The Wave Essay

Submitted By cngynx
Words: 1155
Pages: 5

It is evident that not all young people are resilient when it comes to dealing with life's challenges as it was displayed in the book ‘The Wave’ written by Morton Rhue. There were a majority of students who were not resilient with the wave and the challenges that emerged from it such as Amy, Robert and David. The student that was surprisingly resilient was Laurie, she was also the main character of the story. Laurie was mentally and also physically strong at dealing with the consequences that result from the wave such as the isolation from the entire school and her best friend, the break-up with her boyfriend and the discrimination and violence of being and as being an ‘outsider.

There were many reasons why students supported the wave and were not resilient and did not stand up to their individual rights. David was Laurie's boyfriend, when the wave was introduced David valued The Wave as something good and recognised the possibility to use the positive effects for the football team. His aim was to hope that moving the class spirit to the team will push and rise it up and will lead to the success it lacked before. He was so mentally absorbed he couldn’t realise he was being dragged into a cult. Robert was the class ‘Loser', his motivation was a personal one. He wanted to be a member of The Wave, especially a good member. Joining the movement was rather important for him because he wouldn't be the underdog any longer by using all his abilities he would be able to turn his role into a leading one so joining the group gave him the chance to redefine himself. In the past he had given up because he wasn’t capable enough to compete with his older brother who had been the model student and a big guy on the campus. The Wave offered a new way of life to him. The opinions and reactions of the other students were different too. They changed from being fascinated to being afraid of the newly founded movement. The wave made Robert equal like everyone else so like David Robert was not resilient because he could not see that he was being dragged into a cult.

Laurie is the only character who is resilient this is because she is an independent character and as far as The Wave is troubled she acts as usual. She isn't against community in class, isn't against reaching a common goal by acting in unison but she'll never give up her own opinion, her own thinking, her individuality and her independence. She is not against equality but values different contributions. Laurie's opinion about The Wave is very important. She has the feeling that all The Wave members behave like a stunned flock of sheep. The fact that students have been hurt by ‘The Wave’ makes her angry. Moreover she can't believe that even intelligent people like her best friend Amy are involved and loyal to this movement. Finally it becomes clear that the movement destroys this friendship and Laurie doesn't agree with the fact that she is pushed into the role of an outsider now. Her fighting spirit leads to action. She defends herself against the loss of individuality by publishing her important editorial in the school paper, a measure of intelligent power.

Laurie was mentally strong and continued fighting even though her article in the school paper isolated from the rest of her school as well as being attacked by her ex-boyfriend. When Laurie published her paper, which disgraced the wave and had "anti-wave" comments, wave members became furious and decided to punish her by excluding her from all sorts of activities. When they saw that it was not working they decided to get David to speak to her. One night David followed her home he approached her on the sidewalk then David got violent and attacked her. It was at that point when David realised what was happening, how he was manipulated by the wave. David apologised and decided to help Laurie beat the wave. It was Laurie's willpower and resilience to not give into the wave which helped her get David to realise what is happening,