the wave - characterization of Ben Ross
The Wave – Characterization of Ben Ross
Ben Ross is one of the main characters in the novel „The Wave“, written by Morton Rhue in 1981. The story is based on a true story.
Ben Ross is a history teacher at the Gordon High School. He is technical untalented and always wants the best for his students. He tries to teach his lessons in a practically way to show his students the „main aspects of history”. When he started to talk with his students about Nazi Germany and if it is possible that nowadays the government might be lead by a leader, the students could not imagine that this can be happen again. With this experiment, called „The Wave“, he wanted to show that fascism is nowadays still possible and how easy it is to influence human beings settings. At the beginning of the experiment he introduced some guidelines, like „Strength through discipline“.
With the experiment he wants to get the class in one community which acts by laws and guidelines. First he was fascinated how the students suddenly participated in the lessons like Robert how is normally an outsider but through the organization they get friendly to him. Though Ben Ross enjoys to be leader and to have the power of the actions of his students, his wife becomes sceptical of the project.
Despite all cautions of his wife, he still thinks that he can handle everything. Normally she supports him with each project but at „The Wave“ she worries about the students and forces her husband to put an end to it.
Especially he likes that everything is addicted to him and he is not more addicted to somebody but unfortunately to late he noticed that he had got power-obsessed.
Eventually he decides to stop the project while he shows his students a picture of Hitler and says that fascism is nowadays still possible.
All in all is Ben Ross an intelligent and ambitious teacher who wanted to intrigue his class for a topic but unfortunately he overstates the case with his intention.
Ben Ross is one of the main characters in the novel „The Wave“, written by Morton Rhue in 1981. The story is based on a true story.
Ben Ross is a history teacher at the Gordon High School. He is technical untalented and always wants the best for his students. He tries to teach his lessons in a practically way to show his students the „main aspects of history”. When he started to talk with his students about Nazi Germany and if it is possible that nowadays the government might be lead by a leader, the students could not imagine that this can be happen again. With this experiment, called „The Wave“, he wanted to show that fascism is nowadays still possible and how easy it is to influence human beings settings. At the beginning of the experiment he introduced some guidelines, like „Strength through discipline“.
With the experiment he wants to get the class in one community which acts by laws and guidelines. First he was fascinated how the students suddenly participated in the lessons like Robert how is normally an outsider but through the organization they get friendly to him. Though Ben Ross enjoys to be leader and to have the power of the actions of his students, his wife becomes sceptical of the project.
Despite all cautions of his wife, he still thinks that he can handle everything. Normally she supports him with each project but at „The Wave“ she worries about the students and forces her husband to put an end to it.
Especially he likes that everything is addicted to him and he is not more addicted to somebody but unfortunately to late he noticed that he had got power-obsessed.
Eventually he decides to stop the project while he shows his students a picture of Hitler and says that fascism is nowadays still possible.
All in all is Ben Ross an intelligent and ambitious teacher who wanted to intrigue his class for a topic but unfortunately he overstates the case with his intention.