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Chapter 54
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
Cassie lies to Evan, saying she thought she heard a noise. Evan says he’s just gotten back from stalking some deer, but Cassie doesn’t believe him. Cassie wonders if maybe the sound she supposedly heard was Evan firing at a deer or something else, but Evan denies firing. Once inside, when Evan puts down his own gun to warm himself by the fire, Cassie pulls out her pistol. Evan realizes immediately that Cassie must have found the M16.
Despite being haunted by the memory of the Crucifix Soldier, Cassie pulls out her gun yet again on a person who may very well be innocent. This marks a point of no return in her relationship with Evan, as she can no longer pretend that she fully trusts him. Cassie’s pistol, which can be concealed, shows how people can conceal their own capacity for violence.
Themes
Evan tells Cassie that he found her M16 a few days ago while walking by the highway and recognized her initials on it. Cassie wants to believe him. She asks Evan how it’s possible to really trust another person. Evan says you can’t force yourself to believe anything, but you can let it happen by opening yourself up. Cassie puts down her gun. Evan says that meeting Cassie has taught him that holding on isn’t about finding something to live for—it’s about finding something you’re willing to die for.
Although Evan has an explanation for Cassie, there’s ultimately nothing that he can do to provide her with proof of his trustworthiness. Cassie accepts this reality and decides to embrace Evan anyway. As Evan points out, trusting another human isn’t so different from religious belief—each has a mysterious element to it that can’t be forced.
Themes
