The Wave is all about types, and Robert Billings is no exception; he's the school loser, to use the novel's rather cruel terminology. Other students in the school are afraid to ruin their own image by hanging out with the “class creep”. Ben Ross thinks that part of his problem is living in the shadow of his ultra-popular brother, who used to attend Gordon High School. When the Wave finally comes along, Robert seizes the opportunity to make a change, but things get even worse. Although some might argue that the Wave has major benefits for Robert, he does not benefit from the Wave because he becomes violent and willing to do anything to change his reputation, finds a way to actually have power over his peers, and loses the ability to rely on
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In this quote, the reader can clearly notice Robert’s change in identity when he states, "So can I do it," Robert asked. "I know you need a bodyguard. I could do it, Mr. Ross" (Strasser 89). By scrutinizing this quote, the reader notices that Robert goes through dramatic changes in identity when Robert goes from total outcast to leader of the pack. As Ben's bodyguard, he creates an image for himself of someone who is not to be challenged. It seems that only students who have a vigorous sense of personal identity such as Laurie Saunders are able to resist the Wave. However, in the Wave, staying true to one’s identity leads to bullying and threats from other students, which is precisely what happens to Laurie when Robert threatens her. Since the Wave causes Robert a dramatic change in identity, it is pretty obvious that this could cause devastating consequences not only to his peers, but most importantly to himself. Perhaps more aghast than this is the fact that Robert loses the faculty to rely on himself which can lead to even more detrimental consequences relating to his …show more content…
In the beginning of the novel, the reader is led to believe that the Wave genuinely works since Robert’s grades improve and his social life authentically comes into existence. Robert’s experience in the Wave though might make things even worse in the future which is similar to what transpires when Germans trusted Hitler and the Nazis. A common thought for the fascist Germany was that they would be equal and that their lives would improve under Hitler’s dictatorship, which made things even worse for them for their
In this quote, the reader can clearly notice Robert’s change in identity when he states, "So can I do it," Robert asked. "I know you need a bodyguard. I could do it, Mr. Ross" (Strasser 89). By scrutinizing this quote, the reader notices that Robert goes through dramatic changes in identity when Robert goes from total outcast to leader of the pack. As Ben's bodyguard, he creates an image for himself of someone who is not to be challenged. It seems that only students who have a vigorous sense of personal identity such as Laurie Saunders are able to resist the Wave. However, in the Wave, staying true to one’s identity leads to bullying and threats from other students, which is precisely what happens to Laurie when Robert threatens her. Since the Wave causes Robert a dramatic change in identity, it is pretty obvious that this could cause devastating consequences not only to his peers, but most importantly to himself. Perhaps more aghast than this is the fact that Robert loses the faculty to rely on himself which can lead to even more detrimental consequences relating to his …show more content…
In the beginning of the novel, the reader is led to believe that the Wave genuinely works since Robert’s grades improve and his social life authentically comes into existence. Robert’s experience in the Wave though might make things even worse in the future which is similar to what transpires when Germans trusted Hitler and the Nazis. A common thought for the fascist Germany was that they would be equal and that their lives would improve under Hitler’s dictatorship, which made things even worse for them for their