Unethical experiments

The actual conflict within the novel The Wave by Morton Rhue arises from a film about National Socialism. Following the documentary, history teacher Ben Ross is unable to explain to his students in a comprehensible way why the German population did not resist Hitler: “Why hadn’t he been able to give the students adequate answers to their questions? Was the behavior of the majority of Germans during the Nazi regime really so inexplicable?” (Chapter 4, 0%) . While he is pondering this question, an idea begins to shape up.

Together with his students, Ben wants to try out an experiment to see if it can provide him and his students with answers to their questions. He establishes a movement: The Wave. In this way, he wants to give his students a better understanding of the conditions of that time. However, this experiment s...