Here we are on the second section, and now that Bean is in the same situation Ender once was, so that we can begin to compare and contrast more directly. How does Bean handle being singled out, how does he respond to all the new environments and experiences of the Battle School, and how does he respond to the other children? Most importantly, how does he respond to being compared to Ender, who has already set the stage for brilliance? Personally I find Bean much more engaging than Ender just because he's not quite so malleable and easy to manipulate. Bean stays a step ahead because, naturally, after the way he had to survive on the streets, he finds it difficult to trust anyone, especially adults. In fact, especially when it comes to the desks, he is several steps ahead even of Ender, and he's not afraid of getting in trouble or of being pressed into following the rules to find out what he wants to know. As always, anything anyone wants to mention outside this realm of discussion (I've found some inconsistencies between this and Ender's Game, which is unsurprising, given that there was a ten year gap between them that I like to niggle at) are welcome.
For next week, next section.
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3 comments:
I think we start to see that Bean is lacking in social skills and empathy. When the rest of the launch starts quietly crying because they are homesick he doesn't get it. Clearly to become a good commander he has to understand his people. At this point you start to see that despite his intelligence Bean has a long way to go. Ender never had this problem.
Bean's lack in social skills stood out to me, too, Debra. Which is why I found Ender to be more engaging than Bean, so I'm the opposite of you, Angela. I just don't really like Bean all that much right now. Since we see things from his perspective, it's clear that he's almost incapable of relating to those around him, but he has a sort of arrogance that doesn't appeal to me.
While Ender was more malleable, he was born to do this, so I think that's why he went along with so much of what was expected of him. Initially, Bean was just glad to get off the streets, so I think he didn't have the same investment into the program as most of the other kids.
Now you need to share what the inconsistencies between the two stories are, Angela. :)
No really major stuff that would, like, impact the reading, just minor stuff. Like the color of launchy uniforms between Ender's Game and Ender's Shadow, the buttons on Ender's gun that never get mentioned or used again that we know of...dunno if I can remember anything else offhand.
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