Heroism In Ender's Game And Hare Moon

A hero’s interaction with others & the world around them can enhance or limit their heroism. This creed of a hero’s relation with other’s & the world can develop or constrain their heroism is conveyed & supported within the texts “Ender’s Game” & “Hare Moon” through a hero’s willingness to sacrifice in order to achieve a greater good. Many textual techniques are involved in the novels to show this as such.
The composer’s context of “Ender’s Game” was of historical thus making “Ender’s Game” an allegory of a historical event. Said event was the Cold War. This has influenced the text to represent heroes as unlikely but able to make a difference on small or large scales. However, the composer’s context of “Hare Moon” is personal which contrasts
to “Ender’s Game”. The text was written fictionally. This has influenced the text to have & similarly to “Ender’s Game” an unlikely hero as well as relating to a sacrificial one as such.
A common theme conveyed in the texts is that of the “other” enhancing heroism of the hero in the texts via interaction.
In “Ender’s Game” the “others” are the “buggers”. ‘Buggers are out there…with weapons we don’t understand. And a willingness to use those weapons to wipe us out.’ (Page 35, Ender’s Game) The “buggers” are portrayed as evil beings. ‘Wont split her head open with a beam so hot that her brains burst the skill & spill out…’ (Page 93, Ender’s Game) The “buggers” being part of “Ender’s Game” in the way they are portrayed, increases Ender’s heroism (although he does not interact with them directly), as he is the one to save the world & humanity by killing the “buggers” for the “world” in which is the human race. A similarity is shown in “Hare Moon” with the “Unconsecrated” being depicted as the “others”. ‘…There’s no escaping the Unconsecrated. They shuffle along the fences, pushing, pulling & grating & needing.’ (Page 220, Hare Moon) They, similar to the “buggers”, are also described to be malevolent. ‘They need to Infect. The Unconsecrated never leave a fresh kill if they can sense more blood to be Infected.’ (Page 220, Hare Moon) Tabitha’s heroism is amplified by the “Unconsecrated” as she unwillingly endeavours to destroy them as they (“Unconsecrated”) attempt to wipe out Tabitha’s world. Within both of these texts, Ender & Tabitha do not directly wish to eliminate the “other” but do so for the greater good of their own society. This indirect elimination of
the “other” impacts both heroes greatly, but shows that heroes will sacrifice in order to reach a greater good.
Another theme that has been integrated into the two texts with the intention of representing the concept of heroes is that of survival of society needs heroes; this element is captured in “Ender’s Game” with humanity needing to survive in the supposed battle with the “buggers”, thus needing a hero (Ender). ‘As a species, we have evolved to survive.’ (Page 35, Ender’s Game) Ender interacts with the world, which although manipulates him into becoming a hero, but further elaborates upon Ender’s heroism. Akin to this, the idea of survival is also shown in “Hare Moon” when Tabitha discovers the mysterious history of her village; it’s purpose & the sacrifices of her village so it could continue to exist. ‘They did it out of love. Out of loyalty. Out of a desire to continue the existence of humanity.’ (Page 234, Hare Moon). In both texts, the hero sacrifices something of themselves to achieve the greater good that is of survival for their kind. In “Ender’s Game”, an example of this is shown when Ender forfeits pilots in order to eliminate the “buggers” in the battle to save humanity. ‘”I was ordering pilots to go in & die…’” (Page 298, Ender’s Game). Another way of portraying this is shown in “Hare Moon” when Mary sacrifices her love for Patrick (thus him turning “Unconsecrated”) in order to accomplish a greater good for her village, which is survival. ‘There is always a choice. It is what makes us human. It is what separates us from the Unconsecrated. But that does not mean that choice cannot turn men into monsters. I have chosen survival over life.’ (Page 249, Hare Moon).
A comparable use of emotive language can be seen in “Ender’s Game” & “Hare Moon” which assists in providing a storyline that makes either Ender or Tabitha seem more heroic through their actions towards the “world” & the “others. The similarity in both texts in regards to both texts is a significant use of the term. In “Ender’s Game”, love takes hold in many aspects inclusive of family, the “other” and the “world”. ‘I’m your brother, I love you.”’ (Page 15, Ender’s Game). However in “Hare Moon”, love is used between people in the “world”. “’I will love you always,” he says, & she smiles, sad & aching.’ (Page 248, Hare Moon). This shows heroes to be those who act out of love.
Foreshadowing is repetitively seen in “Ender’s Game” purposely at the beginning of each chapter, to give the reader more insight into the novel and also to inform the reader of information unbeknown to Ender.
The use of foreshadowing in the novel gives evidence to Ender’s heroism being intensified although it is manipulated & unfair as well as the fact that he (Ender) does not directly interact with the world around him. ‘”Think of other ways to bend the rules. Late notification. Unequal forces. We want an intelligent progression here. We want to bring him along.”’ (Page 97, Ender’s Game). In “Hare Moon”, foreshadowing not purposely used like in “Ender’s Game” but none the less it is used to foreshadow following events. “What will you do?” one of the sister’s asks… ‘I will do what is necessary.” Sister Tabitha responds.’ (Page 247, Hare
Moon)
In conclusion, the others & the world’s interaction with a hero can enhance or limit their heroism. This has shown heroes to be those of society who will sacrifice in order to achieve a greater good no matter the cost to them (the hero).

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