EC r e a t i n g t h e I n n o c e n t K i l l e r :E n d e r ' s G a m e , I n t e n t i o n , a n d M o r a l i t y

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b y J o h n K e s s e l[Thi se ssay insl i ghtl y di fferentfo rmappearedo r i g ina l l y i nFounda t i on,

the Int erna t i ona l Rev i ew o fSc i ence F i c t i on,Vo l .3 3 ,Number 90 ,Spr ing

2004 ,copyr ight 2004 by the Sc i ence Fi c ti onFounda ti on,onbeha l fo fthe

contr ibuto rs]

There ' s a lwaysmo ra l i n st ru c t i o n whe th ert h e wri t e r i n sert s i t

d e l i b era t e l y o rn o t .Th e l ea st e f f ec t i ve mo ra l i n st ru c t i o n i n

f i c t i o n i s t h a t wh i ch i s con sc i ou sl y i n sert ed .Pa rt l y b ecau se i t

won ' t re f l ec t t h e st o ry t e l l e r ' s t ru e b e l i e f s ,i t w i l l o n l y re f l ec t

wha t h e BELIEVES h e b e l i eves,o rwha t h e t h i n ksh e shou ld

b e l i eve o rwha t h e ' s b een p ersuaded o f .

Bu t when you wri t e w i t h ou t d e l i b era t e l y exp ressi n g mo ra l

t ea ch ing s,t h e mo ra l s t h a t show up a re t h e o n esyou a c t ua l l y

l i ve b y .Th e b e l i e f s t h a t you don ' t even t h i n k t o q u est i o n ,t h a t

you don ' t even no t i ce t h o se w i l l sh ow up .And t h a t t e l l s much

more t ru t h a bou t wha t you b e l i eve t h an you rd e l i b era t e mo ra l

mach ina t i o n s.

Orson Sco t t Card

Overt h e y ea rsIh av e t o l d a n umbero ffri end st h a t ,i fIh ad h ad accesst o

a n u c l ea rd ev i ce when Iwasi n sev en th g rad e ,t h e re wou ld b e a h ug e c ra t e ri n

up st a t e NewYo rk cen t e red on wha t u sed t o b e West Sen eca Jun io rHigh

Schoo l .

Had Orson Sco t t Card sn ov e l Enders Gameex i st ed t h en ,Imigh t h av e

b een on e o fi t s b i g g est fan s.Iwou ld h av e b een en rap tu red by t h e st o ry o f

t h e i n no cen t who i s p e rsecu t ed d esp i t e h i s i n no cen ce ,p e rh ap sev en b ecau se

o fi t . Th e sup eri o rch i l d who se v i rt u esa re n o t recogn i zed .Th e adu l t s who

fa i l t o p ro t ec t . Th e v i c i o u sb u l l i e s who g e t away wi t h t h e i rb u l l y i n g .Th a t

wast h e wo rl d a sIsawi t i n sev en th g rad e .Apparen t l y t h i s i s a s t o ry t h a t

st i l l app ea l s t o many p eop l e : Enders Gamei s p rob ab ly t h e mo st p opu l a r

sc i en ce fi c t i o n nove l p ub l i sh ed i n t h e l a st twen ty y ea rs.

In re l a t i n g EnderWigg in sch i l d hood and t ra i n i ng i n Enders Game,

Orson Sco t t Card p resen t s a h a rrowing t a l e o fabu se .Enders p a ren t s and

o ld e rb ro t h e r,t h e o ffi ce rs ru nn ing t h e b a t t l e schoo l and t h e o t h e rch i l d ren

b e ing t ra i n ed t h e re ,e i t h e ri g no re t h e abu se o fEndero rp a rt i c i p a t e i n i t .

Th rough t h i s abu si v e t ra i n i ng Enderb ecomesexp ert a t wi e l d i ng

v io l en ce ag a i n st h i s en emies,and t h i s ab i l i t y u l t ima t e l y makesh imt h e

sav io ro ft h e h uman race .Th e nove l rep ea t ed l y t e l l s u st h a t Enderi s mo ra l l y

spo t l e ss t h ough h e u l t ima t e l y t ak eso n gu i l t fo rt h e ex t e rmin a t i o n o ft h e

a l i en b uggers,h i s a ssuming t h i s g u i l t i s a g ra t u i t o u sac t . He i s p resen t ed as

a scap egoa t fo rt h e ac t s o fo t h e rs .We a re g i v en t o b e l i ev e t h a t t h e

d est ru c t i o n Endercau sesi s n o t a re su l t o fh i s i n t en t i o n s o n l y t h e sac ri fi ce

h e makesfo ro t h e rs i s . In t h i s Card a rgu est h a t t h e mo ra l i t y o fan ac t i s

b ased so l e l y o n t h e i n t en t i o n so ft h e p e rson ac t i n g .

Th e re su l t i s a ch a rac t e rwho ex t e rmin a t esan en t i re race and y e t remain s

fundamen t a l l y i n no cen t . Th e pu rpo se o ft h i s p ap eri s t o ex amin e t h e

method sCard u sest o con st ru c t t h i s s t o ry o fa g u i l t l e ss g enoc id e ,t o p o in t

ou t some con t rad i c t i o n si n h e ren t i n t h i s scen ari o ,and t o ra i se q u est i o n s

abou t t h e i n t en t i o n b ased mo ra l i t y advoca t ed by Enders Gameand Speak er

fo rt h e Dead .

TheVictimHero

The sco rn and abu se d i rec t ed a t t h e h e l p l essch i l d a swe l l a s

t h e supp ressi o n o f v i t a l i t y ,c rea t i v i t y ,a nd f ee l i n g i n t h e ch i l d

and i n o n ese l f p ermea t e so many a rea so f o u rl i f e t h a t we ha rd l y

no t i ce i t a n ymore .Almo st everywhere we f i n d t h e e f f o rt ,ma rked

by va ry i ng d eg reeso f i n t en si t y a nd b y t h e u se o f va ri o u s

co erc i ve mea su res,t o r i d o u rse l vesa sq u i ck l y a sp o ssi b l e o f t h e

ch i l d w i t h i n u si .e ., t h e weak ,h e l p l ess,d ep enden t c rea tu rein

o rd ert o b ecome an i n d ep enden t ,compe t en t a du l t d eserv i ng o f

resp ec t .1

Al ice Mi l l e r,Fo rYou r

Own Good : Hidd en Cru e l t y

i n Ch i l d Reari n g and t h e

Roo t so fVio l en ce

Orson Sco t t Card i s o ft en p ra i sed fo rwri t i n g wha t t h e l a t e John Gardn er

ca l l ed mo ra l fi c t i o n , and i n v a ri ab l y Enders Gameand i t s sequ e l s a re c i t ed

asp rime ex amp l eso fCard sp rob ing ex amin a t i o n o fmo ra l i ssu es.Enders

Game wast h e fi rs t sc i en ce fi c t i o n st o ry Card pub l i sh ed ,i n Ana log i n

Augu st 1 977 .The o ri g i n a l s t o ry came i n second fo rt h e Hugo i n 1 978 ,and i t

wasl a rg e l y o n t h e b asi s o ft h a t s t o ry t h a t Card rece i v ed t h e Campbe l l Award

fo rb est n ewwri t e rt h e same y ea r.2 Th e nove l v e rsi o n wasp ub l i sh ed i n

1985 ,and rece i v ed t h e Nebu l a and Hugo Award sfo rb est n ov e l . Sp eak erfo r

t h e Dead accomp l i sh ed t h e same fea t i n 1 986 ,and t o t h i s d a t e Card i s t h e

on ly wri t e rt o win bo th t h e Hugo and Nebu l a fo rb est n ov e l i n con secu t i v e

y ea rs. He h assa i d t h a t Enders Gamei s abou t a ch i l d ,o u ru l t ima t e i con o f

vu ln e rab i l i t y ,p u t u nd era lmo st impo ssi b l e s t re ss. It waswhen h e d ec i d ed t o

g iv e u p t h e en t e rp ri se t h a t h e won t h e u l t ima t e v i c t o ry and t h en h e b ecame

an a lmo st t rag i c fi g u re when i t b ecame c l ea rt h a t h i s v i c t o ry made h im

ob so l e t e ,wh i l e h i s ch i l d hood t ra i n i ng h ad l e ft h imun fi t fo rany o t h e rk i n d

o fl i fe .3 Desp i t e h i s mo ra l p reo ccupa t i o n s,i n t h i s summary o fh i s n ov e l

Card seemsl e ssi n t e rest ed i n i n t e rrog a t i n g Enders mo ra l i t y t h an i n evok ing

sympa thy fo rh im.

Th e mo st o bv iou sway Card p roducessympa thy fo rEnderi s b y

sub j ec t i n g h imt o re l en t l e ss,u nd ese rv ed t o rmen t .On t h e v e ry fi rs t p ag e o f

t h e n ove l an adu l t l i e s t o Enderabou t someth i ng t h a t i s g o i ng t o h u rt h im:

t h e d o c t o rremov ing t h e su rg i ca l l y imp l an t ed mon i t o rt h a t Enderh aswo rn

wh i l e b e i ng ev a l u a t ed by t h e IEt ra i n i ng ag en cy swearst h a t t h e remova l

won t h u rt a b i t .4 Bu t i n t h e ev en t i t i s ex c ru c i a t i n g .

When Enderi s n o t b e i ng l i ed t o b y au t ho ri t i e s ,h e i s b e i ng bu l l i ed .Th e

sou rce o fmo st o ft h e h a t red d i rec t ed t oward Enderi s t h a t h e i s su p eri o rt o

v i rt u a l l y ev e ryone i n t h e b ooksuperi o ri n i n t e l l i g en ce ,c rea t i v i t y ,

sen si t i v i t y ,l o g i c ,p sy cho log i ca l u nd erst and ing o fo t h e rs ,mo ra l i t y ,and ,

when i t comesdown t o i t and d esp i t e a l ack o ft ra i n i n g and phy si ca l s t a t u re ,

h and t o h and comba t . In t h a t fi rs t ch ap t e r,t h e same d ay t h e mon i t o ri s

removed ,St i l so n ,a p l ayg round bu l l y ,a t t ack sEnder. At t h e ag e o fs i x ,i n

t h e fi rs t o fsev e ra l p hy si ca l b a t t l e s Enderwin s,h e comp l e t e l y i n cap ac i t a t e s

St i l so n .

Th e fami l y o ffe rs n o h av en fromassau l t . Enders o l d e rb ro t h e rPe t e r

t o rmen t sEndera l l o u t o fp ropo rt i o n t o any ra t i o n a l mo t i v a t i o n ,and h i s

abu se g o escomp l e t e l y u nno t i ced and un ch eck ed by t h e i rp a ren t s . Pe t e r

rep ea t ed l y t h rea t en st o k i l l Ender. He seemsa lmo st t h e t ex t book d e fi n i t i o n

o fa p sy chopa ththe i rs i s t e rVa l en t i n e t e l l s h owh e t o rt u ressqu i rre l s ,

s t ak i ng t h emou t o n t h e g round and sk i nn ing t h ema l i v e i n o rd e rt o wa t ch

th emd i e5 (p .1 60 ).He i s p rev en t ed fromk i l l i n g Enderand Va l en t i n e o n ly b y

t h e t h rea t o fb e i ng fo und ou t .

Ye t ,fo rreason st h a t a re n ev ermade c l ea r,Endern ev ert e l l s h i s p a ren t s

h e l ea rn sea rl y t o h i d e h i s fea rand hu rt . It wast h e l y i n g face h e p resen t ed

t o Mo th e rand Fa t h e r,when Pe t e rh ad b een c ru e l t o h imand h e d a red no t l e t

i t sh ow(p .4 7 ).

In t h e rea l wo rl d ,t h e mo t i v a t i o n fo rsu ch sec recy ,when i t i s n o t fea ro f

re t a l i a t i o n by t h e abu se r,i s o ft en sh amethe ch i l d fea rs t h a t h e o rsh e i s

somehowrespon si b l e fo r,ev en d ese rv i ng o ft h e abu se .It i s i n t e rest i n g t h a t

t h e o n e t ime t h a t Enders fa t h e rcon fron t s h imand ask swhy Enderd i d n o t

ask a g rown up fo rh e l p when h e wasb e i ng bu l l i ed ,t h ey a re i n t e rrup t ed

b efo re Endercan an swer.Th e qu est i o n i s n ev eran swered .(p .1 9 ).

One migh t a sk where Enders p a ren t s o rt each ersa re when Enderi s

p hy si ca l l y a ssau l t ed .Th i s q u est i o n rev ea l s a second mechan i smCard u ses

t o g en era t e sympa thy : i n Enders Game,adu l t s o rau t ho ri t y a re n ev ert h e re

t o p ro t ec t .

In t h e case o fEnders p e rsecu t i o n by Pe t e r,we may d ec i d e t h a t t h e i r

p a ren t s a re s imp ly pu rb l i n d (The po ssi b i l i t y t h a t t h e p a ren t s k nowbu t

app rov e o rd on t ca re i s n o t con si d e red .). In t h e case o fcommandersGra ff

and Anderson a t t h e b a t t l e schoo l ,we see au t ho ri t i e s d e l i b e ra t e l y supp ress

t h e i ru rg e t o h e l p Enderb ecau se t h ey n eed t o t ra i n h imt o face any ch a l l eng e

on h i s own .He can h av e fri end s, say sGra ffa t o n e po in t ea rl y i n Enders

t ra i n i ng It s p a ren t s h e can t h av e (p .4 0 ).In t h i s con t ex t a p a ren t i s any

adu l t i n au t ho ri t y who h asp owert o p ro t ec t t h e ch i l d .Most o ft h e t ime ,

ra t h e rt h an h e l p i ng Ender,adu l t s d e l i b e ra t e l y i n c rease h i s t o rmen t .AsGra ff

say s,EnderWigg in mu st b e l i ev e t h a t n o ma t t e rwha t h appen s,n o adu l t wi l l

ev e r,ev e rs t ep i n t o h e l p h imi n any way (p .2 20 ).

Th e ex t reme si t u a t i o n Card h ascon st ru c t ed t o i so l a t e and abu se Ender

gu aran t eeso u rsympa thy .Aft e rEnderi s man ipu l a t ed i n t o en t e ri n g Ba t t l e

Schoo l ,(h e s b rough t t h e re b y l i e s sev e ri n g h imfromVal en t i n e ,h i s o n l y

p ro t ec t o r)h i s abu se con t i n u es,d e l i b e ra t e l y fo st e red by Gra ff. On t h e shu t t l e

up t o t h e o rb i t i n g schoo l Gra ffs i n g l esEndero u t fo rp ra i se fo rt h e so l e

pu rpo se t h a t t h e o t h e rrec ru i t s wi l l re sen t h im.Befo re t h ey ev en reach t h e

schoo l ,Enderi s fo rced t o b reak t h e a rmo fBern a rd ,o n e o fh i s t o rmen t e rs .

At ev e ry t u rn Enderfacesh o st i l i t y ,sco rn ,and ev en phy si ca l a ssau l t . Th e

resu l t i s an e sca l a t i n g se ri e so fch a l l eng esand v i o l en t re spon sesb y Ender.

Th ese sequ encesi n v a ri ab l y fo l l owt h e fo l l owing p a t t e rn :

Enderi s re sen t ed by o t h e rsfo rh i s sk i l l s ,h on est y ,i n t e l l ec t ,

su p eri o ri t yin fac t ,fo rs imp ly b e i ng who h e i s

The o t h e rsabu se Ender. Th ey t h rea t en h i s l i fe .

Enderd o esn o t o rcanno t a sk fo ri n t e rv en t i o n by au t ho ri t y fi g u res.

Even when au tho ri t y fi g u resk nowabou t t h i s abu se ,t h ey do no t

i n t e rv en e .In mo st casest h ey a re man ipu l a t i n g t h e si t u a t i o n i n o rd e r

t o fo st e rt h e abu se o fEnder

Enderavo id scon fron t a t i o n fo rsome t ime t h rough c l ev e rn essand

p sy cho log i ca l cunn ing ,b u t ev en tu a l l y h e i s fo rced ,ag a i n st h i s wi l l , t o

face an en emy d e t e rmin ed t o d est ro y h im.

Becau se h e h asn o a l t e rn a t i v e ,Enderre spond swi t h i n t en se v i o l en ce ,

d i sp a t ch i ng h i s t o rmen t e rq u i ck l y and u su a l l y fa t a l l y . Endereng ag es

i n t h i s v i o l en ce imperson a l l y ,coo l l y ,d i sp assi o n a t e l y ,o ft en a smuch

fo rt h e b en efi t o fo t h e rs (who do no t rea l i ze o radmi t t h a t Enderk i l l s

o n t h e i rb eh a l f)a s fo rh imse l f. On lookersa re awed by h i s p rowessand

seeming ru t h l essn ess.

Enderd o esn o t k nowt h a t h e h ask i l l ed h i s adv ersa ry .

Enderfee l s g rea t remo rse fo rh i s v i o l en ce .Aft e reach i n c i d en t ,h e

quest i o n sh i s own mo t i v esand n a t u re .

In t h e end we a re reassu red t h a t Enderi s g ood .

Asa mechan i smfo rp roduc ing sympa thy ,t h i s scen ari o i s b ru t a l l y

e ffec t i v e .Al l t h i s i s i l l u st ra t ed i n t h e c l imac t i c fi g h t t h a t en su esj u st b e fo re

Enders g radu a t i o n fromBa t t l e Schoo l ,when oppo si ng cad e t commander

Bonzo6 Mad ri d and a g ang o fh i s suppo rt e rs t rap Enderi n t h e showers.As

an ob j ec t l e sson i n h owCard managest h e read e rs sympa th i es,t h i s sequ ence

i s ex emp l a ry ,and Iwou ld l i k e t o an a l y ze i t , and t h e e ffec t s o feach e l emen t

o ft h e scen e ,i n d e t a i l .

Gra ffand t h e b a t t l e schoo l s o ffi ce rs h av e known fo rsome t ime t h a t

Bonzo i n t end st o k i l l Ender t h ey a l l owBonzo sa t t ack t o h appen ,t h ey ev en

wan t i t t o h appen .Th ey cap tu re i t a l l o n v i d eo ,fromsev era l ang l es. Th ey

cou ld p rev en t i t , b u t t h ey won t . Th e e ffec t o ft h i s i s o fcou rse t o i n c rease

ou rsympa thy fo rEnder,y e t we a re a l so suppo sed t o sympa th i ze wi t h t h e

o ffi ce rs . Th ey don t d o t h i s b ecau se t h ey wan t Endert o b e h u rt ,t h ey don t

en j oy t h e p ro sp ec t o fanyone b e i ng hu rt ,b u t t h ey do i t b ecau se t h ey mu st d o

i t t o t ra i n Enderso h e can sav e t h e h uman race .

To t h i s Card add so n e c i rcumst an ce a ft e rano th e rt o cau se u st o s i d e wi t h

Ender: Enders en emiessu rp ri se h imwhen h e i s a t h i s mo st v u l n e rab l e ,

n ak ed and a l o n e i n t h e showers.Enderi s sma l l e rand youngert h an h i s

opponen t ,and Dink ,t h e o n e boy t h e re who i s o n Enders s i d e ,can t

i n t e rv en e .Enderd o esn t wan t t o fi g h t ,b u t d o esb ecau se h e h asn o

a l t e rn a t i v e o t h e rt h an t o l e t h imse l fb e k i l l ed .And h e sn o t fi g h t i n g fo r

h imse l fa l o n ethe fa t e o ft h e ea rt h ,we a re t o l d ,d ep end so n h i s su rv i v a l . If

Enderd i e s,t h e l a st h op e o ft h e h uman race d i eswi t h h im,t h u smak ing h i s

se l fd e fen se an u l t ima t e l y se l fl e ss ac t .

Bonzo and t h e o t h e rb oy srep resen t a l l t h e abu se Enderh assu ffe red up

un t i l t h en i n t h e n ove l . Bonzo sg ang i n c l ud esEnders ea rl i e ren emy

Bern ard ,and men t a l l y ,Enderi n c l ud esh i s ea rl i e rt o rmen t e rs when h e t h i n k s,

Al l i t wou ld t ak e fo rt h e p i c t u re t o b e comp l e t e wasfo rSt i l so n and Pe t e rt o

b e t h e re ,t o o (p .2 27 ).Th ese en emiesa re c ru e l and ,u n l i k e Ender,en j oy t h e

p ro sp ec t o fma iming o rk i l l i n g ,ev en i ft h ey h av e an un fa i radv an t ag e .Th e

t e rmsi n wh i ch t h e b oy sa re p resen t ed ri v a l t h o se o ft h e me lod ramat i c

v i l l a i n si n a s i l en t mov i e : Many were smi l i n g ,t h e condescend ing l ee ro f

t h e h un t e rfo rh i s co rn e red v i c t im(p .2 27 ).Bonzo en j oy st h e p ro sp ec t o f

k i l l i n g Ender:

Dink c ri ed ,Don t h u rt h im!

Why no t ? a sk ed Bonzo ,and fo rt h e fi rs t t ime h e smi l ed .

Ah ,t h ough t Ender,h e l o v est o h av e someone recogn i ze t h a t

h e i s t h e o n e i n con t ro l ,t h a t h e h asp ower.(p .2 30 )

Bonzo i s immune t o reason .When Dink po in t s o u t t h a t t h e i rrea l en emy

i st h e b uggers,and t h a t k i l l i n g Endermay doomt h e h uman race ,i n st ead o f

h av ing second t h ough t sBonzo i s s imp ly mo re en rag ed .Endert h i n k s:

You v e k i l l ed me wi t h t h o se wo rd s,Dink .Bonzo do esn t wan t t o h ea rt h a t I

migh t sav e t h e wo rl d (p .2 30 ). Enders en emiesd on t ca re abou t t h e h uman

race ,a l l t h ey wan t i s t h e i rown rev enge .

Bonzo i s a l so immune t o p l easfo rmercy .When Enderb eg sBonzo no t t o

hu rt h im,Bonzo i s o n l y mo re d e t e rmin ed .Fo ro t h e rb oy si t migh t h av e

b een enough t h a t Enderh ad submi t t ed fo rBonzo ,i t waso n ly a s i g n t h a t h i s

v i c t o ry wassu re (p .2 29 ).

Desp i t e h i s d esp e ra t e c i rcumst an ces,Endercoo l l y read sBonzo s

ch arac t e rand man ipu l a t e sh imi n t o fi g h t i n g on eon on e .Once t h e fi g h t

b eg in s,Endereasi l y b ea t s Bonzo t o a p u lp ,wi t h ou t h imse l fev en g e t t i n g

sc ra t ch ed : when i t comest o t h e t e st ,Bonzo t h e fo rmid ab l e adv ersa ry i s

st u p id and i n compe t en t ,o rh i s rag e makesh imst u p id and i n compe t en t . Up

un t i l n owEnderh asshown h imse l ft o b e v ast l y sup eri o rt o Bonzo i n men t a l

comba t n owh e showsh imse l ft o b e equ a l l y sup eri o ri n p hy si ca l comba t .

Ye t ev en when i t i s c l ea rt h a t Enderh asa l ready won t h e fi g h t ,Enderp e rsi st s

i n ma iming Bonzo i n o rd e rt o i n su re t h e re a re n o fu t u re a t t ack s.

Li k e many scen eso fp e rson a l v i o l en ce i n t h i s and o t h e rCard wo rk s,t h i s

fi g h t i s p a i n fu l l y i n t en se ,end ing wi t h Enderk i ck i ng Bonzo i n t h e c ro t ch ,

h a rd and su re (p .2 31 ).Though h e d o esn o t k nowi t a t t h e t ime ,Enderh as

k i l l ed Bonzo .Bu t l e st t h e read e rb e repu l sed by Enders p u rsu i ng t h e fi g h t

un t i l Bonzo i s d ead (wh i ch an ob se rv e rmigh t see a sv engefu l ,u nwarran t ed ,

o rv i c i o u s),t h e n a rra t i v e i n si st s t h a t i t i s d on e fo ren t i re l y ra t i o n a l reason s,

n o t o u t o fa p e rson a l d esi re t o l a sh o u t . The on ly way t o end t h i n g s

comp l e t e l yEndert h i n k s,wast o h u rt Bonzo enough t h a t h i s fea rwas

st ro ngert h an h i s h a t e (p .2 31 ).

Enderg en era l i zesfromt h i s s i t u a t i o n t h a t t h e o n ly ra t i o n a l p o l i cy t o

i n su re sa fe t y i n t h e wo rl d i s t o b e ready a lway st o cau se ex cessi v e p a i n .No

au tho ri t y ,l aw,a l l y ,o rso c i a l s t ru c t u re may b e d ep ended upon .The power

t o cau se p a i n i s t h e o n ly p owert h a t ma t t e rs ,t h e p owert o k i l l and d est ro y ,

b ecau se i fy ou can t k i l l t h en you a re a lway ssub j ec t t o t h o se who can ,and

no th i ng and no on e wi l l ev e rsav e you(p .2 32 ).

Desp i t e h i s se t t l i n g on t h i s mart i a l p h i l o sophy ,a ft e ri t i s a l l o v e rwe a re

assu red ag a i n t h a t Enderi s a t h ea rt a p ac i fi s t . When Dink j u st i fi e s Enders

b ea t i n g up Bonzo (Bonzo mean t t o k i l l Ender,Bonzo wasa t ro ub l emaker,h e

h ad sup eri o rs t reng th and si ze ),Enderb reak sd own and c ri e s.7 Id i d n t

wan t t o h u rt h im! h e i n si st s . Why d i dn t h e j u st l eav e me a l o n e! (p .2 33 )

It i s n o t u n t i l p ag esl a t e rt h a t we l ea rn Bonzo i sn t j u st h u rt ,h e s d ead .

Al so ,i t i s o n l y a t t h i s p o i n t (2 40 p ag esa ft e rt h e ev en t )t h a t we l ea rn Ender

k i l l ed St i l so n i n t h e an a l ogou sfi g h t t h a t o ccu rred when Enderwassi x y ea rs

o l d .Th e o ffi ce rs h av e k ep t t h e fac t s o ft h ese d ea t h sfromEnder.Bu t t h e

e ffec t i s t o k eep t h ese k i l l i n g sfromt h e read e ra s we l l ,d i v o rc i ng t h e

con sequenceso fEnders v i o l en ce fromt h e ac t s ,and t h e reby redu c ing t h e

l i k e l i h ood t h a t t h e read e rmigh t j u dg e Endera t t h e momen t t h ey o ccu rred .

And asi ft o add i t i o n a l l y i n su l a t e Enderfromou rj u dgmen t , a fewl i n esa ft e r

we l ea rn t h a t Bonzo and St i l so n a re d ead we a re a ssu red by Gra fft h a t ,

EnderWigg in i sn t a k i l l e r. He j u st win stho rough ly (p .2 47 ).

Gra ffs j u dgmen t o n t h e d ea t h so fBonzo and St i l so n c l a ri fi e s Card s

d e fi n i t i o n o fa k i l l e r.Presumab ly ,someone can k i l l h und red s,t h ou sand s,

ev en b i l l i o n s(Enderev en tu a l l y k i l l s an en t i re race )and no t b e a k i l l e r. A

k i l l e ri s mo t i v a t ed by rag e o rb y se l fi sh mo t i v es.To b e a k i l l e ry ou must

i n t end t o k i l l someone .And ev en i fy ou do i n t end t o k i l l , y ou a re s t i l l

i n no cen t i fy ou do i t fo ra l a rg e rreason , se l fl e ssl y , wi t h ou t p e rson a l

mo t i v es.And i fy ou fee l b ad abou t b e i ng fo rced i n t o d o ing i t .

Ka t e Bon in ,i n h e ra rt i c l e Gay Sex and Dea th i n t h e Sc i en ce Fi c t i o n o f

Orson Sco t t Card 8 p o i n t s o u t h owt h e k i l l i n g o fBonzo p re fi g u resEnders

ev en tu a l d est ru c t i o n o ft h e b uggers.Th e h i st o ry o ft h e warag a i n st t h e

buggersfo l l owst h e p a t t e rn o ft h e fi g h t ag a i n st Bonzo i n fac t ,j u st b e fo re

t h e fi n a l b a t t l e i n wh i ch Enderex t e rmin a t est h e b uggers,h e exp l i c i t l y

comparesh i s con fron t a t i o n wi t h t h emt o t h e u n fa i rfi g h t i n t h e shower(p .

3 22 ).Th e numbero ft imest h i s scen ari o o fu n j u st i fi ed a t t ack and sav ag e

re t a l i a t i o n i s rep ea t ed ,n o t j u st i n Enders Gamebu t i n o t h e ro fCard s

st o ri e sand nove l s ,su ggest s t h a t i t fa l l s c l o se t o t h e h ea rt o fh i s v i si o n o f

mora l ac t i o n i n t h e wo rl d .

TheInnocentKiller

Th ese k i l l i n g sb y a h e ro whomCard h asg on e t o su ch l eng th st o p resen t

assympa th e t i c i n d i ca t e t h a t Card mean st o p u t i n t h e mo st ch a l l eng ing t e rms

th e fu ndamen t a l p remi se o fh i s mo ra l v i si o n : t h a t t h e ri g h t n esso rwrongness

o fan ac t i n h e resi n t h e ac t o rs mo t i v es,n o t i n t h e ac t i t se l f,o ri n i t s re su l t s .

Here ,a s e l sewhere ,Card a rgu esfo ra mo ra l i t y b ased on i n t en t i o n .

Th roughou t Enders Game,we a re u rg ed many t imest o j u dg e a ch a rac t e rs

ac t i o n sn o t o n t h e i re ffec t (ev en when t h a t e ffec t i s fa t a l )b u t o n t h e mo t i v es

o ft h e p e rson p e rfo rming t h e ac t i o n .AsEnders t a t e si t i n Sp eak erfo rt h e

Dead ,Speak ersfo rt h e Dead h e l d a st h e i ro n l y d o c t ri n e t h a t g ood o rev i l

ex i st en t i re l y i n h uman mo t i v e ,and no t a t a l l i n t h e ac t (Sp eak er3 9 ).

Though t h i s d o c t ri n e i s n o t cod i fi ed i n Enders Game,i t i s ev e rywhere

p resen t i n t h e ac t i o n .And by t e st i n g t h i s mo ra l p remi se i n s i t u a t i o n so f

mu rd er,ev en g enoc id e ,Card seemst o d a re t h e read e rt o t ry t o re j ec t i tasi f

t o say ,i fa mo ra l i t y o fi n t en t i o n a l i t y can st and up t o t h i s t e st ,i t can st and

up t o any .Bu t a t t h e same t ime h e choo sest h ese d i ffi cu l t ex amp l es,Card

goest o g rea t l eng th st o u rg e t h e read e rn o t t o re j ec t Enderb ased on t h e

v io l en t rep ri sa l s h e v i si t s o n h i s en emies.We a re t o l d o v e rand ov er,wi t h ou t

i ro ny ,t h a t Enderi s g ood .Ju st a ft e rEnderi s rec ru i t ed (soon a ft e rh e h as

k i l l ed St i l so n )Gra fft e l l s Anderson ,Hesc l ean .R igh t t o t h e h ea rt ,h e s

good . (p .3 8 )La t e r,Gra ffi n si st s ,There s g rea t n essi n h im.Amagn i t u d e o f

sp i ri t . (p .2 80 )Enderh imse l fp ro t est s , In ev erwan t ed t o k i l l anybody .

Nobody ev e ra sk ed me i fIwan t ed t o k i l l anybody . (p .3 31 )

In a l o ng scen e b e tween Gra ffand Va l en t i n e ,Va l en t i n e i n si st s

d esp e ra t e l y : Enderi s n o t l i k e Pe t e r!

maybe Iml i k e Pe t e r,b u t Enderi sn t ,h e i sn t a t a l l , Iu sed t o

t e l l h imt h a t when h e c ri ed ,It o l d h imt h a t l o t s o ft imes,y ou re

no t l i k e Pe t e r,y ou n ev erl i k e t o h u rt p eop l e ,y ou re k i n d and

good and no t l i k e Pe t e ra t a l l !

And i t s t ru e

Damn ri g h t i t s t ru e . (p .1 62 )

Th e sou rce o fVa l en t i n e s d esp e ra t i o n ,and t h e reason fo rGra ffs

qu ery i ng h e ro n t h i s i ssu e ,i s t h a t t h ey bo th recogn i ze t h a t Enderh as

commi t t ed ac t s t h a t a re j u st a s v i o l en t a sin fac t ,mo re v i o l en t t h anany

Pe t e rh ascommi t t ed .Th e d i ffe ren ce b e tween Pe t e rand Enderi s n o t i n wha t

t h ey do ,b u t i n wha t t h ey a re .Pe t e ren j oy sh u rt i n g p eop l e Enderabho rsi t .

Enderi s k i nd and good ev en when h i s ac t i o n sseemt o b e l i e t h a t

ch a rac t e ri za t i o n .

Oth e rch a rac t e rs i n Enders Gamea re a l so fo rced t o d o t h i n g st h ey see a s

immo ra l ,ag a i n st t h e i rb e t t e rn a t u res,i n t h e se rv i ce o fsav i ng t h e wo rl d from

th e buggers.Gra ff,t h e o rch est ra t o ro fEnders b ru t a l edu ca t i o n ,swearst h a t

Iamh i s fri end (p .3 8 )ev en t h ough h e d o esn o th i ng t o d emon st ra t e t h a t

fri end sh ip ,and i n fac t d o esmany t h i n g st h a t t o a n eu t ra l o b se rv e rwou ld

i nd i ca t e a d esi re t o d est ro y Ender. Aswi t h Enders g oodness,t h i s i s a case

o ft h e au t ho ri n si st i n g on a q u a l i t y i n t h e ch a rac t e rt h a t n eed no t b e

d emon st ra t ed by ac t i o n t o b e h e l d a st ru e .Goodnessi s n o t a ma t t e ro fac t s ,

b u t o fi n t en t i o n s,an i n h e ren t q u a l i t y i n d ep enden t o fwha t o n e do es. Id on t

rea l l y t h i n k i t s t ru e t h a t t h e ro ad t o h e l l i s p av ed wi t h g ood i n t en t i o n s.

Card st a t ed i n a 2 002 i n t e rv i ew.9 Good p eop l e t ry i n g t o d o good u su a l l y

fi n d a way t o mudd l e t h rough .Wha t wo rri e sme i s when you h av e b ad

peop l e t ry i n g t o d o good .Th ey re n o t g ood a t i t , t h ey don t h av e any

in st i n c t fo ri t , and t h ey re wi l l i n g t o d o a l o t o fd amage a l o ng t h e way . The

impo rt o ft h i s s t a t emen t i s t h a t t h e re a re some p eop l e who a re g ood b e fo re

t h ey ac t ,and some o t h e rswho a re b ad b e fo re t h ey ac t ,and t h a t g oodnesso r

b adnessi s exh ib i t ed i n t h e i rac t i o n s.Th ese "b ad "p eop l e can t d o good ,and

good p eop l e can t d o b ad .

So we see t h a t l a t e r,when Enderi s made a cad e t commander,ev en

though h i s t rea tmen t o fh i s subo rd i n a t e cad e t Bean recap i t u l a t e si n i t s

u n fa i rn essand a rb i t ra ry h a rshn essGra ffs t rea tmen t o fEnder,Enderi s n o t

do ing wrong .AsGra ffd i d t o Ender,Endermakest h e o t h e rcad e t s re sen t and

d i sl i k e Bean so t h a t Bean i s fo rced t o showh i s sup eri o ri t y . Tha t wast h e

on ly way h e cou ld win re sp ec t and fri end sh ip ,10 Endersay st o h imse l f(b u t

no t t o Bean ). Imhu rt i n g you t o make you a b e t t e rso l d i e ri n ev e ry way . . .

[ev en i f]Immak ing you mi se rab l e (p .1 84 )Lik e Gra ff,Enderi n si st s h e

i s Bean s(sec re t )fri end .

Overand ag a i n st t h ese ex amp l eso fgood p eop l e who se c ru e l t y i s

j u st i fi ed ,ev en an ac t o ffri end sh ip t oward i t s o b j ec t s ,we h av e t h e b ad

p eop l e who se mi st rea tmen t o fo t h e rs ,u n l i k e t h a t o fGra ffand Ender,sp ri n g s

fromb ad mo t i v es: Pe t e r,St i l so n ,Bern a rd ,Bonzo .Wea re n ev eri n v i t ed t o

wonderwhe th e r(and i t i s h a rd t o imag in e t h a t )t h ey migh t h av e a g ood

mo t i v e fo rany o ft h e i rac t i o n s.Bern a rd i s a sad i st fromwo rd on e .St i l so n i s

a b u l l y .Pe t e ri s a p sy chopa th .Bonzo i s con sumed by j ea l o u sy and h a t red .

Ca rd t h u sl abo rsl o ng and h a rd i n Enders Gamet o c rea t e a s i t u a t i o n

where we a re n o t a l l owed t o j u dg e any o fh i s d e fi n ed asgood ch a rac t e rs

mo ra l i t y b y t h e i rac t i o n s.Th e same d est ru c t i v e ac t t h a t wou ld condemn a

b ad p e rson ,when p e rfo rmed by a g ood p e rson ,d o esn o t imp l i ca t e t h e ac t o r,

and i n fac t may b e read asa s i g n o ft h a t p e rson sv i rt u e .

Th e do c t ri n e t h a t t h e mo ra l i t y o fan ac t i o n i s so l e l y d e t e rmin ed by t h e

ac t o rs mo t i v e re st s o n a s i g n i fi can t a ssump t i on : t h a t t h e g ood a lway sk now

what t h e i rmo t i v esa re ,and a re n ev ermoved t o d o t h i n g sfo rse l fi sh reason s

wh i l e y e t t h i n k ing t h emse lv esmoved by v i rt u e .Enderh asp e rfec t k nowledge

o fh i s own mo t i v esand t h e mo t i v eso fo t h e rs .Endern ev ersu sp ec t s h imse l f

o fd o ing o t h e rt h an wha t h e t h i n k sh imse l ft o b e d o ing ,and i n d eed ,i n

Speak erfo rt h e Dead h e makesa ca ree ro fd e l i v e ri n g fau l t l e ss mo ra l

j u dgmen t so fo t h e rp eop l e .When St ryk a ,o n e o ft h e st u d en t s o n Trondhe im

in Sp eak er,o b j ec t s t o t h e mo ra l i t y o fi n t en t i o n t h a t t h e Sp eak ersp ropound ,

Enderd i smi ssesh e r.

Xenoc id e i s Xenoc id e , sa i d St ryk a . Ju st b ecau se Ender

d i dn t k nowt h ey [t h e b uggers]were ramen [i .e .h uman ]d o esn t

make t h emany l e ssd ead .

And rewsi g h ed a t St ry k asu n fo rg i v i ng a t t i t u d e .It wast h e

fash i on among Ca lv i n i st s11 a t Reyk j av ik t o d eny any we igh t

human mo t i v e i n j u dg ing t h e g ood o rev i l o fan ac t . . . And rew

d id no t re sen t i the underst o od t h e mo t i v e b eh ind i t . (p .3 9 )

The po ssi b i l i t y t h a t St ry k a may h av e a l eg i t ima t e reason t o o b j ec t t o Enders

b eh av io ri s n ev ercon si d e redherq u a lmsa re fash i on . Ap ag e l a t e r,Ender

i d en t i fi e s St ry k asrea l mo t i v a t i o n (wh i ch Enderk nowsbu t sh e d o esn o t )a s

a fea ro ft h e st rang er. In t h i s case t h e st rang eri s n o t t h e a l i en sex t e rmin a t ed

by Ender,b u t Enderh imse l f. St ry k ascon ce rn fo rt h e g enoc id e o ft h e

buggers,wh i ch migh t b e i n t e rp re t ed asa ri s i n g ou t o fa con ce rn fo rt h e

human i t y o ft h e o t h e r, i s p resen t ed i n st ead asan ex amp l e o fscap egoa t i n g

th e o t h e rbu t i n t h i s case t h e o t h e ri s red e fi n ed ast h e ex t e rmin a t o r, n o t

t h e ex t e rmin a t ed .Th i s i s a v e ry c l ev e rs t ra t ag em: t h o se o fu scon ce rn ed

abou t u nd erst and ing t h e o t h e r a re red i rec t ed fromwo rry i ng abou t t h e a l i en

t o wo rry i ng abou t t h e k i l l e ro ft h e a l i en ,and t h u so u rcondemna t i o n o f

g enoc id e reemerg esa sa s i g n o fo u rp re j u d i ce and smal l mindedness.Ender

i s n o t t h e v i c t imi ze r,b u t t h e mi sunderst o od v i c t imo fo t h e rsfea rand

p re j ud i ce .

Th i s b a i t and swi t ch st ra t ag emp rev a i l s t h roughou t t h ese n ove l s . In t h e

ex t end ed end ing o fEnders Gameand t h roughou t Sp eak erfo rt h e Dead ,

Enderi s p resen t ed asa v i c t imo ft h e ex t e rmin a t i o n o ft h e b uggersra t h e r

t h an i t s p e rp e t ra t o r.Card b asesmuch o fSp eak ero n t h e i ro ny t h a t t h i s mo st

mo ra l o fh uman s(t h e fo undero fa n ewre l i g i o n o fu nd erst and ing )i s

con si d e red t o b e ev i l b y p eop l e who a re n o t a s mo ra l a s h e .In d eed ,Enders

no to ri e t y a s t h e Xenoc id e o n ly wo rk si n Sp eak erfo rt h e Dead i fh e i sn t

rea l l y g u i l t y o ft h e c rime o fg enoc id e .

TheGuiltlessGenocide

AsIh av e suggest ed ,t h i s i ssu e o fg enoc id e p u t s t h e mo ra l i t y o f

i n t en t i o n t o i t s u l t ima t e t e st . We may fo rg i v e Endert h e k i l l i n g so fSt i l so n

and Bonzo ,b u t can we fo rg i v e h imt h e ex t e rmin a t i o n o fa race o fi n t e l l i g en t

c rea t u res? Th i s q u est i o n h asp rev iou sl y b een ra i sed i n an e ssay by E la ine

Radfo rdt h a t app ea red i n Fan t asy Rev i ewi n 1 987 .12 Rad fo rd se ssay say s

many t h i n g swi t h wh i ch Id o no t ag ree ,and i t s t o n e i s o ft en i n t empera t e ,b u t

sh e t o u ch eso n sev e ra l i ssu est h a t a re cen t ra l t o my own t ro ub l e wi t h Card s

wri t i n g .

Rad fo rd se ssay sp ecu l a t e st h a t Card wro t e Enders Gameasan apo log i a

fo rAdo l fHi t l e r. Sh e po in t s o u t ce rt a i n p a ra l l e l s b e tween Enders b i o g raphy

and Hi t l e rstha t t h ey were b o th t h i rd ch i l d ren ,t h a t t h ey were v i rg i n su n t i l

ag e 3 7 ,t h a t t h ey were c l o se t o t h e i ro l d e rs i s t e rs ,t h a t t h ey were abu sed by

adu l t s ,t h a t t h ey bo th commi t t ed g enoc id a l ac t s .

Ca rd ,i n t h e same i ssu e o fFan t asy Rev i ew,13 d en i ed Rad fo rd s

asse rt i o n s.He sa i d t h a t h e h ad no knowledge o fany o ft h e Hi t l e r

b i og raph i ca l i n fo rmat i o n t h a t Rad fo rd c i t ed .Su ch p a ra l l e l s were t ri v i a l

co i n c i d en ces. He sa i d h e i n t end ed Endera st h e mo ra l o ppo si t e t o Hi t l e r:

Hi t l e rk n ewwha t h e wasd o ing Enderd i d n o t . Hi t l e ri n t end ed t o

ex t e rmin a t e Enderd i d n o t . Hi t l e rfe l t n o mo ra l q u a lm Endersp end st h e

rest o fh i s l i fe exp i a t i n g t h e g u i l t h e fee l s fo rex t e rmin a t i n g t h e b uggers.

Le t me say v e ry c l ea rl y t h a t Id o no t b e l i ev e t h a t Orson Sco t t Card wro t e

Enders Gameasan apo log i a fo rHi t l e r. Id o no t b e l i ev e t h e b i og raph i ca l

p a ra l l e l s Rad fo rd fi n d st o Hi t l e ra re ev i d en ce t h a t Card i n t end ed any p a ra l l e l

wi t h Hi t l e ro th ert h an t h e p a ra l l e l t h a t t h ey bo th commi t g enoc id e .Lik e

Card ,It ak e t h e o t h e rp o in t s o fs imi l a ri t y a sco i n c i d en ces.

Ye t a l t h ough Card t ak esp a i n st o p o in t o u t h owmuch h e i n t end sEnder

t o b e Hi t l e rs mo ra l o ppo si t e ,h e d o esadmi t t h a t h i s i n t ro duc ing t h e i ssu e o f

g enoc id e wasd e l i b e ra t e .

On t h e b ro ad est l ev e l ,i t sh ou ld b e o bv iou st o ev e ry read e ro f

Enders Gameand Speak erfo rt h e Dead t h a t Id o d rawon e k ey

para l l e l b e tween h i st o ri ca l mon st ro si t i e s l i k e Hi t l e r,St a l i n ,and

Amin ,and my ch a rac t e rEnder: t h ey a re t h ough t o fi n t h e p ub l i c

mind asl o a t h some massmu rd ere rs . Desp i t e t h e i rs imi l a rp ub l i c

image ,h owever,ev e ry o t h e re l emen t o fEnders s t o ry i s d esi g n ed

to showt h a t i n h i s case t h e image i s n o t rea l i t yhe i s n o t l i k e

Hi t l e ro rSt a l i n ,ex ac t l y t h e o ppo si t e o fwha t Rad fo rd c l a ims.Fa r

fromu si ng Endert o t ry t o make p eop l e app rov e o fHi t l e r,Iu se

t h e con t rast wi t h Hi t l e r,St a l i n ,and o t h e rg enoc id est o

i l l umin a t e t h e ch a rac t e ro fEnderWigg in .14 "

The human si n Enders Gamen ev erimag in ed t h a t t h ey were

ob l i t e ra t i n g ano th e rsp ec i es ra t h e rt h ey t h ough t t h ey were

d est ro y ing an i n v ad ing sp ec i esab i l i t y t o make war.Genoc id e

wast h e re su l t o fn o t u nd erst and ing t h e e ffec t o n t h e b uggerso f

t h e d ea t h o ft h e h i v e q u een . 15

DoesRad fo rd rea l l y b e l i ev e t h a t Iwasc l a iming Hi t l e rs n ea r

ex t e rmin a t i o n o fEu rop ean Jewswasan acc i d en t ? Th a t h e and

h i s u nd erl i n g sd i dn t k nowt h e i rd ea t h campsmigh t k i l l a l l t h e

Jews? Ye t i fImade Enders c rime so o bv iou sl y d i ffe ren t i n

i n t en t fromHi t l e rs d e l i b e ra t e g enoc id e ,h owcan sh e imag in e I

mean t Enders s t o ry t o b e an apo log i a fo rHi t l e r.16

Th ese p a rag raph sa re fu l l o fo b fu sca t i o n .Fi rst , t h e p h rase d est ro y ing

an i n v ad ing sp ec i esab i l i t y t o make war i s a ca re fu l p a rsi n g o fl anguage

th a t o b scu reswha t h appen si n t h e n ove l : t h e b uggersa re u n ab l e t o make war

b ecau se t h ey a re ex t e rmin a t ed .Charac t e ri z i n g t h i s a s d est ro y ing t h e i r

ab i l i t y t o make wari s l i k e ch a rac t e ri z i n g cu t t i n g o ffsomeonesh ead as

e l imin a t i n g h i s ab i l i t y t o wh i st l e .

Second ,i t i s i n conce i v ab l e t h a t t h e commanderswou ld no t a t l east

su sp ec t t h a t k i l l i n g t h e q u een wou ld k i l l t h e en t i re race t h e b uggersi n

b a t t l e a lway sre sponded asa u n i t , a s i fu nd ert h e d i rec t i o n o fa s i n g l e mind ,

and i n MazerRackhamsfamou sv i c t o ry d ecad esb e fo re ,d est ro y ing a s i n g l e

sh i p cau sed t h e en t i re b uggerfl ee t t o g o d ead .(p .2 06 07 )Rackhamexp l a i n s

t h e n a t u re o ft h e b uggerg roup mind t o Endera t l eng th l o ng b e fo re t h e fi n a l

b a t t l e ,and Enderu sest h i s k nowledge i n p rep a ri n g h i s s t ra t egy .Th e on ly

reason t h e commanderswou ld no t k nowt h i s i s t o make i t p o ssi b l e fo rCard

t o a sse rt t h a t t h e fi n a l g enoc id e wasacc i d en t a l .

Th i rd ,ev en t h i s p o i n t abou t t h e h i v e q u een i s an ev asi on .Ender

do esn t j u st k i l l t h e q u een : h e d i si n t eg ra t est h e en t i re b uggerh ome wo rl d .

Th e MDDev i ce i s a weapon t h a t d est ro y sma t t e ri n an exp and ing sph ere .

Enderk nowsex ac t l y wha t i t d o es,a s d o h i s commanders. When h e se t s o ff

t h e MDDev i ce t h e re i s n o t h i ng l e ft o ft h e b uggersp l an e t b u t a sph ere o f

b ri g h t d u st (p .3 25 ).Where t h e v ast en emy fl ee t h ad b een ,and t h e p l an e t

t h ey p ro t ec t ed ,t h e re wasn o th i ng mean ing fu l (p .3 25 ). Th e buggersd o no t

n eed t o h av e a g roup mind fo rt h i s t o con st i t u t e ex t e rmin a t i o n .

Fou rt h ,t h e p assag esi n si st t h a t t h e d i ffe ren ce b e tween Hi t l e rs g enoc id e

and Enders i s t h a t Enders wasan acc i d en t . Endert h ough t h e wasp l ay i ng a

simu l a t i o n whereasHi t l e rk n ewt h e g asch amberswere rea l . Th i s "sc i en ce

fi c t i o n e l emen t " (remo t e -d i rec t ed war) se rv es i n mo ra l t e rms as y e t an o t h e r

ev asi o n ; i n rea l i t y , p eo p l e d o n o t co mmi t g en o c i d e b y acc i d en t . Th i s i s

an o t h e r p a ra l l e l b e t ween t h e b u g g er war an d t h e fi g h t scen es wh ere En d er

k i l l s St i l so n an d B o n zo , a l l t h ree co n st ru c t ed b y C ard , h o wev er i mp ro b ab l y ,

so t h a t En d er n ev er k n o ws h e i s k i l l i n g h i s ad v ersa ri e s. Bu t whe th e ro rn o t

Enders b a t t l e s imu l a t i o n swere p rac t i ce o rrea l ,t h e u l t ima t e p u rpo se o fany

p rac t i ce wast o en ac t su ch d est ru c t i o n i n rea l i t y . Enderand h i s commanders

were a iming fo rt h i s b a t t l e and t h ey a l l k n ewi t t h ank st o t h e t ri ck p l ay ed

on Enderi t j u st h appened soonert h an i t wou ld h av e o t h e rwi se .

Fi ft h ,Card imp l i e st h a t t h e h uman swere app a l l ed b y Enders su ccessi n

d est ro y ing t h e b uggers.Ye t t h e o ffi ce rs h av e v a l u ed Enderfromt h e

b eg inn ing p rec i se l y b ecau se when h e re so rt s t o v i o l en ce ,h e d o esso t o t h e

ex t reme ,comp l e t e l y e l imin a t i n g any ch an ce t h a t h i s en emy may reg roup and

st ri k e ag a i n .Enderd est ro y ed Bonzo and St i l so n sab i l i t y t o make war b y

k i l l i n g t h em.Th e commandersv i ewEnders k i l l i n g h i s adv ersa ri e sn o t a s an

un fo rt u n a t e o v e rreac t i o n ,b u t a v a l u ab l e t ra i t . Th ey n eed someone who wi l l

g o t o t h a t ex t reme ,t h ey c rea t e Endert o b e su ch a p e rson ,and t h ey j u st i fy

h i s k i l l i n g sa ft e rward .So t h e fac t t h a t Endersu cceed si n winn ing t h e warb y

to t a l l y d est ro y ing t h e en emy can h a rd l y b e ca l l ed an un in t end ed

con sequence .And when t h e b uggerh ome wo rl d i s o b l i t e ra t ed ,t h e h uman si n

t h e b a t t l e ro oma re n o t h o rri fi ed ,b u t re l i ev ed ,ev en ov erj o y ed ,t h ank ing God

fo rt h e i rd e l i v e ran ce (p .3 26 ).

No on e ch a rg esGra ffo rt h e commanderswi t h g enoc id e .When ,a ft e rt h e

war,t h e cou rt s ch a rg e Gra ffwi t h "mi st rea tmen t o fch i l d ren ,n eg l i g en t

homic i d e"(p .3 36 )i n h i s ru nn ing o ft h e b a t t l e schoo l ,h e i s exonera t ed ,

essen t i a l l y b ecau se o fa Nu remberg d e fen se : Id i d wha t Ib e l i ev ed was

n ecessa ry fo rt h e p rese rv a t i o n o ft h e h uman race (p .3 36 ). When Enders

k i l l i n g o fBonzo comesup a t t h e t ri a l , the p sy cho log i st s and l awyers

a rgu ed whe th e rmu rd erh ad b een commi t t ed o rt h e k i l l i n g wasi n se l f

d e fen se .. . . Th roughou t t h e t ri a l , i t wasrea l l y Enderh imse l fu nd era t t ack .

Th e p ro secu t i o n wast o o c l ev e rt o ch a rg e h imd i rec t l y ,b u t t h e re were

a t t emp t st o make h iml o ok si ck ,p e rv e rt ed ,c rimin a l l y i n san e (p .3 40 ).Th e

on ly con ce i v ab l e p o in t o ft h i s l a st l i n e i s t o a sse rt t h a t Enderi s n o t s i ck ,

p e rv e rt ed ,o ri n san e .Th e p ro secu t i o n o fGra ff,and t h rough h im,o fEnder,i s

mi sb ego t t en and un ju st i fi ed .

So d esp i t e t h e ev i d en ce i n t h e b ook t h a t t h e ex t e rmin a t i o n o ft h e

buggersi s a t t h e v e ry l east a warc rime ,Card wan t su st o b e l i ev e t h a t Gra ff

and Endera re n o t g u i l t y .Any a t t emp t t o b l ame t h emi s an i n j u st i ce .

TheLonelySavior

Bu t wa i t . Desp i t e h i s h e ro i c recep t i o n i n t h e immed i a t e a ft e rma th o ft h e

buggerwar,and h i s exonera t i o n by t h e cou rt s ,a s t ime p assesi sn t Ender

v i l i fi ed a sa massmu rd ere r? Desp i t e MazerRackhamsa sse rt i o n t h a t Ender

i s b l amel ess,[Mazersay s,a ft e rt h e b a t t l e ,Wea imed you .Were

respon si b l e . Ift h e re wassometh i ng wrong ,we d i d i t (p .3 29 ).],Enderg o es

down i n h i st o ry a s t h e Xenoc id e . Doesn t t h i s i n d i ca t e t h a t Card b e l i ev es

t h a t Enderd i d someth i ng wrong?

Mo reover,d o esn t Enderaccu se h imse l fev en mo re t h an o t h e rsd o ? Aft e r

b ru t a l l y b ea t i n g up St i l so n ,and a ft e rv i rt u a l l y ev e ry i n c i d en t o fv i o l en ce h e

p erfo rms,Enderaccu sesh imse l fo fb e i ng a sad i st l i k e Pe t e r.When Ender

j o i n san exp ed i t i o n p rep a ri n g t o se t t l e t h e n ewly op en ed ex t ra so l a rsy st ems,

h e c ri n g esa t t h e o t h e rco l on i st sp ra i se .He do esn t wan t t o h ea rt h em t e l l

h imhowh e wasso y oung i t b rok e t h e i rh ea rt s and t h ey d i dn t b l ame h imfo r

any o fh i s mu rd ersb ecau se i t wasn t h i s fau l t h e wasj u st a ch i l d(p .3 41 ).

Enderl o ok sa t h i s re fl ec t i o n i n a mi rro rand seesey est h a t g ri ev ed fo ra

b i l l i o n ,b i l l i o n mu rd ers (p .3 31 ).Al l h i s c rimeswe igh ed h eavy on h im,t h e

d ea t h so fSt i l so n and Bonzo no h eav i e rt h an t h e re st (p .3 40 ).He go eso fft o

t h e co l ony wo rl d si n o rd e rt o rep ay t h e b uggers,a s h e say s,by see i ng

wha t Ican l ea rn fromt h e i rp ast (p .3 46 ). Ul t ima t e l y ,h e fi n d sa d o rman t

buggerq u een and ca rri e s h e rco coon o fft o re seed t h e b uggerrace o n ano th e r

wo rl d .

Bu t ra t h e rt h an se ri o u sl y u ndermin ing Enders mo ra l n a t u re ,t h ese se l f

accu sa t i o n sse rv e t o d i sa rmany impu l se we migh t h av e t o sp ecu l a t e t h a t

Enderh asany mo t i v e o t h e rt h an n ecessi t y fo rh i s seeming ly ex cessi v e

v io l en ce .Ase l fl ace ra t i n g i n no cen t t e l l s u sh e n ev erg e t s any p e rson a l

sa t i sfac t i o n ou t o fh u rt i n g anyone ,and wha t an o u t si d e o b se rv e rmigh t see

asv engean ce ,we a re t o l d b y t h e au t ho ri s se l fd e fen se .Pl u s,a s we h av e

seen ,Card h ascon st ru c t ed a p l o t and a rgu ed h a rd fo ran e t h i csu nd erwh i ch

Endercan k i l l wi t h ou t b e i ng gu i l t y . By t h e mo ra l i t y o fi n t en t i o n t h a t ,i n

Speak erfo rt h e Dead ,we a re t o l d i s t h e o n ly d o c t ri n e o fEnders n ew

re l i g i o n ,h e i s n o t g u i l t y o fg enoc id e .We ,who h av e seen Enderabu sed

a lmost fromb i rt h ,who h av e seen howp a i n fu l ev e ry st ep o fh i s t ra i n i n g h as

b een fo rh im,n owmust wa t ch ash e t ak est h e so l e b l ame fo rt h e

ex t e rmin a t i o n o ft h e b uggers.

Ca rd h asspoken i n i n t e rv i ewsabou t h i s t ro p i smfo rt h e st o ry o ft h e

p erson who sac ri fi cesh imse l ffo rt h e commun i t y .Th i s i s t h e st o ry ,h e t e l l s

u s,t h a t h e h asb een d rawn t o t e l l ag a i n and ag a i n .Fo rex amp l e ,i n

j u st i fi ca t i o n o ft h e scen eso fv i o l en ce i n h i s fi c t i o n ,Card t o l d Pub l i sh e rs

Week ly i n 1 990 t h a t , In ev e ry si n g l e case ,c ru e l t y wasa v o lun t a ry sac ri fi ce .

The p e rson b e i ng sub j ec t ed t o t h e t o rt u re wassu ffe ri n g fo rt h e sak e o ft h e

commun i t y .17 Ifi n d t h i s s t a t emen t a st o n i sh i ng ly rev ea l i n g .By The

person b e i ng sub j ec t ed t o t h e t o rt u re , Card i s n o t re fe rri n g h e re t o St i l so n ,

Bonzo ,o rt h e b uggers,who may we l l b e sac ri fi ced ,b u t who se sac ri fi cesa re

ce rt a i n l y n o t vo lun t a ry . Th e i rd ea t h sa re n o t t h e v o lun t a ry sac ri fi cest h a t

d rawCard scon ce rn .No ,i n t h ese si t u a t i o n s,acco rd i ng t o Card t h e p e rson

be ing t o rt u red i s Ender,and ev en t h ough h e wa lk saway fromev ery b a t t l e ,

t h e sac ri fi ce i s h i s . In ev e ry si t u a t i o n where Enderwi e l d sv i o l en ce ag a i n st

someone ,t h e fo cu so ft h e n a rra t i v e s sympa thy i s a lway sand i n v a ri ab l y o n

Ender,n o t o n t h e o b j ec t s o fEnders v i o l en ce .It i s Enderwho i s o ffe ri n g up

th e v o lun t a ry sac ri fi ce ,and t h a t sac ri fi ce i s t h e emo t i o n a l p ri ce h e mu st p ay

fo rp hy si ca l l y d est ro y ing someone e l se .Al l t h e fo rce o fsu ch p assag esi s o n

t h e p ri ce p a i d b y t h e d est ro y er,n o t o n t h e p ri ce p a i d b y t h e d est ro y ed .Th i s

hu rt s me mo re t h an i t h u rt s y ou , migh t we l l b e t h e sl o g an o fEnders Game.

If, t h e re fo re ,i n t en t i o n a l o n e d e t e rmin esg u i l t o ri n no cen ce ,and t h e

d ead a re d ead b ecau se o fmi sunderst and ing o rb ecau se t h ey b ri n g d est ru c t i o n

on t h emse lv es,and t h e t ru e sac ri fi ce i s t h e su ffe ri n g o ft h e k i l l e rra t h e rt h an

th e k i l l edthen Enders fee l i n g o fg u i l t i s g ra t u i t o u s.Ye t d esp i t e t h e fac t

t h a t h e i s fu nd amen t a l l y i n no cen t ,h e t ak es t h e si n so ft h e wo rl d o n to h i s

shou ld e rsand b ea rst h e o pp rob ri umt h a t p rop erl y b e l ong st o t h e p eop l e who

made h imi n t o t h e i ri n st rumen t o fg enoc id e .He i s t h e mu rd ere ra s

scap egoa t .Th e g enoc id e a ssav i o r.Hi t l e ra s Ch ri st t h e red eemer.

Id o no t make t h e a l l u si o n t o Ch ri st casu a l l y .Th e fi g u re o fCh ri st , l i k e

t h a t o fHi t l e r,comesup b ri e fl y i n Enders Game,and t h e a sso c i a t i o n si t ca l l s

up a re rev ea l i n g .When Enders fri end Al a i p o i n t s o u t t h a t h i s h ab i t u a l

sa l u t e t o Ender, sa l aam, mean sp eace b e u n to y ou ,an image immed i a t e l y

l eap si n t o Enders mind .He reca l l s h i s mo th e rq uo t i n g Jesu sfromt h e

go sp e l s .

Th ink no t t h a t Iamcome t o send p eace on ea rt h .Icame no t t o

send p eace ,b u t a swo rd .Enderh ad p i c t u red h i s mo th e rp i e rc i n g

Pe t e rt h e Terri b l e wi t h a b l o ody rap i e r,and t h e wo rd sh ad st ay ed

in h i s mind a l o ng wi t h t h e image . (p .1 87 )

The wo rd p eace ca l l s t o Enders mind no t t h e Pri n ce o fPeace ,n o t t h e

Jesu so ft u rn i ng t h e o t h e rch eek ,n o t t h e Jesu swho st ay ed h i s apo st l e s h and

when t h e apo st l e a t t ack ed t h e so l d i e rwho came t o t ak e Jesu si n t h e g a rd en .

Peace b e u n to y ou evokesi n Enderan image o fmu rd erou srev enge ag a i n st

h i s p e rson a l t o rmen t e r: t h e sav i o ra s ri g h t eou sk i l l e r.

Thu s,Enders t ak i ng on gu i l t fo rt h e ex t e rmin a t i o n o ft h e b uggersa t t h e

end o fEnders Game,and i n Sp eak erfo rt h e Dead ,i s i n n o way a repud i a t i o n

o fh i s ea rl i e rv i o l en ce ,wh i ch i s s t i l l v i ewed asj u st i fi ed ,b u t ra t h e ra

demon st ra t i o n o ft h e magn i t u d e o fsp i ri t Gra ffp ra i sed h imfo rea rl i e r.

Enderex t e rmin a t esan a l i en race ,g e t s c red i t fo rsav i ng t h e h uman race ,g e t s

c red i t fo rfee l i n g b ad abou t i t , and g e t s c red i t fo rexp i a t i n g si n swh i ch h e

d id n o t commi t . Fi rst h e sac ri fi cesh imse l femo t i o n a l l y i n o rd e rt o sav e t h e

human race p hy si ca l l y ,and t h en a ft e rt h e b uggersa re d ead h e sac ri fi ces

h imse l fmo ra l l y so t h a t o t h e rs may fee l t h emse lv esi n no cen t . Hi st o ry reco rd s

h imasa mon st e r. In rea l i t y ,t h e mon st e ri s a sav i o r.

Becau se h e h assac ri fi ced h i s l i fe fo ro t h e rs ,t h e re i s l i t t l e h app in ess

av a i l ab l e t o Ender. He t ak eswha t sa t i sfac t i o n h e can fromh i s wo rk fo r

o t h e rs,t h ough t h a t wo rk i s mo re o ft en t h an no t u n seen o r,when recogn i zed ,

un app rec i a t ed .Hi srag e and a l i en a t i o n a re d eep ly supp ressed .

WhyisEndersGamepopular?

Endersch i l d hood i s b a sed ,a l b e i t l o o se l y ,o n my own h i s

re l a t i o n sh ip w i t h Pe t era nd Va l en t i n e i s b a sed ,n o t o n my a c t ua l

re l a t i o n sh ip w i t h my o l d erb ro t h era nd si s t e r ,b u t ra t h ero n t h e

way Icon ce i ved t h o se re l a t i o n sh ip st o b e when Iwa sEnders

ag e .Enders rev i sed underst a nd ing o f Pe t erl a t e i n l i f e

pa ra l l e l s i n emo t i o n t h e same rev i si o n Iwen t t h rough i n my

t een sa sId i sco vered t h e my ch i l d i sh v i ew o f my o l d erb ro t h er

wa shope l essl y wrong .18

Orson Sco t t Card

Wha t b ecomeso f a l l t h o se p eop l e who a re t h e su ccessf u l

p roduc t s o f a s t r i c t u pb ri ng ing? . . . a ng era nd h e l p l essrag e ,

wh i ch t h ey were f o rb i dd en t o d i sp l a y ,wou ld ha ve b een among

th ese f ee l i n g spart i cu l a rl y i f t h ese ch i l d ren were b ea t en ,

humi l i a t ed ,l i ed t o a nd d ece i ved .Wha t b ecomeso f t h i s

f o rb i dd en and t h ere f o re u n exp ressed anger? Un fo rt una t e l y ,i t

d o esn o t d i sappea r,b u t i s t ra n sf o rmed w i t h t ime i n t o a mo re o r

l e sscon sc i ou sh a t red d i rec t ed aga in st e i t h ert h e se l f o r

sub st i t u t e p erson s,a h a t red t h a t w i l l seek t o d i scha rg e i t se l f i n

va ri ou swaysp ermi ssi b l e a nd su i t a b l e f o ra du l t s .19

Al ice Mi l l e r,Fo rYou rOwn Good :

Hidden Cru e l t y i n Ch i l d Reari n g and t h e

Roo t so fVio l en ce

Enders Game,sev en t een y ea rsa ft e ri t s fi rs t p ub l i ca t i o n ,con t i n u est o

se l l b e tween 100 ,000 and 200 ,000 cop i esp e ry ea ri n t h e Un i t ed St a t e s.20 I

h av e l i s t en ed t o st u d en t s sp eak abou t i t . It i s t remendou sl y p opu l a rwi t h

young read ers. It h asb ro ad app ea l .In my c l a sst h i s semest e r,when on e o f

my most se ri o u sst u d en t s ,a b e l i ev i ng Ch ri st i an ,p ra i sed Enders Game,

ano th e r,a cyn i c and no t any so rt o fCh ri st i an ,ch imed i n wi t h t h a t s a g rea t

book .

Iwou ld suggest t h a t t h e me thod so fev asi on t h a t Ih av e d e l i n ea t ed i n

t h e t ex t ,and t h e i rcong ru en cy wi t h t h e p sy cho logy o fado l escen ce ,o ffe ran

exp l an a t i o n fo rt h e n ove l s d eep and b ro ad popu l a ri t y . Psy cho log i st Al i ce

Mi l l e rh asex amin ed t h e mechan i smso fabu se wid esp read i n no rmal ch i l d

rea ri n g and exp l a i n ed howabu sed ch i l d ren i n co rpo ra t e t h e i rexp eri en ce i n t o

t h e i rp sy ch es,o n l y t o ac t i t o u t y ea rs o rd ecad esl a t e r. M i l l e rexp l a i n sh ow

ch i l d ren o ft en j u st i fy abu si v e t rea tmen t ,o rd eny ev en t h a t i t wasabu se .I

d ese rv ed i t , t h ey say ,In eed ed t o b e so c i a l i zed ,my p a ren t s rea l l y l o v ed me

desp i t e wha t t h ey d i d ,t h ey d i d i t fo ra l a rg e rp u rpo se ,fo rmy own good .In

ex t reme cases,t h e abu sed conv in ce t h emse lv est h a t t h e abu se wasev i d en ce

o fl o v e .

Becau se t h e i rabu se rswere sec re t l y t h e i rfri end s,n o ang erag a i n st t h em

i sp e rmi ssi b l e . Th e rep ressed rag e g e t s d i sp l aced ,t h en ac t ed ou t .

Di sasso c i a t ed fromt h e o ri g i n a l cau se ,t h e i rfee l i n g so fang er,h e l p l essn ess,

d esp a i r,l o ng ing ,anx i e t y ,and p a i n wi l l fi n d exp ressi o n i n d est ru c t i v e ac t s

ag a i n st o t h e rs o rag a i n st t h emse lv es.

Th e abu sed ch i l d ,when g rown and g i v en t h e p owert o ac t o u t h i s own

supp ressed rag e ,i s u n ab l e t o i d en t i fy wi t h t h e o b j ec t s o fh i s rag e .In ex t reme

cases,a s M i l l e rsay sabou t conv i c t ed ch i l d abu se rs,Compu l si v e l y and

wi t hou t q u a lms,t h ey i n fl i c t ed t h e same su ffe ri n g on [o t h e rs]a s t h ey h ad

been sub j ec t ed t o t h emse lv es.21 Ye t t o t h e abu se ri t s t i l l fee l s a s i fh e i s

b e i ng abu sed ,a s i ft h e sac ri fi ce i s h i s ,and t h e e ffec t s o fh i s ac t i o n so n

o th e rst ak e a secondary p l ace t o t h e emo t i o n sh e fee l s h imse l f.

Th i s ,Ifea r,i s t h e app ea l o fEnders Game: i t mode l s t h i s scen ari o

p rec i se l y and ab so lv est h e ch i l d o fany doub t t h a t h i s ac t i o n si n re spon se t o

su ch t rea tmen t a re q u est i o n ab l e .It o ffe rs rev enge wi t h ou t g u i l t . Ify ou ev e r

asa ch i l d fe l t u n l ov ed ,i fy ou ev e rfea red t h a t a t some l ev e l y ou migh t

d ese rv e any abu se y ou su ffe red ,Enders s t o ry t e l l s y ou t h a t y ou do no t . In

you rsou l ,y ou a re g ood .You a re sp ec i a l l y g i ft ed ,and b e t t e rt h an anyone

e l se .You rmi st rea tmen t i s t h e ev i d en ce o fy ou rg i ft s . You a re mo ra l l y

sup eri o r.You rt u rn wi l l come ,and t h en you may sev e re l y p un i sh o t h e rs,y e t

remain b l amel ess.You a re t h e h e ro .

Endern ev erl o sesa s i n g l e b a t t l e ,ev en when ev e ry c i rcumst an ce i s

st ack ed ag a i n st h im.And i n t h e end ,a s h e wanderst h e l o n e l y u n iv e rse

d i sp en si ng compassi on22 fo rt h e u ndese rv i ng who t h i nk h imev i l , h e can

fee l so rry fo rh imse l fa t t h e same t ime h e k nowsh e i s twi ce o v era sav i o ro f

t h e en t i re h uman race .

God ,h owIwou ld h av e l o v ed t h i s b ook i n sev en th g rad e !It s a lmo st a s

good ash av ing a n u c l ea rd ev i ce .

Th e p rob l emi s t h a t t h e mo ra l i t y o ft h a t abu sed sev en th g rad e ri s

st u n t ed .It s a g ood t h i n g Id i d n t h av e accesst o a n u c l ea rd ev i ce .It s a

good t h i n g Id i d n t g rowup t o e l abo ra t e my fan t asi e so fp e rson a l rev enge

in t o an a l l en compassi ng sy st emo fe t h i c s.Th e bu l l y i n g Isu ffe red ,wh i ch

seemed ov erwhe lming t o me t h en ,wasu nden i ab ly rea l ,and wrong .Bu t i t

d i d n o t make me t h e cen t e ro ft h e u n iv e rse .My sen se o fri g h t eou sn ess,o n e

t h a t migh t h av e j u st i fi ed any v i o l en ce ,wasex aggera t ed b eyond any rea l i t y ,

and no t ru e mo ra l i t y cou ld g rowi n me un t i l Ip u t i t a si d e .Ih ad t o l e t g o o f

my sen se o fmy se l fa s v i c t imo fa co smic mo ra l i t y p l ay ,n o t i n o rd e rt o

j u st i fy t h e abu seId i dn t d ese rv e t o b e h u rtbu t i n o rd e rt o avo id ac t i n g i t

o u t . Ih ad t o l ea rn n o t t o supp ressi t and st ri k e b ack .

We see t h e e ffec t s o fd i sp l aced ,ri g h t eou srag e ev e rywhere a round u s,

wri t t en i n v i o l en ce and j u st i fi ed a smo ra l ac t i o n ,ev en compassi on .Ender

g e t s t o s t ri k e o u t a t h i s en emiesand st i l l remain mo ra l l y c l ean .No th i ng i s

h i s fau l t . St i l so n a l ready l i e s d e fea t ed on t h e g round ,y e t Endercan k i ck h im

in t h e face u n t i l h e d i es,and st i l l remain t h e g ood guy .Endercan d ri v e

bone fragmen t si n t o Bonzo sb ra i n and t h en k i ck h i s d y i ng body i n t h e

c ro t ch ,y e t t h e en t i re fo cu si s o n Enders su ffe ri n g .Fo ran ado l escen t ri d d en

wi t h rag e and se l fp i t y ,who fee l s h imse l fabu sed (and wha t ado l escen t

do esn t ? ),wha t s n o t t o l i k e abou t t h i s scen ari o ? So we a l l wan t t o b e

Ender. AsEl a i n e Rad fo rd h assa i d ,Wewou ld a l l l i k e t o b e l i ev e t h a t o u r

su ffe ri n g h asmade u ssp ec i a lespec i a l l y i fi t g i v esu sa ri g h t eou sreason t o

d est ro y ou ren emies.23

Bu t t h a t s a l i e . No on e i s t h a t sp ec i a l n o on e i s t h a t i n no cen t . IfI

fe l t t h a t Card sfi c t i o n t ru l y u nderst o od t h i s ,t h en Iwou ld no t h av e wri t t en

t h i s e ssay .

POSTSCRIPT2009

Anumbero fp eop l e h av e ob j ec t ed t o t h i s e ssay on t h e g round st h a t

i n t en t i o n sd o make a d i ffe ren ce i n o u rj u dgmen t so ft h e d eg ree o f

cu lp ab i l i t y we assi g n t o an ac t o rp e rfo rming any ac t i o n .Id i d n o t mean t o

g iv e t h e i mp ressi o n t h a t I b e l i ev e t h a t i n t en t i o n i s i rre l ev an t t o j u d g i n g

wh e t h e r an ac t i o n i s mo ra l . We n o rmal l y t ak e i n t en t i o n s i n t o acco u n t wh en

mak i n g su ch j u d g men t s. I d o , t o o . To j u d g e o n l y b y re su l t s wo u l d b e c ru e l

an d ri g i d .

Wh at b o t h e rs me ab o u t OSC an d En d er' s Ga me i s t h a t h e say s t h a t o n l y

i n t en t i o n s ma t t e r i n mak i n g su ch j u d g men t s. Th i s I ab so l u t e l y re j ec t . It i s

t h e c l a ssi c ex cu se o f so meo n e wh o co mmi t s a h e i n o u s ac t t o say t h a t h i s

i n t en t i o n s were g o o d , an d t o j u st i fy h i s q u est i o n ab l e mean s b y re fe rri n g t o

h i s g o o d en d s. We see t h i s a l l t o o o b v i o u sl y , fo r ex amp l e , i n t h e

j u st i fi ca t i o n s t h e B u sh ad mi n i st ra t i o n g av e fo r t h e Iraq war. Th ey sa i d t h ey

t h o u g h t Sad d am h ad weap o n s o f mass d est ru c t i o n , t h a t h e h ad l i n k s t o

t e rro ri sm, t h a t we were t h e re t o p ro mo t e d emo cracy , e t c . M i l l i o n s o f p eo p l e

ev en a t t h e t i me k n ew t h a t t h ese j u st i fi ca t i o n s were i n ad eq u a t e , o r i n man y

cases o u t ri g h t fab ri ca t i o n s.

C ard se t s u p En d er t o b e t h e si n ce re , ab u sed i n n o cen t , an d ri g s t h e g ame t o

mak e u s accep t t h a t h e d o es n o wro n g . I see t h e en t i re p u p o se o f t h e "remo t e

war b y g ame" t ri ck i n t h e n o v e l a s a d ev i ce t o mak e t h i s a rg u men t p l au si b l e .

B u t i n t h e rea l wo rl d g en o c i d e i s n o t co mmi t t ed b y acc i d en t . We see t h e

i mmo ra l co n seq u en ces o f su ch a mo d e o f t h o u g h t i n t h e h eap s o f d ead b o d i es

t h a t h i st o ry h as p i l ed u p , co mmi t t ed a l way s b y l ead e rs wh o t e l l u s t h ey o n l y

mean t t o p ro t ec t u s fro m ev i l . I j u st wi l l n o t accep t t h a t . JK

Notes

Headno t e : Sco t t Ni cho l son ,"CARD'SGAME:AnInterv i ewWi thOrson

Sco ttCard (1 998 )h t t p : / /www.ha t rack .com/ resea rch / i n t e rv i ews/1998 sco t t

n i cho l son .sh tml

1 Al i ce M i l l e r,Fo rYou rOwn Good : Hidd en Cru e l t y i n Ch i l d Reari n g and

th e Roo t so fVio l en ce (1 983 rp t ,NewYo rk : Noonday Press,1 990 ),p .5 8 .

2 Orson Sco t t Card ,No t eso n Enders Game ,i n Ben Bova ,ed .,Th e Best o f

t h e Nebu l as(NewYo rk : TomDohert y Asso c i a t e s,1 989 ),p .3 2 .

3 Ib i d .,p .3 3

4 Orson Sco t t Card ,Enders Game(NewYo rk : TomDohert y Asso c i a t e s,

1 985 ),p .1 .

5 One o ft h e u n add ressed qu est i o n so fEnders Gamei s h owd id t h e Wigg in

fami l y p roduce a p sy chopa th l i k e Pe t e r? The book g i v esn o h i n t o fan

exp l an a t i o n fo rh i s b eh av io r i t s p o ssi b l e Isu ppo se t h a t Card b e l i ev es

simp ly t h a t some p eop l e a re j u st b o rn b ad bu t Ifi n d no c l ea ri n d i ca t i o n s

o fa sou rce fo rwha t seemst o b e Pe t e rs mo t i v e l essev i l . Cu ri o u sl y ,Card

say si n h i s Respon se t o El a i n e Rad fo rd t h a t Pe t e ri s n o t a s ev i l a s h e i s

po rt ray ed ea rl y i n t h e b ook ,and t h a t Endermi sp e rce i v ed h im.Giv en

Val en t i n e s an ecdo t e abou t Pe t e rt o rt u ri n g t h e squ i rre l s ,and t h e n umerou s

ex amp l eso fPe t e rs sad i st i c b eh av io ri n t h e st o ry ,Ifi n d i t h a rd t o

underst and t h a t i n t e rp re t a t i o n .

6 We a re t o l d t h a t Bonzo i s p ronounced boneso , n o t b ahn zo e . Bu t fo r

an Ameri can aud i en ce o ft h e Reag an Era ,when t h i s b ook wasp ub l i sh ed ,t h e

most common asso c i a t i o n fo rt h i s n ame wou ld b e t h e n ame o ft h e ch impanzee

fromt h e 1 951 comedy t h a t Rona ld Reagan st a rred i n ,Bed t ime fo rBonzo .

7 Tea rsi n Enders Game,n o ma t t e rh owj u st i fi ed ,a re i n ev i t ab l y a s i g n o f

humi l i a t i o n .ACard h e ro wi l l d o a lmo st any th i ng i n o rd e rt o h i d e h i s

emo t i o n a l t o rmen t . It i s a s i ft h e u l t ima t e h umi l i a t i o n a p e rson can face i s t o

c ry i n t h e p resen ce o fo t h e rs .

8 Ka t e Bon in ,Gay Sex and Dea th i n t h e Sc i en ce Fi c t i o n o fOrson Sco t t

Card ,NewYo rk Rev i ew o f S c i en ce Fi c t i o n ,172 ,1 5 ,4 (December2 002 ),

p p .17 21 .

9 Orson Sco t t Card : Cast i n g Sh adows (i n t e rv i ew),Lo cu s5 03 ,4 9 ,6

(Sep t ember2 003 ),p p7 8 ,7 1 72 ,a t p .7 1 .

10 Th i s a sse rt i o n i s an ex amp l e o fwha t p sy cho log i st Al i ce M i l l e rh asca l l ed

po i sonou sp ed agogy ,t h e u se o fco e rc i v e measu rest o ri d ch i l d ren o f

weaknessand d ep endence i n o rd e rt o b ecome adu l t and d ese rv i ng o fre sp ec t .

Th i s p ro cessl ead st o t h e con c lu si o n t h a t i fp eop l e fea ry ou ,y ou h av e ea rn ed

th e i rre sp ec t ,and i ft h ey d e fe rt o y ou rd omin a t i o n ,y ou h av e ea rn ed t h e i r

fri end sh ip .

11 It i s cu ri o u st h a t Card i d en t i fi e s t h i s j u dg ing o ft h e mo ra l i t y o fan ac t

b ased on t h e ac t and no t i t s i n t en t i o n Ca lv i n i st , s i n ce a fu nd amen t a l

p remi se o fCa lv i n i smi s t h e b e l i e ft h a t p eop l e s ac t i o n sa re i rre l ev an t t o

t h e i rsa l v a t i o n .Good wo rk scan t sav e a Ca lv i n i st i fh e i s n o t a membero f

t h e e l ec t ,any mo re t h an Card sb ad p eop l e can su cceed a t d o i ng good .

12 El a i n e Rad fo rd ,Ender andHi tl er :Sympa thy fo r the Superman.

Fan t asy Rev i ew102 (1987 ),p p .7 11 .

13 Orson Sco t t Card ,Respon se ,Fan t asy Rev i ew102 (1987 )p p .1 3 14 ,4 9

52 .

14 i b i d .,p .1 3 .

15 i b i d .,p .1 4

16 i b i d .,p .1 4

17 GraceAnne A.DeCand ido and Ke i t h R .A.DeCand ido ,PWIn t e rv i ews

Orson Sco t t Card Pub l i sh ersWeek l y , November3 0 ,1 990 .

18 Ca rd ,Respon se ,p .5 0 .

19 M i l l e r,p .6 1

20 Pe rson a l conversa t i o n wi t h an ed i t o ra t TomDohert y Asso c i a t e s,U.S.

pub l i sh e ro fEnders Game.

21 M i l l e r, In t ro duc t i o n fromPa th so fLi fe : Sev en Scen ari o s,(NewYo rk :

Pan th eon Book s,1 998 ).

22 Th e compassi on t o wh i ch Enderd evo t esh i s l i fe i n Sp eak erfo rt h e Dead

may b e read ,n o t a s exp i a t i o n o fh i s g u i l t o rcomfo rt i n g o t h e rs,b u t a s o n ly

ano th e rex amp l e o fac t i n g ou t d i sp l aced ho st i l i t y . AsSp eak er,Enders

o st en si b l e p u rpo se i s t o exp l a i n t h e l i fe o ft h e d eceased i n a way t h a t evokes

empa thy fo rt h a t l o st p e rson .Bu t ,a s fo ri n st an ce i n h i s exp l an a t i o n o ft h e

l i fe o fMarco sR ib e i ra i n ch ap t e r1 5 o fSp eak er,d esp i t e Enders a sse rt i o n s

t h a t t h e re s n o b l ame i n t h e ac t i o n so ft h e commun i t y t h a t l ed t o Marco s

a l i en a t i o n and b ru t a l i t y t oward sh i s wi fe ,Enders Sp eak ing i s a s much a

sco ld i ng o ft h e l i v i n g fo rt h e i rca l l o u smo ra l b l i n dn essa si t i s a d e fen se o f

t h e d ead .We a re t o l d t h a t Enders ro l e i s n o t t o j u dg e h e d o est h i s b y

h and ing down i n fa l l i b l e mo ra l j u dgmen t s. Th e on e ce rt a i n t y Enders

Speak ing est ab l i sh esi s t h a t Enderi s su p eri o rt o anyone e l se i n h i s g od l i k e

ab i l i t y a s a mo ra l a rb i t e r.

23 Rad fo rd ,Enderand Hi t l e r ,p .1 1 .