In "Dead Wake: The Last Crossing of the Lusitania," Erik Larson discusses the universal challenge of dealing with rejection and its impact on friendships. The protagonist, like many throughout history, faces the difficult task of managing personal feelings of rejection while striving to maintain important relationships. This struggle highlights a timeless aspect of human connection, emphasizing that both men and women have grappled with similar emotional conflicts across different eras.

Larson illustrates how the fear of losing a friend forever due to rejection can lead to complex emotional responses. The narrative encapsulates the idea that, despite societal differences, the desire to keep valuable connections intact is a shared experience, revealing the enduring nature of friendship and the lengths individuals will go to protect it, even in the face of adversity.