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Chapter 41
Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in The 5th Wave, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Trust and Belief
Survival and Perseverance
Warfare and Dehumanization
Family
Summary
Analysis
Zombie used to be called Ben Parish, but he likes his new identity more because Zombie is “hardcore.” He trains with a cruel drill sergeant named Reznick, whom he hates, but Zombie feels that the training makes him strong. One day during training, Zombie notices a girl about his age with dark hair and very fair skin watching him from another squad. Zombie feels like he knows her from somewhere before but can’t tell where.
The reveal that Zombie is Ben Parish further shows how his story is connected to Cassie’s (since they knew each other back at school and Cassie secretly liked him). Zombie’s training is clearly difficult and cruel, but he begins to take pride in trying to do it well. This passage shows how people like Reznick take advantage of Ben’s good nature to try to manipulate him.
Themes
