Ender's Game Literary Analysis

“The most sophisticated people I know - inside they are all children. ” ― Jim Henson
On the inside or the out, children have something no one else does. It is innocence. They laugh, they play, they learn. They are ultimately children. Their innocence is what brings them ask questions and learn further. It is an entitlement that at the same time is sacred, as it is easily lost. In the novel, Ender’s Game, by “Orson Scott Card”, a young boy is thrown into battle school to eventually save the world from the “buggers”. Over time, he is manipulated countless times by many adults. He suffers, yet in victory. He never seems to be defeated in any game or test that is brought upon him. He is astonishingly talented at everything he does, and

However, this school is for battle. The children are taught to fight, kill, and defeat instead of having the same educational experience other kids their age have. There is nothing innocent about this. In the battle school they play games, but they’re military games. They are put up against each other, in hopes of brutally conquering one another. They are forced to make tough decisions that likely affected their mentality. Ender, as previously said, is manipulated by adults. Instead of being nurtured and guided by them, he is tricked and put through tests that are meant to break him. Yet, he doesn’t break. He proves everyone wrong and comes out on top, despite suffering great despair. The irony of his brutal success is that he did not want it in the first place. In Chapter 3, page 26, Ender says “I don’t want to go, but I will.” He is forced into a role of the hero, as he thinks it is his duty. Even though he is brilliant, Ender is still a child and should not be put under such responsibility. That is why I chose this as one of the themes, His innocence, as well as his emotion and values is pushed away by the adults surrounding