Examples Of Ender's Game Graff Identity

People Wear Identities and Unconsciously Become Them

Something almost everyone does in life is change and adapt to the places we go and the people we spend time with. We could be putting on a face to fit in, and/or making a character out of ourselves, and then without realizing it, start acting and thinking as our character would. Throughout the book Ender’s Game we see several examples of this. Occasionally we will see other people for a certain skill or talent, and then we appoint them “the math genius” or “the artist”. We put pressure on people, and then they feel like they can’t change or they’ll disappoint others. It is so very stressful to be yourself, so why not create a new identity? “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed

In chapter 1 we hear Graff speak, although we do not know it is him. By chapter 15 we know the character fairly well. In chapter 10 Graff says “Well, yes, for a few minutes there, it actually occurred to me to wonder what kind of man would heal a broken child of some of his hurt, just so he could throw him back into battle again. A little private moral dilemma. Please overlook it. I was tired.” -pp. 154-155. This shows that Graff is undoubtedly battling with his conscience. The one who is in charge of where Ender is placed, what Ender does, and so much more, is Graff. This incredible weight is on his shoulders to keep Ender above his peers, fully trained, and isolated enough to know how to do things by himself, all while trying to keep Ender’s and his own sanity intact. Graff is responsible for the commander who wins the battle against the buggers. Striving, Graff tries to be the responsible colonel who doesn’t mess up, and he loses himself in the process.

These are three examples of characters in Ender’s Game who have worn an identity and ultimately become that identity. Watching, we see as Ender becomes the part of himself he wishes he didn’t have, Valentine unknowingly changes her way of thinking in a way Demosthenes would, and Graff tries to be a strong leader, and is one, although he loses a part of his conscience in doing so. If we can follow God, we can avoid losing ourselves to this and will have no objective to change ourselves for anyone except for