In these first few chapters, we're introduced into the world of Ender's Game. The book was published in 1985 (an even earlier rendition of the story was released in 1977), yet over 20 years later, the book does not have a dated feel, which I think science fiction can be prone to at times. It's interesting to see how Orson Scott Card's technology in the novel is so similar to our modern day technology, so maybe one day the book will feel dated, but somehow I don't think it will.
Another similarity to our modern day society is in regard to the social problems. In Ender's world, it appears there is a strict method of population control, which we are introduced to in the very first chapter, "Third." I thought Graff's explanation of Ender's parents' predicament discussed on pages 22-24 in my edition was insightful. His parents want to conform to society, yet they have internal beliefs that simultaneously rebel against complying. We've seen examples today in which strict population control has brought about serious problems. Just this week I was listening to a discussion on NPR about one particular repercussion that China faces as a result (article can be read here) of population control. How would you feel if you lived in such a society that tried to control these very personal kinds of decisions?
In these first few chapters, we're introduced to some important characters that have shaped Ender's life up to this point, particularly Peter and Valentine. We learn that each of these children has been "tested" for suitability in the IF program, but both Peter and Valentine failed for opposing reasons, and that it was hoped that Ender would be the perfect balance between them. What are your initial thoughts about each of these siblings thus far in the novel (I know most, if not everyone here, has read this book before, but try to forget what you know that happens later and focus solely on what we know this far into the story)? What do you think about what Peter says to Ender (on page 15 in my version) when he says, "Ender, I'm sorry, I'm sorry. I know how it feels, I'm sorry, I'm your brother, I love you." Who is the real Peter? Does he truly love Ender, or does he hate him, or is it both?
Finally, we're introduced to the Battle School. We'll talk more about the school in our next discussion, but for now, we can talk about our first impressions. I think having a nearly six-year-old myself, I was struck with how young these kids really are, yet how old their minds are in a lot of ways. They've been forced to grow up too soon. Is it because they live in a world that could be destroyed by aliens at any moment, or is it because they are bred to be geniuses? Or is it something else? What do you think?
For our next reading, read through Chapter 9, "Locke and Demosthenes." Discussion will open up next Saturday for these next chapters.
Another similarity to our modern day society is in regard to the social problems. In Ender's world, it appears there is a strict method of population control, which we are introduced to in the very first chapter, "Third." I thought Graff's explanation of Ender's parents' predicament discussed on pages 22-24 in my edition was insightful. His parents want to conform to society, yet they have internal beliefs that simultaneously rebel against complying. We've seen examples today in which strict population control has brought about serious problems. Just this week I was listening to a discussion on NPR about one particular repercussion that China faces as a result (article can be read here) of population control. How would you feel if you lived in such a society that tried to control these very personal kinds of decisions?
In these first few chapters, we're introduced to some important characters that have shaped Ender's life up to this point, particularly Peter and Valentine. We learn that each of these children has been "tested" for suitability in the IF program, but both Peter and Valentine failed for opposing reasons, and that it was hoped that Ender would be the perfect balance between them. What are your initial thoughts about each of these siblings thus far in the novel (I know most, if not everyone here, has read this book before, but try to forget what you know that happens later and focus solely on what we know this far into the story)? What do you think about what Peter says to Ender (on page 15 in my version) when he says, "Ender, I'm sorry, I'm sorry. I know how it feels, I'm sorry, I'm your brother, I love you." Who is the real Peter? Does he truly love Ender, or does he hate him, or is it both?
Finally, we're introduced to the Battle School. We'll talk more about the school in our next discussion, but for now, we can talk about our first impressions. I think having a nearly six-year-old myself, I was struck with how young these kids really are, yet how old their minds are in a lot of ways. They've been forced to grow up too soon. Is it because they live in a world that could be destroyed by aliens at any moment, or is it because they are bred to be geniuses? Or is it something else? What do you think?
For our next reading, read through Chapter 9, "Locke and Demosthenes." Discussion will open up next Saturday for these next chapters.
5 comments:
First of all, after multiple readings, I agree with you regarding the feeling of the technology. It feels like something we could still use comfortably, but not quite what we have today, like it's just a step ahead of us.
The population limitations are frightening. Religiously, I personally couldn't conform to it (Catholic, just like Ender's dad) and while I think some people do have entirely too many children, I feel that's their decision, and with that decision should merely come the responsibility for it. I agree that the government shouldn't have to pay for the upbringing of those children. I can understand why Ender's society handled things the way they did, but I think it could also have been handled differently.
As for Peter and Valentine I can understand Peter's jealousy of his brother, especially since he's obviously intelligent enough and mature enough at ten to be aware of all the reasoning behind the testing and why his brother was allowed to be born. Ambition and jealousy can create terrible emotional responses in people. Even Ender, at six, is old enough to understand all these things, and to understand that because of his position in the family Valentine is truly the only one who loves him with no strings attached. Valentine's nature is not jealousy, and it might be interesting to compare her to studies done of the middle child and how she fits into that role as peacemaker and protector of her little brother. I think on a deep level Peter is aware of how hard it is for Ender, but is only able to articulate it when he thinks Ender can't hear him because any response would trigger the other emotions associated with Ender, so I do believe he loves Ender, and hates him as well, and at ten years old is probably confused about his feelings. I doubt he would truly kill Ender, but thinking about it and saying it is one of his only outlets of his frustration and humiliation at knowing that somehow he's not good enough, has to be second best to his little brother.
I wondered in my first readings of the book about the Battle School in a lot of ways. We know the boys who are sent up are trained from a very early age to be soldiers, and that the teachers and other officers there are pretty much raising them, but how much involvement do they really have outside of classrooms? At six and seven years old, these boys are expected to live together in a group, do their studies independently, adhere to daily exercise routines, and it seems like there are things missing from their upbringing. What about things like teaching them morals, what is right and wrong? At that age, children may be aware of such things, depending on their parents and the job they did, but then again they may not, and while it seems there are officers to go to who are assigned to the group, these boys are expected to teach one another how to behave, and to look to older boys who were raised the same way as examples. In so many ways it's very much a case of children raising children in terms of socialization and morality. These little boys cuss, fight, and bully and are never so much as chastised for this behavior. I think the reason they behave this way and are treated this way by the adults is because of their far superior intellect. If a child is smart, you often have higher expectations of them in everything than a child who struggles. Intelligence does not equal maturity, and that's something that I think is not taken into consideration in this situation. I think the buggers are a factor, because it's impressed from the beginning that the purpose of this training will be to fight the buggers, and they know that all children in the world are tested for the chance to train, that it's an elite position, and those who know they have a chance to be chosen are taught to think that they're a step above the rest.
I was also pretty impressed at how the technology aspect of the book didn’t seem very dated at all. It seemed right on. Way to go, Card!
I read the article about China that you linked to the blog. It makes me honestly sick to my stomach. It’s nothing I’m unfamiliar with, but I try not to think about it because it just makes me ill. The social confines, the sexism, the abortions, the repercussions. All of it. My sister just finished teaching English in China. On a day off, she and another friend were trying to board a bus, got shoved around too much, and were invited onto another bus that was empty. Before anyone could say anything or ask them where they were going, the bus started moving on. Their initial fear was that they were being kidnapped for sex trafficking. Fortunately it wasn’t the case, but I think she had a legitimate fear. If I lived in a society that had such personal restrictions, I’d probably be really mad and resentful. And I’d probably try to bend the rules. Or live under the radar. In some ways I consider myself a non-conformist, but within reason. I would be fuming. When it comes to limiting the size of one’s family, that’s a hard topic. Personally, I come from a family of five kids (Mormon, like Ender’s mom), and I would love to have five kids (but that’s speaking as one who only has two now). However, there’s a radical part of me that thinks there are some women out there that need to be sterilized, but if they manage to change their lives and be responsible mothers, then that wouldn’t be fair to them. Plus it’s not our decision to say who is privileged to have children and who is not. And so we get into the intricacies of ethics, and I’m done.
The siblings. Before rereading this book and when I was trying to pull out what I could remember, one of the big things I remember was how brutish Peter was. I didn’t remember what he told Ender while thinking he was asleep and it took me by surprise. I like to think that Peter was being honest in his late-night confession. That he really does love Ender. But they live in a society that has become used to war, so he puts up a front where he appears to be so much meaner and heartless than he is. Maybe he’s jealous about the fact that Ender got to be an exception to the rule of 2 children, and that it makes him…exceptional.
As for the Battle School kids, I’m not inclined to believe they are bred to be geniuses. I read a book recently that discusses how children today are so much savvier than children even one generation ago. Humans are so incredibly capable at adapting when pushed hard enough, and I think that’s what has happened in this society. They’ve got technology, war games, the threat of war and annihilation constantly hanging over their heads, and a society of restrictions. I think that in many ways they are expected to be more mature. But, like Angela was saying about the lack of morals and other types of learning, the Battle School seems very focused, and very scary. It’s like the curtained conversations at the beginning of each chapter reveal: the school is to break the children and then hope they will rise up stronger* and more capable of saving the world and being a military genius.
*Stronger in what sense? It’s a very relative term. While they may have stronger insensitivity, I don’t consider that a strength.
Wish we could talk more about Ender’s initiation(?) into Battle School, but I’ll wait for that discussion next time.
In the past few years, there's been a lot more media attention on large families, notably the Gosselins and the Duggars and others (those two have/had shows on TLC that follow their families). And, it's opened up an interesting dialogue. I've read arguments about how having a lot of children is irresponsible because the earth can't sustain it (which I disagree with - I think it's more a matter of wise allocation of resources that we're looking at rather than sustainability). But, regardless of what people choose to do, and I believe that it is their choice and that government should not play any role in that decision, like Angela said, it comes down to responsibility. I don't think you need to be "rich" to have a lot of children, but I do think that you need to be able to provide for them. In Ender's Game, population control isn't one of the dominant themes, but I did want to bring it up because we do see it in societies and there are a lot of opinions about what is right or wrong regarding the matter.
Peter is very intriguing to me. He's painted as a monster as we see him through Ender's eyes. Yet, I agree that I think Peter does love Ender. I think his "confession" of such was genuine. He didn't have to say it, he probably didn't know Ender heard him.
I really like what both of you have to say about the children. I agree with your points, too, from the lack of morals, that intelligence doesn't equal maturity, and that breaking the children and hoping they'll be "stronger" doesn't necessarily make them stronger, at least not in a good way.
Ruth, if you'd like to talk about Ender's initiation into the Battle School, go right ahead. I'd love to know what you'd like to talk about. I may be leading the reading schedule, but the discussion can go wherever we want it to go. If I don't bring up something in the main discussion point that you want to cover from what we've read, please feel free to do so here. The only thing I ask is that we only talk about the material we've read and not allude to future chapters. I think the only ones reading this are those who have read the book before, but I want to address the events as we read them even so.
I'm going to keep my comments pretty short because I've read on and am not quite sure where the cut off is. I have to read when I get the chance and am usually behind.
The futuristic world is kind of exciting in a way precisely because it's so similar to our own world. It would be exciting to actually be able for many people to travel in space, without the danger of the buggers.
I've been quite aware of the problems of birth control in China. There are similar issues in India. The irony of the control in the story is precisely what allows Ender to be born. If there were no control, who know how many geniuses might have been born?
Ender is such an endearing character. Ironic, again that he actually does seem to combine the best of Valentine and the best (if you can call it that) of Peter. I'm ambivalent about Valentine. Perhaps because I don't like the name very much. So far she's a little to one dimensional for me. I suppose Peter is too except in the opposite way. I could understand Peter becoming the way he was if he had to protect himself the way Ender has but he scares me and I don't have much sympathy for him.
I'm really not going to say anything about battle school because since I've read my mind is on the future chapters.
Thanks for your comments, Debra. I'll try to post the next discussion either a little later tonight, but if not tonight, definitely tomorrow. I've been running errands and getting all ready for next week, and I just haven't had a moment to sit down and compose my thoughts for the next reading section.
I've felt the same way about both Valentine and Peter that you do - that they are portrayed as pretty one dimensional here in these first few pages. I want to talk more about them in the next reading section, and maybe we can see if they are still one dimensional, or if their characters have had a chance to expand at all.
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