Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in The Wave, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Groupthink and Coercion
History and the Past
Equality vs. Independence
Education
Summary
Analysis
On Saturday, Laurie heads to school to go to the football game—and to talk to Amy about what’s going on. Laurie spots Amy in the stands and hurries up to talk to her, but halfway up the bleachers, Brad stops her—and orders her to do the Wave salute before she goes up any further. Laurie is shocked, but Brad tells her the members of The Wave decided that all attendees at the game had to give the salute. Laurie tells Brad his demand is “ridiculous,” and Brad shyly lets her go up without giving the salute. Laurie, however, feels so sickened that she doesn’t want to go up anymore.
Laurie is realizing just how completely The Wave has taken over even social activities at Gordon High. There’s no part of student life that hasn’t been infiltrated by The Wave—and while Laurie says its influence is “ridiculous,” there’s a part of her that’s genuinely upset and even scared.
Themes
Laurie asks Brad if he’s being made to feel afraid by someone. Brad retorts that he isn’t afraid of anyone, and urges Laurie to “shut [her] mouth.” He tells her that her absence at the Wave rally the day before was noticed. Laurie, shocked, leaves the game as the Gordon team scores a touchdown.
Though Brad seems ambivalent at best about his own adherence to Wave rules, he’s going along with his orders anyway—and even making coded threats to Laurie about her lack of involvement.
Themes
Sunday afternoon, Laurie and some of the Grapevine staff work together and put together a special edition of the paper focusing on The Wave. A few staff members are missing, and Carl suggests that they don’t want to “incur the wrath of The Wave.” The paper focuses on the anonymous story submitted to Laurie, and a report on the Jewish boy who’d been beaten up a few days ago. It’s still unclear whether the incident was directly Wave-related or not—but the boy’s parents are, according to Carl, planning a visit to the principal’s office on Monday.
Laurie knows that the only weapon against a machine like The Wave is the truth—and she attempts to harness the solidarity and strength of her own staff even without Wave-like discipline. The paper staff’s commitment to telling these stories shows that power and strength through discipline and community are possible—even when not weaponized in the form of slogans, salutes, and coercive rules.
Themes
Laurie herself is writing an editorial for the paper’s special issue condemning The Wave as “a dangerous and mindless movement.” She calls for a stop to The Wave in her article, even though she knows her voice may draw unwanted attention. Carl and Alex help Laurie put everything together, and then volunteer to take the paper to the printer. They assure Laurie that the paper will be ready by lunchtime the next day.
Laurie is nervous to speak out alone against The Wave, but with the support of her friends and her own belief in doing what’s right, she’s determined to retain and even celebrate her individuality.
Themes
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