Hyrum Graff: Influencing Others’ Disposition (Ender’s Game Literature Essay Example)

Ender’s Game, Orson Scott Card’s science fiction novel, follows a story of a young boy who is sent to a training academy called “Battle School” where he trains to battle against an alien species known as “Buggers”. Card suggests multiple recurring themes in this piece of literature, including the diverse effects of one's isolation, the justification of manipulation, and the consequences of violent approaches. In this novel, these themes are widely explored through the impact Colonel H. Graff has on various dynamic characters. This novel portrays that one’s isolation, regardless of its objective, may destroy one’s trust in humanity. Graff also exhibits that the manipulation of one can ultimately be for the common good of society. Likewise, through the character of Graff, Card also shines a light on how the justification of a violent approach can lead to many complicated consequences.  

One such prevalent theme in this novel is that regardless of its objective, one’s isolation may destroy one’s trust in humanity. To elaborate, Card plots a quote in chapter 4, “There's only one boy on this launch with any brains at all, and that's Ender Wiggin. Take a good look at him, little boys. He's going to be a commander when you're still in diapers..” (Card 31 - 32). This demonstrates Graff deliberately setting Ender up to be separate from the other boys, as well as making it hard, if not impossible, for Ender to build any relationship(s) with them, isolating him. Furthermore, this quote connects to the theme statement as it is clear that Graff shows to the rest of the boys that Ender is far better than everyone else and because of this, Ender is isolated and receives hatred from the other boys. Because of this, he loses trust in his peers even before he starts his training. Likewise, Ender also feels that his approach to Bean is not very different from Graff’s. To elucidate, the narrator exhibits, “Then he (Ender) remembered that it hadn't begun with his commanders. Before Rose and Bonzo had treated him with contempt, he had been isolated in his launch group. And it wasn't Bernard who began that, either. It was Graff” (Card 167). This quotation connects to this theme statement as Ender is doubtful of his actions during his interaction with Bean and now remembers that he was treated similarly as well. This vividly shows how Graff had isolated Ender and also makes it easy to infer that Ender would have probably lost trust in his teachers, particularly in military personnel like Graff. Thus, through Graff, the author presents that regardless of its objective, one’s isolation may destroy one’s trust in humanity.

Another coherent theme in this ambiguous novel is that one's manipulation can ultimately be for the common good of society. To begin with, the narrator mentioned that “Ender had to remind himself that Graff was only acting like a friend, that everything he did was a lie or a cheat calculated to turn Ender into an efficient fighting machine. I’ll become exactly the tool you want me to be, said Ender silently, ...I’ll do it because I choose to, not because you tricked me...” (Card 252). This quotation vividly relates to this theme statement as manipulation is being used to achieve the common good for society, which, in this case, is to beat the Bugger species. To attest, Ender is manipulated because the International Fleet (IF) officers believe that he is capable enough to beat the Buggers and therefore, Graff’s manipulation is an essential part of his training. Secondly, Card wrote “"I know, you're right, I shouldn't burden you with my conscience. But my eagerness to sacrifice little children to save mankind is wearing thin…” (Card 174). This also shows the reader that throughout this novel, Graff has sacrificed the lives of multiple little children in order to save mankind from the Bugger species. Hence, intertwining with this theme statement. Lastly, near the end of the novel, it was written "Of course we tricked you into it..." said Graff. "It had to be a trick or you couldn't have done it….If you knew, you couldn't do it" (Card 298). This quote directly supports this theme statement as Colonel Graff himself admits that he manipulated Ender in order to win the battle between mankind and the Buggers. To emphasize, Ender fought the battle not knowing that he was fighting the “Actual” battle with the Buggers. In conclusion, this distinctly shows the author’s use of Graff to support the theme that one's manipulation can ultimately be for the common good of society. 

The justification of a violent approach can lead to many complicated consequences is another ubiquitous theme in this novel. Firstly, the author plots Ender talking to himself, saying, ““I’m doing it again, thought Ender. I’m hurting people again, just to save myself. Why don’t they leave me alone, so I don’t have to hurt them?”” (Card 115). This directly links to the theme statement because Ender is guilty of the fact that he feels he is hurting people again to save himself, he is being bothered by it and is not well mentally due to it. To pertain to the theme statement, because Ender is guilty of his violent approach, Ender is led to complicated consequences such as having to deal with the afterthoughts of his actions. Secondly, when an unidentified military officer speaks regarding Ender to another military officer and says “"Ender Wiggin isn't a killer. He just wins -- thoroughly. If anybody's going to be scared, let it be the buggers"” (Card 226), it becomes apparent that despite Ender having previously killed 2 people, Bonzo, and Stilson, the two unnamed military officers talk about him in a contrastingly positive nature. Notably, they are also justifying his violence and creating a complicated and false image of him. Last but not least, when Graff and Mazer Rackham try to take responsibility for Ender’s actions by saying “"You had to be a weapon, Ender...Functioning perfectly but not knowing what you were aimed at. We aimed you. We're responsible. If there was something wrong, we did it"” (Card 298), Ender was severely hurt and even felt intricate consequences like who would be responsible if there could have been a better way out. Hence, suggesting that the justification of a violent approach can lead to many complicated consequences.

Altogether, Orson Scott Card’s science fiction novel, Ender’s Game, evidently shows that regardless of its objective, one’s isolation may destroy one’s trust in humanity, that one's manipulation can ultimately be for the common good of society, and that the justification of a violent approach can lead to many complicated consequences. These themes are best demonstrated through the character H. Graff. Briefly, Graff’s influence on Ender, isolating him, manipulating him, dictating his approaches, and forbidding him to embrace his approach are all markedly seen in Graff’s journey. In conclusion, Card’s Ender’s Game carries plentiful teachings about Graff’s journey and his impacts on others.   

Works Cited

Orson Scott Card, and John Harris. Ender’s Game. 1985. New York, Tor, 2017.