It refers not only to the student movement started by Mr. Here, we learn the significance of the novel's title. It was as if The Wave had taken on a life of its own and now he and his students were literally riding it.” Narrator, Somehow they’d simply evolved in the students’ imaginations, and once there, they automatically assumed he’d given them. “Except the crazy thing was, he’d never given those orders. This foreshadows his later revelation that the students are starting to promote The Wave even without 'orders' from him. Ross notices that students have begun to take The Wave into their own hands, saluting him outside of class and advertising for it in the hallways. However, Strasser undermines this idea even as Mr. Since he invented The Wave and is its leader, he believes he can control what its members do. Ross discusses The Wave with Principal Owens, he is still confident in his ability to control the experiment. As long as I’m involved in this, I can assure you that it can’t get out of hand.” Ben Ross, The whole basis for The Wave is the idea of a group willing to follow their leader. “You have to understand that this experiment can’t go any further than I let it go. Strasser challenges the idea that the only way to achieve a strong community is for everyone to agree about everything. Robert becomes popular in The Wave because he is the best at conforming. She doesn't object to its principles, but rather to the 'creepy' conformity it inspires in her fellow students. Robert's mentality about The Wave is part of what frightens Laurie. If we’re really a community, we all have to agree.” Robert Billings, “The whole idea of The Wave is that the people in it have to support it. All the while, he rationalizes this by assuming that the students "want" to be led. Ross begins to think more about his ego than what is best for his students. After the students adopt his ideas about discipline, community, and action, he has more power over them than he does before. The Wave does not only affect the students in Mr. “Almost subconsciously sensed how much they wanted him to lead them, and it was something he could not deny.” Narrator, pp. Likewise, many Germans did not recognize the magnitude of the ethical decision they were making by becoming Nazis until after the war was over. The students do not think that joining The Wave is a serious ethical decision-it is just part of their daily life. It is also important that Brian compares joining the Wave to two very commonplace actions-eating cereal and doing homework. In fact, Hitler justified many of his early military actions by claiming they were 'defensive.' This fearful mentality helps to explain the Germans' enthusiasm for Nazism, and it also helps to explain why David introduces The Wave to his team despite his own misgivings. In Germany in the 1930s, many citizens were afraid that their country would be invaded or left behind economically. Although he is joking, his comment is still very revealing. Here, Brian talks about his fear of the upcoming match against Clarksville. Anything to stop that guy.” Brian Ammon, Eat my Wheaties, join The Wave, do my homework.
His emotional distance from the tragedy makes him more susceptible, at first, to Mr. Laurie believes that people have an obligation never to forget historical atrocities, while David believes that society has learned its lesson and should try to move on. You can’t change what happened then.” David Collins, ĭavid says this when he talks to Laurie about the graphic video depicting Nazi concentration camps. “.As something horrible that happened once, it bothers me. His comment in class illustrates the fact that it is easy to make moral judgments in hindsight, but it is harder to make ethical decisions in the moment. The movement's similarities to the Nazis do not even occur to him. “All I can say is, I would never let such a small minority of people rule the majority.” Eric, Įric's remark is ironic because he will later embrace the Wave wholeheartedly. This is why he gets so upset when his students are late to class and turn in sloppy homework. Ross, disorganized people cannot resist groups like the Nazis, who are appealing and effective because they are so organized.
Ross's explanation of the Nazis' success foreshadows how the Wave will spread throughout Gordon High. You have to remember that the rest of the German population was unorganized, unarmed, and frightened.” Ben Ross,
“The Nazis might have been a minority, but they were a highly organized, armed, and dangerous minority.
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