Orson Scott Card is a science-fiction/fantasy writer only in the sense that the setting that he uses fits the definition of the genre. His writings deal with many relevant social issues that most people have not noticed and/or refuse to acknowledge. His book, Ender’s Game, is a subtle study of many of these issues. This story of a boy genius shows, in slightly less than subtle terms, the horrible cruelty of children, and the immense amount of pressure that adults force upon children, whether intentional or not. You can also see the doppelgänger effect in Ender’s sibling relationships.
Andrew “Ender” Wiggin is the planets only hope in the war against the alien menace. He is the only human on Earth hat has the intelligence and both mental and physical stamina to save the planet. He also has yet to legally complete the first grade. Ender is a six-year-old super genius. He is recruited into the Battle School along with all the other child-geniuses of the day to go through the leadership training that will prepare him for his position at the head of the Earth Intergalactic Fleet. Throughout his “career”, he is forced into social isolation due to his enormous intelligence advantage.
When I first read this book, I enjoyed it for the story. The plot has a way of holding your interest with the iron grip of intellectual suspense. Besides that, I related very well with Ender. I went to a catholic school from K-5th grades. This school was a bit behind in its education level. For example, in the fifth grade, I was learning the public school equivalent of fourth grade math. At least that was what the school’s level was. I, however, was consistentl…
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…t, darkest secret and basically blackmails his way to what he wants. He uses the other person’s weaknesses. Valentine finds their strongest point and flatters her way to what she wants. She is basically Peter’s opposite. But neither is evil or good. Both are just attaining goals in their own way. They are doppelgängers. Ender is a combination of the two. He takes the person’s (usually an enemy) weak point and uses it to defeat their stronger ones. He uses a person’s temper against them. He uses the enemy’s advantage of surprise attack by knowing the surprise.
There is a lot more that this book has to offer anyone who reads it. I have read it many times over and plan on reading it again and again. Maybe next time I’ll write something new.
Works Cited:
Card, Orson Scott. Enders Game. New York: Tom Doherty Associates, LLC. 1991.
Essay on Discrimination Against Women as Addressed in Cantor’s Dilemma
Discrimination Against Women as Addressed in Cantor’s Dilemma
In his novel, Cantor’s Dilemma, Dr. Djerassi uses female characters to address sexist issues arising from women integrating into the predominantly male science world. The characters, Celestine Price and Professor Arderly, are used to show examples of how women have little voice in the field of science. The female characters suggest how women are often looked upon as sex objects rather than co-workers and they are given little opportunity to balance a scientific career with raising a family. By weaving these issues into his novel, Dr. Djerassi illustrates the following theme: Discrimination against women in the field of science is harmful to the progression of scientific exploration. If women are excluded from science, then an artificial limit is put on human resources. (The field of science will not utilize the potential female minds available.)
The first issue that Dr. Djerassi casually mentions is that women are not adequately represented in the field of science. The character, Celestine Price strongly desires a career in chemistry. She faces the challenge of how to plot her map of success while taking into consideration the male dominated world of science. Her old high school chemistry teacher advises Celestine that if she ever wants to get an academic position at a top university, she has got to get plugged into “the old boy’s network.” He says to her, “Make no mistake about it. Chemistry is still a man’s world.”1 Dr. Djerassi paints the picture of a boy’s clubhouse with a sign at the door reading, “No girls allowed!” In this context, it is inferred that a woman has to prove her worth before the society of men will give her the privilege of working wit…
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…roblems of integration. If the science world takes advantage of undiscovered female talent, science as a whole will benefit greatly. For example, the original group of ENIAC programmers consisted of 6 women. In 1946, these women helped to develop the first operating stored-program computer.6 If female talent such as this goes to waste because of social neglect, the science world will never know what possible discoveries that could have been made with the help of women. If Dr. Djerassi is accurate with his examples of discrimination, the science world should take note of these problems and attempt to solve them.
1. Carl Djerassi, Cantor’s Dilemma (New York, New York.: Penguin Books, 1989), 19.
2. Ibid. 45.
3. Ibid. 45.
4. Ibid. 45.
5. Ibid. 20-21.
6. web site: women in science/ women in computer science/ women involved in ENIAC program.