Ender's Game Discussion #3

Hope you guys don't mind, but since Kate is recovering from surgery (she wanted me to let you all know that it went well and she's alright and beginning the process of recovery)she asked me to get the next post started for discussion. No rush here, since I know there are people who are behind, and this discussion is really heavy.

We got a lot of new ground to cover with Ender's progress in the Battle School this time, and how he responds to leadership and life and death. He remembers his reason for coming to school with a message from Valentine, written at Graff's behalf, the life of the person he loves most back on earth, he trains a group to become unstoppable as a master leader, and he causes death. Then once again he is reminded of life and its beauty, when he goes back home and sees Valentine for the first time in years.

What I'd like to cover most is the contrasts between life and death that we see here, from the death of the Giant in the Giant's Drink game to the reminders of life on Earth, to the death of Bonzo in the bathroom, to Ender's own life or death struggles within the Fairyland realm of the mind game.

Also, on a separate note, let's compare Ender's methods of leadership to the leaders he's been exposed to since arriving at the school, such as Graff, Dap, Alai, Bonzo, and Rose the Nose, what he has learned from them, what he uses from them either consciously or unconsciously, and what the results end up being, particularly with Bean. Another factor here is how the game becomes skewed by the teachers as they strive to push Ender's capabilities, and how that affects him and his army.

As always, anything else you consider it pertinent to bring up is welcome. Kate requested that we cut the final section into two parts, so I'm thinking we should read through chapter 14, Ender's Teacher, and save the last chapter, Speaker for the Dead, for the finale. Discussion will open for this chapter next Saturday.