The 5th Wave Analysis

In extreme ordeals and circumstances, humanity has been known to unite out of underlying loyalty to their kind, setting aside any personal self-centered ways. Whether it may be because of death, natural disaster, or diversified tragedy, humanity has been known to join in unison and show loyalty towards one another during these hardships. Although we may be self-absorbed during many periods of our lives, we all feel compassion, and all generate immense loyalty to our kind. So, would you let a loved one suffer? Or would you showcase your loyalty to them, putting them before you in times of adversity? Not only that, but in times of change, the identities of yourself and others around you may be altered. You may not be who you thought you were,

Cassie Sullivan, a lone survivor of the previous four waves, pities her own fate and is perceived to be self-centered at the beginning of the novel. This is until her loyalty shines through as she does whatever she can to save her little brother, Sam, by taking deathly risks and making impulsive decisions in order to find him. Ben, another survivor, is stuck in Camp Haven, a camp for youth who have survived the preceding waves. Though Ben does not feel particularly attached to his “squad” at camp, once he figures out the truth about the camp’s purpose, he becomes excruciatingly loyal to them despite previously focusing on himself. Another theme this story suggests is that when changes occur, identity is questioned, which is exemplified both by Cassie and Ben as the story continues to progress and changes

Through Cassie’s perspective, the text states “and the old Ben Parish rose from the dead [. . .] In another moment, he would fade, slide back into the new Ben, the one called Zombie, and I understood something I hadn’t before: He was dead, the object of my schoolgirl desires, just as the schoolgirl who desired him was dead.” This is absolutely critical to the theme, as Cassie has realized that since the alien mothership arrived, she is no longer the same person she was in the past, and neither is Ben. Even those who think they know their identity will find it drastically changing as changes progress, inside and outside of the novel. I perceived this part of the book to be trying to bring across that as you experience extreme levels of change, the identity you previously owned is almost “dead,” and you create new columns shaping the prospect of personal identity. In regards to this, Cassie states earlier in the novel “I'm talking about the Cassie I was before the Arrival, before the Others parked their alien butts in high orbit… When I cry—when I let myself cry—that's who I cry for. I don't cry for myself. I cry for the Cassie that's gone.” As expressed by this text, not only Cassie but