use Jax as a puppet to achieve their destructive goals. This struggle becomes clear when Jax unknowingly contributes to the post-hypnotic suggestion video to rig the election, showcasing how his powers are a double-edged sword. Despite his desire to act ethically, others can coerce him, which can have negative consequences despite his best efforts.
Korman uses Jax’s internal conflict and explores his increasing development of a strong moral compass (bolstered by the essential mentorship he receives from Axel Braintree and members of the Sandman’s Guild) to support the novel’s thematic exploration of heroism. True heroism, the text demonstrates, involves more than defeating external threats. It requires an understanding of one’s actions and their impact on others, both positively and negatively. It also involves collaborating with and learning from others’ counsel, subverting the “chosen one” trope. Jax’s journey toward understanding how his hypnotic potential can be exploited for evil (both by himself and by others) and learning to exercise more self-control reflects his ability to grasp the true nature of heroism. It is not exclusively about fighting evil, external forces but also about reconciling one’s capacity for harm and making choices that align with a stronger moral compass.
In this way, Korman depicts heroism as a complex, ongoing struggle between simultaneous external and internal destructive forces. Jax’s battle against Dr. Mako mirrors his internal confrontation with his hypnotic powers and the responsibilities that come with it. Korman underscores that true heroism involves carefully navigating ethical dilemmas, recognizing the intrinsic good and evil nature of one’s abilities, and making decisions that contribute to a strong moral ethic. Through Jax’s character arc, the text establishes that heroism includes both fighting external threats and grappling with internal tensions to achieve personal integrity and the safety of other people. By moving away at the end of the novel with his parents to escape Mako’s grasp, Jax acknowledges that the fight against destruction is certainly not over. Although the narrative foreshadows the family in a new location, its assertion that the fight isn’t over establishes how its protagonist must continue to act heroically, addressing concurrent external and internal dangers to minimize further harm.
Related Titles
By Gordon Korman
