How does Morten Rhue use literary techniques to explore the positive and negative effects of peer pressure and social movements like, The Wave?
Peer pressure can be defined as persuading or using force upon a group or individual to change one’s beliefs, behavior and values. ‘The Wave’ by Morton Rhue, was published in 1981, and takes place at Gordon High School in California, where a history teacher, Ben Ross, shows his students how Germans were influenced by the Nazis in ww2 and got away with killing millions of people. Students see The Wave as a new way of life, however, many like Robert Billings, take The Wave too far. As the story goes on, The Wave becomes infectious, taking the entire school with it, but with the help of an individual Laurie Saunders stops the Wave before it is too late. Morton Rhue uses characterisation, symbolism and foreshadowing to show the reader the positive and negative effects of peer pressure and social movements.
Ben Ross introduces The Wave as…
As Robert gets involved into the experiment, he becomes interactive and confident, conveying the positive and the potential negative effects of a social movement. Rhue uses characterisation to convey Robert’s changes through the week of the experiment from being a “class loser” to “the new head of the class”. However, the social change does have an impact on the way he acts as an individual, harming non-wave members if needed. As foretold when Robert announced that “Laurie is a threat” and “she must be stopped”. Rhue uses foreshadowing to demonstrate Robert’s harmful potential, that “people like Robert will have difficulties in the outside world” suggesting the aftermath of The Wave. Rhue uses Robert to symbolise the positive effect on a weak, manipulated individual who uses The Wave as an excuse to run away from his fears and the possible negatives of his…
