The Theme of Peer Pressure
The concept of peer pressure plays a rather large role in this novel. Comment on where you see this theme/issue arising in this novel.
posted by Brady Kelso @ 10:13 AM
About Me
- Name: Brady Kelso
- Location: San Diego, California, United States
I've taught English in San Diego City Schools for the past 25 years. I've taught at Mann Middle School, Serra High School, Muirlands Middle School, Lincoln High School, and Crawford High School. I currently teach English to freshmen and seniors at Scripps Ranch High School. I developed and taught English Methods for twenty years at San Diego State University before "retiring" in 2004.
Previous Posts
- Memorable Moments in Ender's Game
- Making Connections with Ender
- Great Science Fiction Films
- Great Science Fiction Novels
- Looking to the Future
- Andrew Wiggin (Ender)
- Introduction to Ender's Game
1 Comments:
At 6:37 PM,
cacerola said…
I have to say. For once, I actually agree with Steven. Although early childhood experiences may have some affect on how a child develops, it is in the end the child's own unique (I stress unique because no matter how hard you try, people who are able to think will always be able to think in a new direction, not unlike Ender's quick taking to null gravity)perspective on life and how they choose to handle each situation and willingness to learn from it that will truly influence who the child becomes later on.
Ender actually supports my thesis in the fact that at any point he could have given in and refused to go any further. Instead, he pushes himsel farther than he possibly could have done without a strong will. Also, you can see that Ender is willing to change how he usually deals with things depending on the situation. This trait is not usually found among those who frequently give in to peer pressure and let other people think for them. An example would be that Ender frequently gives in to Peter because he knows that his struggles would only hinder any chance he had at saving himself from his sadistic elder brother. He knows that it is too late to stop his brother from hurting him without a major battle which would probably end with him losing his life or all mobility. But, in a surprising change in the way he deals with bullies, Ender deals swiftly and effectively with any who think that it would be okay to pick on him. He doesn't give up even when all of his other 'peers' want him to fail. Someone who gives into peer pressure would have not tried as hard to become the best he could and would have tried harder to befriend and be like others, potentially losing himself in the process.
As for the teachers, they are largely in the dark on how to actually deal with Ender, much less manipulate him. For them, Ender is a wild card and it is suprising that they have done so well with him at all. It has largely his sense of self-preservation and his determination to save Valentine from the bugger menace that drives him to do anything. Otherwise, I believe that he would be probably on a whole much different than he is in the novel.
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