Examples Of Kindness In Ender's Game

Even in the darkest of times, a simple kind gesture, the warmth of a hand, or a word of affirmation can be recognized and understood. Kindness is what makes us human. Examples of this can be seen in Orson Scott Card’s award winning novel, “Ender’s Game,” a narrative of the experiences of Andrew “Ender” Wiggin. Set in the 2190’s, we learn the story of a child given the task of saving humanity from an alien race called the buggers. Ender is taken to become a soldier at battle school, a space station in Earth’s orbit. He goes to battle school with only one goal in mind, to defeat his fellow soldiers in the simulated battles to eventually be able to defeat the buggers. Ender is undefeated in every battle and is hailed a prodigy. Though he is seemingly

While the other soldiers may think Ender is pleased at defeating them, Ender reveals how that isn't true. When Ender visits Valentine back on Earth, he explains, “"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.” (184) His understanding is a double edged sword, though it gives Ender the ability to defeat his enemies, he also feels pain in doing so. The greatest example of this is when Ender defeats the buggers themselves, the main goal of the story. Ender While the rest of humanity has contempt for the buggers, Ender has admiration and empathy for them. Ender understands them enough to use tactics from the buggers in his own battles. Ender’s compassion even runs so deep, that when devastated with guilt for unknowingly causing the extinction of the buggers, he feels that the only way to redeem himself is to to help the species start anew. “And always Ender carried with him a dry white cocoon, looking for the world where the hive-queen could awaken and thrive in peace.” (250). The novel ends with Ender’s compassion for the buggers and him vowing that the humans will be kinder to them in the