hyfr

Lauren Ross
Wilson/1
12 AP Lit & Comp
December 13, 2013
Games
In Ender’s Game, by Orson Scott Card, games are a major theme. Every piece of important information is seen through the use of games. Ender usually only sees the games as games, considering he wins most of them, but in his final game he realizes its true meaning too late. The line between reality and what is a game is blurred. The first game is “buggers and astronauts,” a game all kids play including Ender and Peter. In Ender’s case though the game is much more than it seems, because Peter actually hates Ender, and he abuses Ender during the game. Ender never wins this game in particular. It is one of the only games he is not successful in. Most likely because by counteracting was Peter is doing he would be turning into Peter, his worst fear. The second game Ender faces appears in two different forms. The first, a mind game, a game that even its inventors don’t fully understand, and one that effects Ender’s life directly. By playing this game, Ender comes to terms with the new way of life he lives, and it is through the images in the game the buggers proceed to communicate with Ender. The second is a war game in the battle room. One’s role and how they perform in these games is everything to the children. Their lives revolve around playing games, and so the meaning of the word itself shifts from a voluntary fun experience to a necessary aspect of life. The third and final game Ender plays is the most important of all. This occurs when Ender is named commander of the Third Invasion. By participating in these games Ender’s health declines, he is unable to sleep or eat and is forced to be strict with the ones he cares for. Ender only destroys the buggers to end what seemed like a game, when in reality if he had known it wasn’t a game he would have never participated. For the playing of the game can have a profound impact on life, and sometimes the games itself is reality.