what is a major theme in ender's game?

Question

I have to read it over the summer.
Please Help!
I already finished it, but can not find the theme.

Answer 1

A major theme is loss of innocence. It's not that difficult. Are you sure you read the book?

Answer 2

One could come up with many *themes* of Ender's Game...and they're not that hard to find either.

You could focus on the character of Ender--his intelligence and naivety--and how his character changes...or doesn't change through the course of the novel. Is Ender trapped into the roles prescribed to him by others? Or can he find himself and do things his own way?

You could focus on the manipulative tactics used by the military--particularly those in Battle School--to warp children's minds. (Stressing the military focus--manipulations & propaganda)

You could focus on the loss of childhood & innocence and the effect of that loss on the children in the schools. How did it effect Ender? How did it effect the other students? Would they ever be "normal" like children on Earth? Or are they psychologically damaged by the military?

And one of the glaringly obvious themes of Ender's Game is power. Who has the power? Who wants the power? Is power used for good or evil? Does power corrupt? Is it used responsibly? Who can be trusted?

Or you could look at "Who is the real enemy in Ender's Game"

Answer 3

You should really go back through and re-read the book and do the work on your own; but I did the same project & I'll help you. There are truly two main themes in this novel: Ender discovering his true worth and humanity is the easiest to find. Valentine and Peter delving into their true genius and Valentine finally realizing that she must rebel against Peter's maniac orders is at the heart of the story. Simply: Self-Discovery & Perserverance.

Answer 4

There are, of course, a number of themes and it depends on what you wish to hold onto or focus on at the time of reading. How about the perversion of the human soul by the military? Or the loss of any value on human life by said military. there both there. Or, if you prefer to focus on the character of Ender, you could see his struggle with morality and identity--kind of Catcher in Rye only on a larger scale.

Answer 5

I would say it's a huge identity crisis. He's trying to find out who he is....