Orson Scott Cards’s futuristic novel The Ender’s Game features a future where the government selects and controls young prodigies who are trained to fight against aliens or “buggers”. Ender is the protagonist of this novel. He is six years old and lives with Peter and Valentine. They both have to be monitored by government officials. Ender is made to do what they want by the government, who monitors him continuously and then tricks Ender into becoming a member of the International Fleet. Ender quickly masters war skills and techniques, so he skips some ranks at the battle schools. Ender is manipulated by his teachers to unleash his killer instinct. Ender suffers from a host of issues and isolation as a result of Ender being under strict control by the authorities. Ender’s government control was inhumane. And the officials’ indifference and refusal to recognize this problem eventually causes mental and emotionally distress and depression.
Card shows how Ender was manipulated by the government using the monitor in chapter 1. “‘We were directly connected to your brain. No matter if you were paying attention or not, we heard everything you said. No matter if you understood. We understand'” (Card 23). This conversation shows that Ender has been monitored closely by officials since he was in battle school. The government also had the ability to manipulate Ender early on. Ender was not yet mature enough to make contracts with anyone else, so the government invaded his privacy. Ender was unaware of his past and the government used that to manipulate him. Ender requires us to find the right balance. He must be kept away from the outside world so that he can remain creative. If he does, we will lose him ””(Card 27. Ender’s conversation shows the official’s plan. He will be isolated so that he can no longer have friends that would “distract.” Ender was also made to be a violent person by the officials, making him a murderer. Card expresses another form of social isolation when he says, “The fear stayed. All through dinner. As no one sat with him in his mess hall. The boys were discussing things, including the scoreboard, food and the larger kids. Ender was unable to watch outside” (41). Card describes Ender’s isolation in the dining room and shows that officials were able to isolate him. Ender was thus socially isolated. Ender’s mental and emotional distress resulted.
Ender finds out that Colonel Graff has been tricked by officials into killing Mazer Rackham’s buggers. Colonel Graff quotes, “‘Of course we tricked you into it. Ender, this is the whole point. It was like a gun. Like the Little Doctor. Ender was clearly being manipulated by officials. They fed Ender lies and tried to stop him from expressing his true desire. Ender wasn’t interested in becoming a murderer or killer but officials had deceived Ender to help them win the war. Ender felt emotional damage from the government’s manipulations and control. Ender wanted to be “Peter” after defeating his enemies. Ender shouldn’t have believed the government’s lies. Ender needed to feel regret for their actions.
Ender’s mental and psychological health was affected by Ender’s government-enforced abuse of manipulation. Ender was subject to manipulation by the government via the monitor. Ender was also socially isolated and fed endless lies in order to reach their ends. Ender, who was an innocent victim of the government’s plot, suffered a severe mental and emotional depression. Ender was not helped by the government. These are the results of government officials’ cruel and inhumane treatment of Ender. Ender’s treatment by the government was inhumane. They must stop manipulating Ender so they can make their own decisions and grow and become independent.
