Strength from Isolation - Ender's Game

Imagine being a mere eleven years old and commander of the world’s space fleet to destroy an alien race of invaders. This is the story of Ender’s Game. The author, Orson Scott Card, tells the story of a boy named Ender who goes to Battle School to learn to become the commander of Earth’s entire space fleet to eventually destroy an alien race of invaders. To become the commander, his superiors had to isolate him to build his strength.

In Ender’s Game, Card uses characterization, imagery, and dialogue to reinforce the theme of isolation builds strength.

The first literary element used by Card to unveil this theme is characterization. An example of Card’s use of characterization can be found in chapter one when Ender gets his monitor taken out. On page 7 Stilson and his gang, knowing that the monitor is out and no one is watching Ender, isolate him for being a “third” and get ready to fight him.

Card’s use of characterization here is an example of how people characterize others to isolate them from everyone else which is what happens because Ender gets singled out for being a “third.” Ender gets isolated in this situation and learns that the only way to win this battle and all to come is to take out the head of the gang, Stilson. This strength that he gained from this isolation helped Ender beat Stilson and the rest of his gang, for good.

Strength from Isolation – Ender’s Game Strength from Isolation – Ender’s Game Strength from Isolation – Ender’s Game

The second literary element used by Card to unveil this theme in imagery.

Get quality help now

RhizMan

Verified

Proficient in: Communication

4.9 (247)

“ Rhizman is absolutely amazing at what he does . I highly recommend him if you need an assignment done ”

+84 relevant experts are online

Hire writer

An example of Card’s use of imagery to develop the theme can be found on page 161 when Ender isolates his own soldier, Bean, to build up his strength. Card’s use of imagery here is Ender noticing how the other soldiers are already avoiding Bean after Ender’s comments about him. Ender isolates Bean in this situation because Ender wants Bean to become strong like he did. Ender was isolated himself by the adults running the school on the idea that he would become stronger, which worked. Now Ender will do th…