Two of the most significant characters in the novel besides Ender are his siblings, Peter and Valentine. The three Wiggin children are representations of the three psyches of Freud’s psychological theories, all of whom display the effect of human corruption on the world. According to these theories, the psyches, Id, Superego, and Ego symbolize the three types of humans in existence. Id, the self-centered human form, creates violence, and chooses personal desire over virtue, such as Peter, who is callous and unforgiving in all aspects of life. “Peter has always been a husbandman of pain, planting it, nurturing it, devouring it greedily when it was ripe” (124). Id is the source of the selfishness in the world which destroys human character and ultimately leads to complete destruction when not kept in control. Superego, on the other hand, is seen through Valentine, who unlike Id creates peace and harmony, bound by order and knowledge. The youngest and the brightest, Ender, is a representation of Ego, a combination of both Id and Superego. “And so we requisitioned you. To be half Peter and half Valentine” (24). Ender does not create the evil or peace within the universe like his siblings, but understands how to use violence to conquer evil and yearns for peace which aids him in his success in the war.
Ender’s incredible compassion and just, love for all is displayed through the difficult decisions he makes. Instead of making choices for his best interest, he does it for everyone else—whether he loves them or not. For example, one of the largest decisions he makes includes sacrificing himself. This all begins as the battle administrators take notice to Ender’s wondrous improvement and noted skill in the battle room. Because his potential is so deep/strong, the administrators decide to intensify his battle schedule by increasing the frequency of the battles, from just a couple to week, to several per day. Ender follows through by finding victory in each battle. However, he becomes so mentally tired and sick of the cruel and immoral conditions of the school that he returns to earth again after eight years with no intention to return. He meets Valentine again, who is forced by the administrators to persuade Ender to come back and start Commander School. During their short time together, he tells her that he returned because he was at the point of hating himself. Valentine tells him, “You must understand your opponent in order to destroy them. Ender replies, “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." (208).
He understands his enemy, but once he understands them he destroys them. With such tremendous empathy, even in coming to understand his worst enemies Ender loves them. This means that when he crushes them he is hurting himself in the process. Ender does not want to have enemies, so that he will not be forced to hurt anybody. He will love even those who seem to be his most bitter enemies when he properly understands them. However, in the situations Ender has no choice other than destroying these enemies. At the end of the book, when Ender comes to truly understand the buggers, he is able to try to help them. He has already done them great harm, but now he can be happy because he has a chance to undo what he did to them. Ender is an incredibly complex and deep character that learns much, but teaches even more. His compassion is his strongest trait, and it binds people to him; his ruthlessness wins their unswerving faith in him as a commander.
Ender’s Game is a must-read for all… Orson Scott Card does a wondrous job in tying together the emotional and psychological depth of each character, especially Ender, to the mind-opening plot. As I read the book, I connected with the characters and my experience with reading this incredible work of literature, as cheesy as it may sound, has impacted my life in many ways. It was a stepping stone in my growing interest in psychology and whether or not one is interested in psychology and character depth or not, the riveting plot will keep the reader engrossed until finished. This novel opens the reader’s eyes to aspects of life and other lives around the world—a truly stellar book. I strongly recommend this to everyone!
by
avalanche14 (student)
