John Kessel’s essay, Creating the Innocent Killer, is a character study of Andrew ‘Ender’ Wiggin, from Orson Scott Card’s Ender’s Game. The essay provides an interesting look into who Ender actually is underneath all of Card’s world manipulation, and the message that Card was trying to send through Ender’s existence in the story. Essentially, the message that Kessel sees in the novel is that ‘actions should be judged based on intentions, rather than results,’ which is a belief that is generally be untrue. The theory that this message was intentionally being portrayed in Ender’s journey is backed up by large amounts of evidence, both from the book, and from Card himself. This isn’t all too hard to prove. The big problem with it all, is that Card failed at following his own belief. He takes the ‘Ender-is-a-saint-no-matter-what thing’ too far, and doesn’t compensate properly. This opens up a lot of holes in his argument.
Countless times, Ender does something horrible, but is forgiven for it. Card works hard to generate copious amounts of pity and empathy for Ender throughout the beginning of the book, and then proceeds to reveal what Ender has actually been doing throughout the story. That’s okay though, because Ender is actually innocent and the victim. The entire plot consists of Ender is unknowingly committing murder, abuse, and
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Following this line of thought, Ender’s actions during the final make him a bad person, thus disproving Card’s presentation of Ender as a perfect person with no irredeemable flaws. In conclusion, Kessel is certainly correct in his claims towards Ender’s Game and it’s hidden message. This essay takes Kessel’s point even farther however. Not only does it agree that Card tries to insert his own moral views into the book, this essay attempts to show where Card messed up, and went too
People do bad things; they could steal some money, break a mirror, or kill an entire alien race to save his people. One boy managed to do it in Enders Game which is a tale of a young boy who will soon find out what his purpose in life is. Ender Wiggin, a six year old boy, is asked to go to battle school to prepare for a 3rd war with an alien race. When all the battles stopped; he finds an egg to produce more of the aliens and tries to find a planet for them to live. This great story was made not just a book, but also a movie and between the two, the movie shows more of a visual outlook on how Ender defeats an army of aliens.
Rachel keomanivong P4 Ender’s Game Theme I believe the main theme of Ender’s game is compassion. Ender is a nine and half year old leader at his battle school, he is known as the most celebrated soldier and became a leader or commander. As Ender progresses in leading his own army or group of soldiers, he is sure to do it in a mannered way and effectively. As of chapter 10 and 11, Ender has found ways to teach his callings how important battles are to him and how they can be effective.
As stated in the United States Declaration of Independence, the writers assert that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life liberty and the pursuit of happiness. This is a phrase which has been quoted many times, yet still remains as profound today as the day when it was penned. America was based on the ideal that each person is entitled to both self-determination and the right to pursue that as the person feels fit. Consequently, this idea has also been addressed by numerous authors, predominantly through narratives pertaining to the lack of said freedoms. One author, Orson Scott Card, writer of “Ender’s Game”, details the effects of depravation of the right
In his article, Kessel introduced his critical essay with a quote from Card, where he explains how his morals are ever present in the novel. Kessel then goes on to list all the ways Ender was abused in the book and how that added with Card’s sympathy throughout the novel is seemingly used to victimize Ender. Lastly, Kessel outlines what a killer encompases and how Ender should be considered a killer even though his intentions were harmless. Throughout his piece, Kessel uses many points that suggest that Ender wasn’t as innocent as he appeared to be.
When another boy justifies the fate of Bonzo, Ender weeps. (3) “I didn’t want to hurt him!” he insists. “Why didn’t he just leave me alone!” (p. 233)
Ender cannot be manipulated like the other kids, he figures out early on that the games they play are real battles against the buggers. He is strongly against destruction and doing damage but he believes that “[he has] to fight this now, and for all time, or I’ll fight it every day and it will get worse and worse” (Card). Ender understands that he must defeat the “game” in order to stop playing it and being forced to cause more
There are many things in Orson Scott Card’s life that has affected Ender’s Game. Those things affected our lives in the process, by changing the story. Orson Scott Card thought of Ender’s Game as a concept when he was 16, and it stuck to the back of his mind until he wrote it. He first wrote it as a short story. The short story won the 1977 John W. Campbell Award for best new writer.
And Ender hated himself.” () Virtually identical to the emotional consequence Ender formerly suffered from Stilson, delineates his sentiments regarding Bernard; Card not developing on his idea in the slightest, keeping Ender’s own hatred of himself and the potential individual he apparently mocks
(34) Ender detests Graff’s accusation; unable to even contemplate the idea of falling under the classification of murderer. But Graff’s words strike a chord in Ender’s perception of himself, introducing him to the idea that he may encompass a scrap of similarity to Peter. In the end, Ender stands by his humanity, desperately reassuring himself of his noble nature. (ender already knows he is like peter(last page of chapter 1) may want to
On Earth there was a bully named, Stilson. Ender found himself getting physically abused by him daily and when he finally got his opportunity, he made sure he was never bullied again. In battle school, there was a commander named, Bonzo that threatened to kill him; then, in the same scenario Ender decided to make sure that he would win the war and erase all future battles. In argument with Major Anderson, Graff states, “Ender’s not a killer. He just wins--thoroughly” (226).
Even in the epilogue following the final battle, this theme is sustained with Ender discovering that he unintentionally murdered both Stilson
However, the majority of the battles he fights are constructed and orchestrated and controlled by the Adults. Ender lives in a military archetype which assumes humans are compliant, flexible, controllable pawns, tool to be used for the benefit of others. Ender’s insecurities,doubts and fears, as to why he is so isolated, how he is becoming more like petter, how he is an ostracized genius, all that sets him apart– make him diligent, sympathetic, preservant, resilient, flexible, and above all pliable, impressionable, malleable, qualities far more common in children. Supporting quote: “‘So what do we do now?’ asked Alai.
The first major event that showed Ender enduring some troubles was when he woke up in the middle of the night and found that “there was blood” on his bed, and he had been “gnawing on his own fist” (285) in the middle of the night, in his sleep. This revealed to the reader that the strong and powerful Ender might be beginning to crack and show a
Calculating Judgments For someone so young, Ender is exceptionally calculating. In almost the very beginning of the novel, the author shows Ender being bullied by Stilson and his gang. Ender realizes that he must thoroughly beat Stilson so the rest of the gang wouldn’t pick on Ender ever
It is said when Ender exclaims, “I didn’t want to kill them all. I didn’t want to kill anyone! I’m not a killer” (Card 297). This statement