Ender's Game Character Analysis Essay

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Ender’s Game is a 1985 science fiction novel by Orson Scott Key. Set in the future where an insectoid alien species, the Formics (or the buggers), have attacked Earth twice with devastating results for the human species, Andrew “Ender” Wiggins is humanity's last hope. A child prodigy and main character of Ender’s Game, Ender is sent to Battle School to learn how to fight and destroy the buggers. He is chosen because his characteristics are perfect to be a commander. Some traits that are very important in making Ender who he is are his calculating judgments, creativity, and compassion. 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 …show more content…

His compassion is proven many times, and one of them is the fact that he hates that he feels just like Peter. If Ender had no compassion, why would he have regretted acting like Peter? Ender is also very sympathetic to Bean (even though Ender tries not to show it) and Ender would see himself in Bean, how small and young Bean is but still so determined. Ender initially realizes that he is isolating Bean because Ender himself was once isolated and he wants to force Bean to flourish like Ender did. Ender also has so much empathy that he would think like the buggers, and could understand and anticipate them. This was one of the reasons why he was the perfect choice to be the commander. He also had a tremendous amount of guilt after (unknowingly) killing all the buggers and the pilots he and the squad leaders had controlled. This guilt would only be resolved when Ender finds a purpose as Speaker for the Dead and finding a safe place for the egg to