Did Morton Rhue Present The Wave As A Powerful Motivator?

Morton Rhue utilises main characters such as Ben Ross, Laurie Saunders, David Collins and Robert Billings from the experimental social movement to explore the varying levels of resistance and manipulation. Whilst some showed complete resistance, others were heavily manipulated as they were susceptible due to personality traits and weaknesses.

The author presented the Wave as a ‘powerful motivator’ that manipulated many susceptible members; who easily fell into its trap; like Robert Billings, who had personality weaknesses such as lack of confidence, poor social life or other comradery issues. Billings changed drastically as he gained a positive social status and for the first time an identity other than the ‘class loser’. When the experiment is introduced, he finds acceptance amongst his classmates by creating an image for himself through
Initially, Saunders sees the organisation as something that improved the school by facilitating students like Robert Billings, who were previously outcasts. However, the tables turn when she is drawn into the opposition after realising that the Wave inflicted more damage than good. At the top of the school success ladder; academically and socially, Laurie had power to criticise the experiment whilst reaching a large quantity of people. Thus, through delivering mass information, Saunders exposed the dilemmas of the experiment to revert everyone from the chaotic student movement. Strong resistant force towards the fascist movement and its harmful direction is evident when Laurie refuses to do ‘the Wave salute’ as she believes the organisation was brainwashing the followers who willingly promoted the movement by refusing to look at the bigger picture as members like Brad where afraid to go against the majority as they were at risk of losing their social status and identity.