theme essay for ender's game

Ender's Game Orson Scott Card

Ender's Game literature essays are academic essays for citation. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of Ender's Game.

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Ender’s Game Essays

Systemic violence in a culture as depicted in ender's game geoffrey yu zhang college, ender's game.

While many problems in civilization can be attributed to direct causes, underlying factors manipulate and play a large role towards determining a culture. Psychologists and scholars share a deep curiosity about these factors in order to understand...

Powerful and Understanding: The Development of Peter Wiggin David Alexander 9th Grade

In the best-selling novel Ender’s Game, by Orson Scott Card, Peter Wiggin is the brother of the protagonist, Ender Wiggin. Peter is proud and violent with an inability to be likable, one of the primary reasons he was not selected for battle...

Homophobia in Ender’s Game Anonymous College

Ender’s Game, a novel by Orson Scott Card, is a form of anti-homosexual propaganda. The essay “Kill the Bugger: Ender’s Game and the Question of Heteronormativity” by James Campbell goes in depth regarding the ways in which Orson Scott Card’s...

The Mark of Isolation in Adolescence Ashley Wilcox College

Adolescence marks a time for social interaction. Between school, sports and other activities, these social settings are the platform for peer groups to form and either accept a child or create an outcast. “The peer group has been defined as the...

Maturity in Ender's Game: A State of Mind, Not a Physical Quality Kassidy Schlachter 11th Grade

When a person is referred to as ‘mature’, it does not necessarily mean that he/she must be an adult. In Ender’s Game , by Orson Scott Card, maturity is a recurring theme. Yet, the main characters are mainly comprised of children. This brings forth...

How Manipulation Functions in Ender's Game Hyeonwoo Wang 8th Grade

The Ender’s Game , written by Orson Scott Card, presents a futuristic setting where the government selectively chooses, controls and trains young prodigies to win the endless battles against the “buggers” or aliens. Ender, the main character of...

Empathy for the Buggers: The Change in Ender Wiggins’ Morality Amy L Aris College

Orson Scott Card’s novel Ender’s Game features an intense change in the protagonist’s morality and motivation. Prior to interacting with the alien race, the Buggers, Ender has a very logical, and strategic approach to his problems. He chooses to...

The Use of Perception of Reality: A Close Reading of Ender's Game Anonymous 10th Grade

“Real. Not a game. Ender's mind was too tired to cope with it all. They weren't just points of light in the air, they were real ships that he had fought with and real ships he had destroyed. And a real world that he had blasted into oblivion...”...

The Effect of Context on Characters' Perseverance and Determination: Comparing 'Ender's Game' and 'Gattaca' Jasmine Lee 11th Grade

The true power behind the intrinsic relationship between a text and its context lies in its ability to evoke different responses form composers to the same universal message, as a result of the concerns in their respective social and political...

Aspects of “Ender’s Game”: A Sci-Fi Story Essay

Introduction.

Ender’s Game is a sci-fi story where the protagonist is Ender Wiggin, who can save the world thanks to his creative, strategic skills. The protagonist studies at a particular school where students use simulation games for further advancement. Ender performs better; because of this, he faces cruelty, non-dualism, and betrayal from his colleagues. In addition, he begins to realize that even higher military leaders are lying to him. Thus, the three main themes of the book are games, relationships between adults and children, and ruthlessness.

The game is the central concept, and its theme is traced throughout the novel. Ender constantly goes through training and does not give much meaning to games, thinking this is part of the learning process. However, in the aftermath, the line between the game world and reality becomes less noticeable and significantly affects his health. As a result, Ender completely loses his sense of truth, and his last simulation turns out to be not just a game but the destruction of another race. This theme shows how much a person can fall into oblivion and lose a sense of reality.

The second topic is the relationship between adults and young students. The reader sees the opposition between the way of thinking of children and adults. Even though the latter tries to control the students, two children succeed in manipulating their teachers. Ender is different in that he does not want to dominate but falls under the manipulation of superiors who recognize his intelligence. Thus, children and adults in the book have almost no differences. They all have their own emotions and experiences, taking each other’s words seriously.

Finally, ruthlessness is an essential theme in the novel, which is overcome by compassion. Ender is treated ruthlessly by both his readers and some of his students. However, the military commanders justify their actions with the desire to save humanity, while the children envy the boy. Ultimately, compassion helps to break the vicious circle, and Ender tries to keep the remnants of the race he destroyed.

In conclusion, the novel raises such essential themes as the loss of reality, the relationship between adults and children, and cruelty. Ender is forced to play simulations that significantly affect his condition. In addition, he does not want to manipulate anyone, from which adults influence him. Finally, the protagonist constantly experiences the ruthlessness of both teachers and students and tries to atone for this with compassion.

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IvyPanda. (2024, February 19). Aspects of “Ender’s Game”: A Sci-Fi Story. https://ivypanda.com/essays/aspects-of-enders-game-a-sci-fi-story/

"Aspects of “Ender’s Game”: A Sci-Fi Story." IvyPanda , 19 Feb. 2024, ivypanda.com/essays/aspects-of-enders-game-a-sci-fi-story/.

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IvyPanda . 2024. "Aspects of “Ender’s Game”: A Sci-Fi Story." February 19, 2024. https://ivypanda.com/essays/aspects-of-enders-game-a-sci-fi-story/.

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Bibliography

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Essays on Ender's Game

Exploring essay topics for ender's game.

Ender's Game is a thought-provoking and influential book that has sparked discussions and debate since its publication. Writing an essay about Ender's Game can help you delve deeper into its themes, characters, and messages. It's an opportunity to express your thoughts and opinions about the book and its impact on readers.

When choosing a topic for your Ender's Game essay, consider the themes and messages that resonate with you. You could explore the theme of leadership, the moral dilemmas faced by the characters, or the impact of war on young minds. The key is to choose a topic that you are passionate about and that allows you to express your unique perspective on the book.

Crafting Your Ender's Game Essay

For an argumentative essay about Ender's Game, you could explore topics such as the ethical implications of child soldiers, the use of manipulation and deception in warfare, or the role of empathy in leadership. These topics provide ample opportunity for debate and discussion, allowing you to present a strong argument backed by evidence from the book.

A cause and effect essay on Ender's Game could focus on the consequences of Ender's actions, the effects of isolation and pressure on young minds, or the impact of technology on warfare. These topics allow you to explore the interconnectedness of events and decisions in the book and their far-reaching effects.

An opinion essay on Ender's Game could delve into your personal interpretation of the book's themes, characters, and events. You could discuss your favorite character, the most impactful moment in the story, or your overall impression of the book. This type of essay allows you to express your subjective viewpoint and connect with readers on a personal level.

If you prefer to write an informative essay, you could explore topics such as the history of the book's publication, the author's inspiration for writing Ender's Game, or the critical reception of the novel. An informative essay allows you to present factual information in an engaging and accessible way, providing valuable insights into the book and its context.

For example, a thesis statement for an essay on Ender's Game could be: "The ethical complexities of child soldiers in Ender's Game highlight the moral dilemmas faced by young leaders in times of war."

In the of your essay, you could set the stage by discussing the impact of Ender's Game on readers, the central themes of the book, or the relevance of the story in today's world.

In the of your essay, you could reflect on the lasting impact of Ender's Game, the lessons learned from the characters' experiences, or the broader implications of the book's messages. This will leave a lasting impression on your readers and tie together the key points of your essay.

Manipulation in "Ender's Game"

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Homophobic Side of "Ender's Game" by Orson Scott Card

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The Theme of Big Government in "Ender’s Game" by Orson Scott Card

The theme of success in ender's game and the absolutely true diary of a part-time indian, humanity as an enemy of itself in "enders game".

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Ender’s Game

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Some time in the near future, Earth faces an existential threat from the Buggers, an alien race that has already killed millions of humans. In the previous Bugger invasion (70 years before Ender’s Game takes place), the Buggers destroyed large chunks of China—they were only stopped from destroying the planet altogether because of Mazer Rackham , the legendary pilot who led a fleet of spaceships to destroy the Bugger fleet. In order to ensure that humanity wins the next encounter with the Buggers, the International Fleet (IF)—the most powerful military group on Earth—monitors young children around the world, hoping to find signs of military genius. The brightest children are recruited for Battle School, where they’re trained in combat.

At the beginning of the story, Ender Wiggin is a 6-year-old child. He is the third child of his parents—his older brother is Peter Wiggin and his older sister is Valentine Wiggin . One day at school, Ender is bullied by a boy named Stilson . Instead of accepting Stilson’s insults, Ender savagely kicks him again and again. Ender then goes home, where Peter bullies him. Peter resents Ender, while his sister, Valentine, loves him.

The day after Ender’s fight with Stilson, the Wiggins are visited by Colonel Hyrum Graff , who informs Ender’s parents that Ender shows signs of great military potential. Graff pressures the Wiggins into letting Ender go to Battle School, and tells Ender that he’ll be trained to protect the planet from Bugger aggression. Ender agrees to fight in Battle School, even though he’ll miss Valentine, whom he loves more than anyone.

Over his first months in Battle School, Ender builds up a friendship with Shen and Alai , two new students. Ender takes classes and plays many war games, including a computer simulation called the Giant game. Ender is soon transferred to fight in an army—at Battle School, older students are sent to different armies and made to fight one another in the battleroom , a zero-gravity chamber in which they can use laser guns to “freeze” their opponents. Ender is sent to the Salamander Army, where his commander, the arrogant Bonzo Madrid , immediately dislikes him. Bonzo orders Ender never to fire his gun during a battle, and Ender reluctantly agrees. Over time, however, he becomes frustrated with Bonzo’s orders, and in a battle, he draws his gun and succeeds in shooting many opponents. Bonzo is furious, and slaps Ender in the face. Soon afterwards, he trades Ender to Rat Army. In the Rat Army, Ender rises to the top of the battleroom “standings” and gains a reputation as a brilliant soldier.

Back on Earth, almost two years have passed since Ender left. One day, Peter, now an early teenager, tells Valentine (10 years old) that he wants her help to change the world. He explains that the Bugger Wars are coming to an end—when this happens, there will undoubtedly be a huge war on Earth (where the U.S. and Russia are still competing superpowers). Peter wants to use writing to control politics leading up to this war. He thinks that with Valentine’s help, he can rise to lead the world. In the coming months, Peter and Valentine use computers to write a series of popular articles. Peter, going by the name “Locke,” argues for peace and stability, while Valentine, writing under the name “Demosthenes,” promotes conflict and paranoia.

Graff plans to give Ender a series of increasingly severe challenges designed to make him the best commander possible. Ender is assigned command of an army consisting of young, mediocre students. He is tough on his soldiers, and picks on one of them, Bean . Nevertheless, Ender leads his troops to victory in battle after battle. Graff gives Ender more battles to fight. As time goes on, Ender feels himself becoming hated: his old friends barely talk to him, and when he easily defeats Bonzo, he learns that Bonzo wants to kill him.

One day, Ender is taking a shower when he turns to discover Bonzo, joined by a gang. Ender goads Bonzo into fighting him one-on-one, and he kicks Bonzo savagely in the groin. We learn that Graff was responsible for manipulating Bonzo against Ender, and will continue to give Ender tougher and tougher challenges. On the same day that Ender hurts Bonzo, Graff gives him a battle to fight. Although Ender is able to win the battle, he has a breakdown, and screams, “The game is over!” Afterwards, he is transferred to Command School. Before his transfer, Ender is sent to Earth with Graff.

On Earth, Valentine and Peter have used their writing to rise to prominence in politics. Peter plans to use Valentine’s influence ensure himself a strong coalition of supporters. Meanwhile, Graff convinces Valentine to talk to Ender one more time. Valentine visits Ender in Florida, and discovers that the International Fleet has turned Ender into a dangerous killer. Nevertheless, she tells Ender, honestly, that she’s not afraid of him. Ender is inspired to fight: seeing Earth and Valentine again has reminded him that he must beat the Buggers.

Ender and Graff travel to Command School, on the distant planet Eros. There, Ender meets his new teacher, the legendary Mazer Rackham. Mazer tells Ender what he knows about the Buggers: they’re capable of communicating with each other by ESP, and are controlled by a queen—Mazer defeated the Buggers by killing their queen. Mazer gives Ender a series of computer-simulated battles to fight. Ender is also reunited with his old friends, including Alai, Shen, and Bean. Ender proceeds with fighting against the computer simulations.

After months of difficult battles, Ender is told that he has only one battle left to fight. In it, he’ll face a large enemy force that’s protecting a simulation of the Bugger home planet, where the queen lives. Mazer stresses that Ender will have to make the right choice about what to do. Ender proceeds with his game. He decides to end the battle as quickly as he can by “bending” the rules. He sends a deadly missile, the “Dr. Device,” toward the Bugger planet, destroying the queen and thus wiping out all other Bugger forces. As he completes his game, Ender learns the truth: the game was always real. Ever since arriving at Command School, Ender was commanding real troops and fighting real Buggers. By making the decision to destroy the Bugger planet, Ender has won the war. Ender is horrified when he learns that he’s wiped out an entire species. He realizes that he is the killer he always feared he was—a monster.

Ender is then prevented from returning to Earth, to avoid being manipulated by other countries. One day Ender finds Valentine waiting for him in his room. Valentine tells Ender that Peter, writing as Locke, is quickly rising to power. Peter had plotted to use his family connection to Ender to gain more power—Valentine, however, blackmailed Peter into arranging for Ender to become the governor of a new colony far from Earth. Ender agrees to travel to the new colony (a former Bugger planet) with Valentine.

Ender becomes a popular governor there. One day, he goes exploring on his new planet, and is amazed to find a field containing recreated details from his childhood, as well as elements from the Giant game at Battle School. There Ender also finds a large insect pupa —the last surviving Bugger queen. Ender, communicating with the queen telepathically, realizes that the Buggers had no intention of attacking humans again after their first invasion. Ender also realizes that the Bugger queen has been watching him for years, and prepared this place so that Ender could help repopulate the Bugger species and atone for his crimes. Ender agrees to do this, and he and Valentine go off in search of a new world where the Buggers can live in peace.

Ender's Game

77 pages • 2 hours read

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Chapters 13-15

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Discussion Questions

Peter and Valentine Wiggin adopt online political personas—respectively, Locke and Demosthenes, who are based on historical figures. How do Locke and Demosthenes’s real-life counterparts compare and contrast with their views as described in the novel?

Ender’s Game was a major influence on the Science Fiction genre in its themes and tropes. What influences permeate the genre? Describe how these elements contribute to the genre’s purpose.

Peter and Valentine were close to taking on Ender’s role in Battle School. Using knowledge of their respective personalities and leadership styles, describe how Peter and/or Valentine would have handled Battle School differently from Ender.

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