Themes: Humanity




 * For other themes, see Themes.

Humanity is a very large theme within The Walking Dead, with characters either losing their humanity, or desperately attempting to grasp, and hold on to it.

The Comic

 * Series protagonist Rick Grimes is in a constant conflict of what humanity has truly become in the new world, having lost nearly everything and more as he continues to survive and outlive others in the apocalypse. There are several key instances of Rick showing his humanity as the apocalypse rages on:
 * Offering Morgan Jones weapons from a stockpile in the Sheriff's Department. (Issue 2)
 * Saving the lives of survivors, countless times.
 * Seeking out his family and protecting them no matter the cost.(Comic Series)
 * Morgan Jones and his son Duane take in Rick Grimes after he awakens from his coma. (Issue 2)

The TV-Series

 * Rick offered a number of weapons to the nursing home survivors. (Vatos)
 * Hershel Greene, Rick Grimes, and Glenn didn't leave Randall to his fate and instead took him to the Greene farm. (Triggerfinger)
 * Even though Randall's group were enemies, Dale Horvath wished to spare Randall's life. (Better Angels)
 * Daryl Dixon shot Dale Horvarth, as to prevent suffering in the last moments of his life. (Better Angels)
 * T-Dog argued with Rick over allowing Oscar and Axel to stay with them, in a similar fashion as Dale did for Randall.

Webisodes

 * Andrew shot Mike Palmer so he did not have to suffer the pain of reanimation. (Neighborly Advice)
 * Mike killed his undead wife so she did not have to suffer. (Neighborly Advice)
 * Mike allowed Andrew to take all of his weapons. (Neighborly Advice)

The Video Game

 * Even though Larry attemped to kill Duck, Lee assisted him in searching for his pills. (A New Day)
 * Lee can choose to spare Andrew and Danny St. John. (Starved For Help)
 * Lee can choose to attempt saving Larry in the meat locker, even if Larry represented a threat for him. (Starved For Help)

Dead Reckoning
Coming

Social Game

 * The player goes out countless times to attempt saving other survivors of the apocalypse. (The Walking Dead Social Game)
 * The player risk's his/her life countless times to retrieve supplies to share around the camp site. (The Walking Dead Social Game)

Assault
Coming

The Novel Series

 * Tara Chalmers spares the lives of Philip, Brian, and Penny Blake, as well as Nick Parsons. (Rise of the Governor)
 * Nick accepted Cher's request and killed her and Sonny, so that she wouldn't have to suffer. (Rise of the Governor)
 * Nick tried several times to make Penny rest in peace, by killing the zombified version of her. (Rise of the Governor)