Main Themes in the Novel
Battle/Warfare: The biggest and most important part about Ender’s life is the war against the buggers. If there were no war, then Ender wouldn’t go to Battle School, and wouldn't have been born because his purpose of being born was to fight against the buggers. At the Battle School it is all about battle and warfare, he fights everyday against other armies. Even before the Battle School when Ender lived on Earth he fought wars against his brother Peter, and bullies in his school. Enders whole life has been made up of little battles.
Love & Friendship: In the book Ender builds many friendships, and companionships. Without have Alai and Shen Ender might have not made it through Battle School sane. He has troubles making and keeping friends but in the book it shows the good effect of having friends and how they will help you through your toughest times. The love with Valentine had kept him safe from Peter at home, without Valentine, Ender would have had to handle Peter by himself, and with the age difference between Peter and Ender, he would have had a tough time. Having his friends and beloved sister helped him make it through, to reach his full potential.
"And it came down to this: In the moment when I truly understand my enemy, understand him well enough to defeat him, then in that very moment I also love him. I think it's impossible to really understand somebody, what they want, what they believe, and not love them the way they love themselves. And then, in that very moment when I love them--"
"You beat them." pg 238
Ender must fully understand his enemy and love them before he can beat them, that is what Ender states in the quote above.
Competition: Within the Battle School the students attending have a high amount of competition. All commanders are trying to make their soldiers the best of the best so then they can win battles. The score board keeps stats of each player making competition to be at the top of the list. The whole school is based around competition, but sometimes it gets over the top and causes big fights and sometimes deaths.
Strength, Skill and strategy: No one can beat Ender. Ender is the smartest boy in the world, and is the only person in the world that could beat the buggers. Throughout the Battle School and Commander School he builds strategy to mislead the enemy and catch them off guard. He is advanced with learning he understands things quickly and is a born leader, able to lead his army to victory!
Isolation: Since the beginning Graff has been focusing on isolating Ender to make him the best in the school. Graff had told everyone in Ender's launch group that he is the best, that made everyone envy him. When Graff did that Ender learned that he had to show everyone that Graff was right that he is the best. Once everyone realized it he was respected for his brilliance.
Manipulation- “I've spent my life as someone's pawn" pg 312. Much of this novel is about how adults manipulate Ender in order to fulfill their needs; they trick him and lie to him and tell him just enough so that he can defeat the buggers. Peter manipulates Valentine into helping him "take over" the world through the internet and Valentine ends up manipulating the world through the internet and her books.
Love & Friendship: In the book Ender builds many friendships, and companionships. Without have Alai and Shen Ender might have not made it through Battle School sane. He has troubles making and keeping friends but in the book it shows the good effect of having friends and how they will help you through your toughest times. The love with Valentine had kept him safe from Peter at home, without Valentine, Ender would have had to handle Peter by himself, and with the age difference between Peter and Ender, he would have had a tough time. Having his friends and beloved sister helped him make it through, to reach his full potential.
"And it came down to this: In the moment when I truly understand my enemy, understand him well enough to defeat him, then in that very moment I also love him. I think it's impossible to really understand somebody, what they want, what they believe, and not love them the way they love themselves. And then, in that very moment when I love them--"
"You beat them." pg 238
Ender must fully understand his enemy and love them before he can beat them, that is what Ender states in the quote above.
Competition: Within the Battle School the students attending have a high amount of competition. All commanders are trying to make their soldiers the best of the best so then they can win battles. The score board keeps stats of each player making competition to be at the top of the list. The whole school is based around competition, but sometimes it gets over the top and causes big fights and sometimes deaths.
Strength, Skill and strategy: No one can beat Ender. Ender is the smartest boy in the world, and is the only person in the world that could beat the buggers. Throughout the Battle School and Commander School he builds strategy to mislead the enemy and catch them off guard. He is advanced with learning he understands things quickly and is a born leader, able to lead his army to victory!
Isolation: Since the beginning Graff has been focusing on isolating Ender to make him the best in the school. Graff had told everyone in Ender's launch group that he is the best, that made everyone envy him. When Graff did that Ender learned that he had to show everyone that Graff was right that he is the best. Once everyone realized it he was respected for his brilliance.
Manipulation- “I've spent my life as someone's pawn" pg 312. Much of this novel is about how adults manipulate Ender in order to fulfill their needs; they trick him and lie to him and tell him just enough so that he can defeat the buggers. Peter manipulates Valentine into helping him "take over" the world through the internet and Valentine ends up manipulating the world through the internet and her books.