Childhood Loneliness
Childhood loneliness is a considerable problem that can affect young children in many ways, and may have long-term negative consequences. In the novels, Indian Killer, by Sherman Alexie, and Ender's Game, but Orson Scott Card, the powerful portrayal of childhood loneliness is overwhelming.
After years of being monitored by government officials, Ender Wiggins, the main character of Orson Scott Card's Ender's Game, finds himself completely alone. The loneliness set's in as he finds himself in a new school, away from the watchful eyes of the government and bared to the world. He is a Third. This feeling of being a third makes Ender feel even more isolated, "It was not his fault he was a Third. It was the government's idea, they were the ones who authorized it - how else could a Third like Ender have got into school?" (Card 5). There was no one there to keep the bullies away now. Although he never really liked the monitor, he now found himself alone and missing the advent ages of having it on and knowing that someone, somewhere was always with him and watching him. At battle school, Ender knows that he will be isolated from the other students. Colonel Graff tells the other students of Ender and how superior his talents and intelligence is compared to the rest of the group. The other students don't like Ender and don't trust him. Throughout battle school, Ender is kept from his family and isolated from other children.
Bernard makes life even more miserable and lonely for Ender as he doesn't like him and builds a gang of other kids to help torture, insult, and abuse Ender. This gang torments Ender to the point were he feels backed into a corner and has no choice but to fight his way out. With this new found power, Ender gains a friend in Shen. His loneliness seems to subside for a short time as he makes a small group of friends. The adults see how he has gained followers and decide to move him to the Salamander Army in hopes that re-isolation would ignite that same spark in him. Once again, loneliness finds Ender. Because of his superior power and intelligence, he continually finds himself isolated and alone. Colonel Graff states that "Isolation is the optimum environment for creativity" (Card 149).
From the first moment that we wake up we know that we are awake, but have you ever had a sensation that you are dreaming but you know you are awake? This is the same way Neo felt in his world in the movie the Matrix. Ender Wiggen was in the same situation in the novel Ender’s Game, written by Orson Scott Card. He was living in a place where no one accepted him because he was a third, which means that he belongs to the government for a special purpose. The comparisons of Neo and Ender through their different conflicts made believe, important decision to make and stimulus that people need and the consequences that brings after making decision.
In this book, Ender is most particularly manipulated by Graff, the I.F. soldier who watches over him. Even though Graff is secretly Ender’s friend, Colonel Graff is the recipient of a lot of doubt and negativity coming from Ender. The constant belief that Graff is supposedly deceitful pushes Ender to perform better. Now away
I related to Ender with many of the decisions that he was forced to make. I agree with his philosophy about ending the fight so that no more fights can grow from it, finishing your opponent, but only in self defense, and standing up too bully's. Ender's game reminded me of countries that expect to much for their children, and that would give everything for them to succeed, almost like overprotective parents.
Leading up to that he faces enemies and obstacles in the form of bigger kids and the games that he wins thoroughly, to the point where he cannot be beat. He always is one set ahead of whatever is thrown at him. Until Ender finds the Bugger Queen pupa.” Reached into the cavity and took out the cocoon.” (Card 321) Here in this scene Ender is going against what we have come to see as part of who he is. He has the intent to allow the Buggers to rebuild and try to live along side of humans. Normally he destroys something so thoroughly that it can never hurt him or the people he is fighting for again. This is perhaps one of the very best examples of the theme that one’s past does not define them or their
Ender’s game is a science fiction novel written by Orson Scott card it was published in 1985. This book is in the future when in the story earth has been invaded by an alien race and is almost destroyed by the invasion but wins the battle and to prevent earth from being destroyed if they return they create the International fleet which recruits kids an teaches them to be commanders. The chapter that I am going to analyze is chapter one which is called Third. This chapter shows how Ender is being manipulated since the start and how he has to deal with being different by being a third.
Ender’s Game: Valentine’s Character Development. Compassionate, empathetic, and witty. It was obvious from the moment Valentine Wiggin first appeared in Ender’s Game that she possessed these traits. These three traits, as well as her ability to be protective, are showcased very early on in the story. By the end of the book, Valentine has become a powerful, mature, and fearless young woman.
The novel Ender’s Game is written by Orson Schott Card. It is about a young boy who is sent to battle school. He meets friends and makes adversaries. In battle school, out in space, Ender, the young boy is a genius and is taught many tactics to destroy their prime enemy the buggers. He excels in school and battles his way into command school before the required age. There he is told he is battling buggers in simulations or is he? Throughout the novel, Ender is manipulated, bullied, and isolated, which creates many themes and messages. In this novel Ender’s Game the main theme is life is a game. Three characters that best prove this are Ender, Peter, and Bonzo.
In the beginning of the book, Ender is ashamed when his decisions harm others. After receiving ‘special treatment’ on his way to Battle School, Ender is being harassed
Through the entire story, we watch as Ender is manipulated and wronged by authority figures. He does not receive the love, affection and care that parents are supposed to deliver to their children. He is constantly being physically and mentally abused by his older brother and school bullies, yet no adult ever comes to his rescue. This pattern isn’t just apparent during his life on Earth because it continues and follows him as he moves on to battle school. A specific example of this can be seen as him and his launch group are making the journey to the school for the first time. During this trip Graft makes a show of telling all the other launchees how impressive Ender is, which results in him being repeatedly struck in the head. Not only does this authority figure fail to intervene and help Ender, but as the abuse continues Ender has a sudden realization. “Then it had become clear. Graft had deliberately caused it”(Card, 32). This example shows how someone who
In Ender’s Game, a science fiction novel written by Orson Scott Card, many people meet many challenges that make them move forward. One of the challenges involved in this novel is isolation. Graff isolates Ender, the protagonist, because he has an excellent mind (Card 34). In addition, the World Government trusts Ender to defeat the buggers, which will destroy the entire human race, in the next invasion (Card 34). Therefore, isolation makes him prepare to become a stronger person. Another challenge discovered in this novel is the struggle between Ender and Bonzo. According to Card, Ender gains respect from his friends, since he wins the battle between Ender’s Dragon’s army and Bonzo’s Salamander’s army (Card 181-182). As a matter of fact, Bonzo cannot accept the lost (Card 195). Prior to Ender’s leadership in his army, Bonzo is cruel, he gives a lot of orders, and one incident is when he has slapped Ender for disobeying him (Card 77, 86-87, 95). One day, after the battle, Bonzo and his friends surround Ender in the shower room and plan to kill him (Card 207-208)...
Ender Wiggin has been isolated throughout his life from the students at his school on earth, the students at the Battle School and also the teachers in each school. Ender’s peers have always thought he was different since the day he was born. Excluding him, bullying him because he was the “Third Child”, isolating him and making him feel all alone, surrounding him with enemies. An example of this is when Ender thinks “They might even hit him now-- no one could see anymore, and so no one would come to Ender's rescue.” (Card, 5) Ender knew that the government was his only form of protection and would no longer be there to scare off his bullies. Ender was once again surrounded with fear and isolation, fear because there would be no one to watch over him anymore and isolation because he was going to have no one to fall back on; he was all alone once again. The teachers that he had thought he could trust only turned out to betray him. Using him for their ow...
...is enemy, he became the most ruthless and yet most compassionate commander the world has ever seen in all the wars the human race has withstood. Above all, however, isolation is the tool that made all the attributes transparent and viable to Ender and to the I.F. Beyond the war, Ender became more than just a tool to be used; he became a savior. A savior of not only one, but two different races bent on destroying each other. Ender became the very definition of Hope.
Ender is selected to go to Battle School in space because of the actions he has displayed against a bully after a device known as a monitor, which allows the leaders of the I.F. to watch and hear everything Ender perceives. Although Ender’s conception was predetermined (in this time period, families are only allowed to have two children unless stated by the government which is why Ender is often called a “Third”), he had to display the correct characteristics to be selected. Ender’s siblings, Peter and Valentine also wore the monitor, but neither wore it as long nor was selected because Peter was too cruel and Valentine was too mild. Once Ender arrives, he makes a couple new friends from the other selected children, including a boy named Alai. When Ender is alone, he plays a mind game and progresses farther than anyone has before so out of the blue, Ender becomes promoted to a group called Salamander Army, where he befriends the only girl, Petra Arkanian, at Battle School. As Ender continues to display his brilliance, he is continuously being promot...
As a child, Ender is constantly bullied at school for being a “Third”, because in this futuristic world, you need special permission to have more than two kids. He quickly learns to stand up and
Loneliness is a reoccurring theme in all types of literature. “Eleanor Rigby,'; by John Lennon and Paul McCartney is a fine example of the theme of loneliness in poetry. The two characters in "Eleanor Rigby" are compared by their loneliness through the extensive use of symbols.