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Chapter 85
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 tries to lunge at Vosch, but Ben holds her back, showing that Sammy is still alive. Apparently, someone has hacked into the base’s computer system. Vosch runs out of the room, leaving behind a Silencer. Cassie realizes Evan must still be alive too. In fact, she sees a dead cockroach fall from the ventilation grate above and realizes it must be a signal from Evan.
For as powerful as Vosch is, this passage shows how he is also a victim of his pride, which allows Ben, Cassie, and Evan to be a step ahead of him. Just as humanity became vulnerable due to its dependence on technology, Vosch himself has become vulnerable due to his base’s interconnected computer system.
Themes
Cassie hits one Silencer toward the grate, and Evan shoots him. Cassie then shoots the Silencer near Sammy. She tells Evan it’s safe to come out. Evan is surprised when Cassie introduces him to Ben Parish—he remembers Ben from Cassie’s diary.
Although as a whole the tone of the novel is very bleak, there are a few humorous moments to balance it out, like this one where Evan realizes who Ben is. Unconventional love triangles are a staple of young adult fiction, and in this case, the potential love triangle reflects how parts of humanity like romance live on even in difficult times.
Themes
Ben, Cassie, Sammy, and Evan all start escaping down a corridor. Evan says the plan is just to walk out. At a certain point, Evan stops and gives instructions about how to go ahead. He says he has something to do on his own before he meets up with her again. Cassie doesn’t want him to leave, but he promises to come back. Ben asks what Evan is doing, and Cassie realizes that Evan is likely headed toward the armory—he plans to blow the whole base up.
Evan’s decision to try to blow the base up is another turning point for him, as he tries to remove all of his former connection to the aliens. In many ways, it is the next logical step after burning down his farmhouse. His growth and change depends on destroying his previous identity as a loyal and deadly alien.
Themes
