The Wave: Chapter 17 Summary & Analysis

As Ben Ross heads into the auditorium for the Wave rally, he is overwhelmed by how regimented and organized the students have become, and how quickly they’ve gotten things together for the impromptu rally. Before Ross takes the stage, Christy gives him a quick good-luck kiss, and assures him that things will all go according to plan. Robert approaches Mr. Ross to tell him that he has stationed “guards” at all of the doors. Ross thanks Robert and takes the stage as the crowd goes wild, bursting into the Wave motto and the Wave salute. The second Ross holds out his arms for silence, the entire auditorium grows hushed.

Ross indicates the TV on the center of the stage, and tells the students that in just a few moments, their “leader” will address them. Robert turns on the television, which glows bright blue. Meanwhile, Laurie and David run around the sides of the auditorium, trying to get past the locked doors.

As the students grow more and more restless waiting for their “leader” to appear on the screen, Ross realizes how frightening it is that the students would blindly put their faith in anyone who would decide things for them. Ben hopes that after today, they’ll “question thoroughly” the world around them. When one student stands up and cries out that there is no leader, Ross replies that there is indeed—and on his cue, Carl pulls aside a curtain to reveal a large movie screen, while in the projection room, Alex flicks on the projector—casting a huge picture of Adolf Hitler onto the screen.

Ross explains to the shocked students that there is no National Wave Youth Movement—but if there were, Hitler would be its leader. Ross explains to his students that in joining The Wave, they “traded [their] freedom” for hopes of equality, but then “turned [their] equality into superiority over non-Wave members.” Ross tells his students that he hopes they will learn from The Wave rather than deny it—and, in the future, will accept responsibility for their actions, question authority, and “never, ever allow a group’s will to usurp [their] individual rights.”

Ross apologizes to the shocked students for letting The Wave get out of hand. He says he hopes, however, they can all share the lessons of The Wave for the rest of their lives. As the stunned students begin to exit the auditorium—some tearfully—they leave their membership cards behind. Laurie, David, Eric, and Brian reunite and discuss the gravity of what they’ve all been through. Mr. Ross joins them, and apologizes once again for putting them through such a difficult time.

As Laurie and the others file out of the auditorium, Ben Ross breathes a sigh of relief—The Wave is over, and he can begin to repair his students’ faith in him. Ross himself is about to leave the auditorium when he notices one student left behind—Robert is still staring in disbelief at the television set and sobbing. Ross approaches Robert and comforts him—then offers to take him out for a bite to eat, so that they can talk “some things” through.