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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
HOME
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 .