An Act of Self-Defense

War and Politics

The cadets participate in competitive war simulations in zero gravity, where Ender's innovations overwhelm his opponents. The war consists in a team deathmatch where they have guns that freeze your body or extremities. The goal is to get one person on the other team's gate without getting him frozen. Graff promotes Ender to a new army (named Salamander) composed of raw recruits, but Ender's success continues. He forms bonds of friendship, loyalty and trust with several of his current and former squad members, like Petra. A jealous commander of another army, Bonzo Madrid, compels him to fight at the bathroom, and Ender quickly overpowered him. In an act of self-defense, Ender kills Bonzo. 

On Earth, Peter Wiggin uses a global communication system to post political essays under the pseudonym "Locke", hoping to establish himself as a respected orator and thence as a powerful politician. Valentine, despite not trusting Peter, publishes alongside him as "Demosthenes". Their essays are soon taken seriously by the government. Though Graff knows their true identities, he recommends that it be kept a secret, because their writings are politically useful.

"He even thought of Valentine then and wanted to go home." (Scott Card 102)

As I assumed before, Valentine has an influence on Ender and makes him want to leave Battle School and return home. I think this might be foreshadowing and Ender might actually return home, leaving the war away from him. 

"'Just between you and me,' Petra said, 'if they gave the Battle School an enema, they'd stick it in a green green brown.'" (Scott Card 109)

Again, as I predicted, Ender's relationships can and do affect him. Here, we can see Petra console Ender and try to cheer him up. I can make an assumption that his friends might keep him at Battle School and, if he makes it, later in battles against the buggers, 

Conclusion

Like I predicted, Ender's relationships with others affect how he behaves and probably how he will behave in the future. Ender isn't a person who makes friends easily, but so far he has a good group of friends to be there for him. I believe that Petra might be a love interest for Ender, but Ender hasn't shown any love emotions yet and he's only 8. 

Genocide

The Final Battle

Ender is now 10 years old and is promoted to Command School on Eros after a brief respite on Earth. After some preliminary battles in the simulator, he is introduced to a former war hero, Mazer Rackham. From now on, Ender directs real human spacecraft against bugger fleets via an instantaneous communicator. The battle simulations are controlled by Mazer. As the skirmishes become harder, he is joined by some of his friends from the Battle School as sub-commanders. Despite this, Ender becomes depressed by the frustration of the battles, his isolation, and by the way Mazer treats him.

Ender is ready for his final test.This time, he is fighting in the buggers' home planet. He is outnumbered by them, but Ender is still confident. Ender almost completely wastes all the manpower he has when he forms a shield of ships around the Molecular Detachment Device, a weapon that destroys molecules in a chain reaction. The Device destroys the planet and the surrounding bugger fleet. Everyone starts applauding, but the simulation continues to roll. Ender is confused. Mazer walks toward him and congratulates him. Ender has won the war. Ender has destroyed an entire species. 

"Because they need us(...) Because they need somebody to defeat the buggers" (Scott Card 198)

Ender, before his final test, realises that the army does not care about him, they need him. Ender is nothing but a mere weapon to be used by the army in order to defeat the buggers. This has lead me to believe that Ender might rebel on the army and change it in some way. Or maybe he wants vengeance because of what they made him do. 

"The best soldier in any army, lying on his bunk crying." (Scott Card 213)

Ender, after realising what he has done, lies in his bunker, crying. Memories of the death of Stilson, Bonzo and his sister Valentine flood his mind. I think that Ender might try to make up what he has done somehow, which to me, is basically impossible. Ender has killed an entire species of aliens, and I don't know what could possibly make up for that. 

Conclusion

After reading these chapters, I was completely shocked at the things that are happening. Ender has committed genocide and he has slaughtered an entire species. I am really intrigued to what will happen next and how this fact will change Ender. I think Ender will be greatly affected because of his actions and he will rebel or leave the army. 

His Game Begins...

The Rise of Humanity

Humanity has begun interplanetary flight. New worlds and races are being found now. One race in particular, nicknamed "buggers". The discovery of a bugger forward base in the asteroid Eros leads to war between the species. The battle to recapture Eros results in the discovery of advanced alien technology, including gravity manipulation. There are political conflicts on Earth between three ruling parties, the Hegemon, Polemarch, and Strategos, but are put aside in the face of the threat from the buggers. Preparing for the expected third invasion, an International Fleet (I.F.) is established, with headquarters on Eros. Increasingly advanced starships are built and secretly launched to attack the buggers' home worlds. Humanity has begun to develop commanders capable of defeating the much larger bugger forces, the I.F. creates a crash training program for children with the best strategic minds, the Battle School.

Andrew "Ender" Wiggin is one of the school's trainees. He has a close bond with his sister Valentine; but fears his brother Peter, a highly intelligent scoiopath. Valentine didn't make it to Battle School because she was too kind, and Peter was too violent, but Ender was perfect. At school, the I.F. remove Ender's monitoring device, which is implanted on every kid to monitor their emotional status, and whatever they do in or out of class. Ender thinks that ended his chances of Battle School, and he gets teased by a fellow student, Stilson. Ender beats up Stilson before the fight is broken up; unknown to Ender, the fight was fatal to Stilson. When explaining his actions to I.F. Colonel Hyrum Graff, Ender states his belief that, by showing superiority now, he has prevented future struggle. Graff, on hearing of this, offers Ender a place in the Battle School, situated in Earth's orbit, where Graff quickly isolates Ender from the other cadets because of his mental capabilities. Ender is more intelligent than any of his classmates, so he is set apart to establish superiority. 

"And as he got in the car that waited silently in the corridor, he heard Valentine's anguished cry. "Come back to me! I love you forever!" (Scott Card 57)

This quote perfectly explains the relationship between Ender and Valentine. I think this might have an effect later in the story. Perhaps Valentine stops loving Ender, which impacts him a lot and might make him drop out of Battle School. Or maybe she keeps loving him and that stops Ender from fighting the Buggers. I'm feeling like their relationship is a huge deal to Ender and the story, so I think that those two options might happen. 

"Nobody looked at Ender."  (Scott Card 73)

I think Orson Scott Card is trying to say something here. Besides Valentine, I think that his relationships with the other students will also affect, since he is already set apart, I think he will try even harder to prove that he is worth something. I think that maybe the other students are intimidated by his intelligence, which might make him have the right friends, or lead a powerful attack towards the buggers.

Conclusion

I think that the way Ender develops his relationships with his family and students will affect the story, because they might have an influence on Ender. Ender is highly intelligent, so maybe other students that are also set apart might approach him. Also, I think his family will make him quit Battle School because they miss him or they might be an influence him to kill the buggers in order to keep them safe. I know it is far-fetched but it is still an option. 

Day's Strategy

Surrender

On the second day of the ceasefire, Eden is admitted to the hospital for testing. After the testing is done, Day gets a call about June, saying that she's been attacked by Commander Jameson, who is feeding the Colonies information about the military strengths and weaknesses of Los Angeles. Knowing the need to buy time, Day convinces Anden and June to pretend to surrender - who in turn convince the Senate. After the Senate meeting, Anden tells June he gave up Dakota, the Republic's largest territory, in exchange for military support (and treatment for Day) from Antarctica.

At the same time, Day plans to use the people to help fight against the Colonies and puts out a message across LA using spray paint - "LISTEN FOR ME." When he gets back, the lab technicians tell him that Eden cannot provide a cure for the plague, because the virus is a mutated version of the one Eden was infected with.

Anden officially announces the Republic's surrender when enemy airships begin to approach LA in anticipation of the end of the three-day ceasefire. During the announcement, June heads to the hospital to check on the cure progress. When the lab tech explains why the cure isn't working, and where it originated, June realizes that the infection she caught (in Prodigy) might be the same disease as the plague.

"I draw the one thing I know everyone will recognize as coming from me-a red streak painted onto an outline of a face." (Lu 175)

Day knows that people trust him and what is more recognizable than the red streak that made him famous in Legend. People will know it is him and that way, he gains more power. His plan is going well so far and the people will follow him anywhere. Day might use the people of the Republic of America to achieve his goals in his plan.

"I'm not sure we'll ever create a cure." (Lu 192)

Day's situation here is relatable because his feeling of helplessness is greater than most. His only family is sick and there is no cure for him. We can relate to that moment because we have all been through a moment when we can't do anything and we just have to move on. Even though Day's situation is a little more intense, since Eden is his only family, we can all have a sense of what he's going through. I can especially relate because once my cousin git sick and she couldn't be cured so I was left in a state that I couldn't help anyone. 

CONCLUSION

Day has a strategy that can work if executed correctly but is also suffering because of Eden. The Republic of America is at a great war and Day might have a way to give them an advantage in battle. But the discoveries I have encountered (June's disease might be the same as the plague and Eden will never be cured) have changed the tables a bit. The question remains, what is more important to Day, winning the war or helping his brother?

A Massive Headache

Champions Do Cry

After Day has a severe headache (caused by his disease), he reveals to June that he has months to live. However, while they are talking, Denver gets attacked by the Colonies. After making it to a bunker reserved for the wealthy, they discover that Tess and several other Patriots are being held there. Day gets the authority to lead them on a mission to sabotage the Colonies, and they destroy a nearby Colonies airbase. Meanwhile, June and Anden head to Ross City, Antarctica in hopes of finding allies. The only offer Anden receives, however, is to give up some of the Republic's land in exchange for military support.

After another severe headache that was triggered by an explosion, Day is contacted by the Chancellor of the Colonies. He is blackmailed, and if he doesn't tell the people to revolt against the Republic, June and Eden may die. The Chancellor gives Day a three-day ceasefire. Right after the call ends, Tess is put into quarantine because she has become infected by the plague running rampant in the Colonies.

On the first night of the ceasefire, June and Day are reunited. 

In the middle of the night, Day wakes up from a nightmare. He leaves June's apartment to visit his old home in the Lake sector, not knowing that June followed him. There, he remembers

what happened to his family. Then he breaks down in tears, because he doesn't want to feel the pain of losing his family, which June had been involved in.

"I'd rather step away than be reminded every day that I only have a few months left to be with you" (Lu 101)

After a brief discussion with June about the Princeps-Elect position, Day thinks to himself that he would rather be parted from June than be reminded of the little time he has left with her. Day loves June and would spend every day of his life with her, but since his time remaining is so little, he would rather not be with her and cause her pain.  What would June do if they switched places?

"No matter what happens in the future, no matter where our path takes us, this moment will be ours" (Lu 133)

When Day and June finally reunite on the night of the first ceasefire, they tell each other how much they love one another. June states that she doesn't care about what happens in the future, what happens to them or anyone. She only cares about that moment, where everything else is irrelevant and is not as important as them. This is very deep and touching, especially through everything June and Day have gone through. 

CONCLUSION

Day is having frequent nightmares now and he is in a lot of pain. The attacks and bombings are making it worse for him and he doesn't to spread that pain to others, especially June. The past chapters have made me reflect on what I would do if I was Day. It also made me relate to Day and his problem with June. He only has a few months, and he doesn't want to waste them.

The End of the Prodigy

The New Republic

    The story continues when Kaede flies the jet through a train tunnel in the great Armor wall and the trio crash in Denver, though Kaede does not survive the gunfire that follows. It is obvious that something is amok, and they realize that the Elector is losing control while the Senate sits back and lets the Republic fall as the public revolt.    Day climbs to the top of the Capitol building (the same building Anden is in) and wins over the Republic by telling them he supports the new Elector.
    In the aftermath, most of the Senate is arrested, and the military is shaken by the removal and arrest of many high-ranking officials. Day is reunited with his younger brother Eden, but he is also informed by a doctor that the experiments done by the Republic when he was younger have left him with an illness that will imminently kill him.
     June is asked by the Elector to become his Princeps, the leader of the Senate and his second in command. She wishes to deny as she would never see Day, but Day informs her that she should take the position, and that a relationship between them would be impossible, leaving out the truth that he is dying. June is confused and upset, but Day doesn't want her to have to deal with the pain of his death. He kisses an agonized June before he leaves.

"I don't want to see the Republic collapse. I want to see it change."(Lu 346)

Day admits that he has changed his mind and supports June's decision of change. I think Day will love June no matter what, no matter what separates them. Even though they part ways, I think they will find a way back to each other. 

"He is beauty, inside and out. He is the silver lining in a world of darkness. He is my light." (Lu 371)

As I said before, June and Day are like glue and are always with each other. Even though June has to let him go, she knows that she loves him in every single way. This is a very sentimental ending and I don't think Marie Lu will keep them apart for long. 

CONCLUSION

   I can't help but admit that I did cry a little and felt sentimental at the end of the novel. So much has happened and so much is yet to happen. I feel awful that June and Day have to go on their own but I hope that they will reunite. Day is such an important character, I don't think Lu will kill him. Guess I'll have to read Champion to find out.

The Colonies

    A Shining Metropolis

    Day carries June to the other end of the tunnel and out into the Colonies. The Colonies city they emerge into is an enormous shining metropolis. However, they realize that it is not as perfect as they thought, and that the Colonies is a heavily consumer dominated, corporate police state.

    They are taken to a hospital, and Day is excluded due to his being a celebrity. Day discovers that Kaede has come through to the Colonies as well. As June dreams and works it out for herself, Day is informed that the leader of the Patriots, Razor, is in fact working for the Republic. The Republic Senate, angry with the new Elector's changes, wished to remove the Elector, and used Razor to do so. However, Anden survived, and many Patriots were arrested.

    June passes out at the hospital in Tribune City, Colonies of America. Later when she wakes up, she is captured by Colonies soldiers, June is handcuffed to a bed and she manages to escape from the cuffs using a paperclip ring. Kaede, June, and Day escape from Colonies soldiers who wish to sell them to a military company as prisoners of war. Kaede takes a jet and flies to the Republic. 

   "June still sounds weak, but there's a burning purpose behind it, the sense that we're about to do something pivotal. She can tell that something has changed inside me." (Lu 328) 

Day is escaping from the colonies with June, and even though she's weak,  she can tell something will happen. This tells me that something big will happen, involving Day, that affects not only him, but the whole Republic. Day is going to be a part of something revolutionary that will change ideas and make other people think again. 

"Are June and I a good match? No. It's the first word that pops into my mind." (Lu 330)

Day thinks about his relationships during his calm, and free time and figures out that he and Tess are a better match than June and him. My prediction is that Day will realize how Tess has supported, protected and stood by Day all these years, and he'll end up terminating his love interest in June. 

Conclusion

Day and June have survived the colonies, once thought to be a utopia, a place where freedom is everywhere, but were corrected. Not everything is always as it seems and sometimes the best things are bad, or can eventually turn bad. Day and June's has changed a lot and it's showing maturity between them. Kaede is being included more in the story, which I love, and the suspense created is amazing. I want to see what Day is or will be a part of in the next chapters and what will become of him.