Ender WigginEnder Wiggin, the third child, is not a killer like his older brother, Peter Wiggin, but he always finds himself in a situation where he hurts someone to save himself. And for that he hates himself. At the same time though, he has the compassion of his older sister Valentine Wiggin. At the age of six, Ender leaves his family, and goes to Battle school in space. There he learns that the adults, not his foes, are the enemies. Ender is a victim, a brilliant child manipulated by adults into playing a game he never wanted to play. But Ender learns that sometimes in life we are forced to play games that we would rather not play, and that sometimes winning must be second to nothing else. Still, he manages to retain his humanity and his compassion wins out in the end, as he sets out to repay his debt to the buggers.
|
Major AndersonHe is the second in command behind Colonel Graff at the Battle School; Major Anderson is in charge of setting up battle room. He tries to make the game next to imposable for Ender, and Ender views him almost as an enemy for that, but Anderson feels for Ender. He is unsure about some of Graff's decisions and actions but stands by him during his trial.
|
Valentine WigginValentine is the middle child, older than Ender but younger than Peter. She is the metal between the “heads or tails” on a coin. In other words she protects him from Peter. She has Ender's good qualities but not Peter’s bad ones. She is the one whose love helps save Ender when the pointlessness of Battle School threatens to break him. Later in the book though the Demosthenes side of her, enjoys control. Valentine would never deliberately harm someone else. Unlike Ender, however, she is overcome for the need for power. But that urge would never take her down Peter's road of power at any cost.
|
Colonel GraffAlthough Graff has manipulated Ender at several occasions he still loves him as a friend. Graff was the head of Battle School until a boy was killed on accident, during a fight, by Ender. Ender had no deadly intentions at the time but Ender was in a situation in which he had no choice. But as head of the school, Graff was held responsible, especially since he knew that seven older boys were planning to kill Ender. He is also one of a few people who let Ender act like a child.
|
Peter WigginThe oldest of the three children, peter is not like the other children. His idea of fun is torturing people or animals. Throughout the book Peter is always uncertain whether or not to kill his siblings. Also the mastermind in the plot to take over the world with Valentine, he is motivated by the thirst for power. He eventually becomes the leader of the world, but surprisingly he was able to do so peacefully. Although this leads him to be the ruler of all humans on earth, it makes Peter as far from human as possible. It is the nature of so much power, and the effect it has on people, that creates the resemblance between Peter and Ender.
|
Mazer RackhamEnder's last teacher, Rackham does not even try to become Ender's friend but, like Graff, he loves and respects the boy. Rackham is forced to deceive Ender into thinking he is playing mere games and explains to him that no one but a child could have won the war—it took compassion, daring, and ruthlessness that he himself could not have had since he knew it was not a game.
|