Courtney Bent
Mr. Keithley
English Honors III
6 February 2015
Comparing Characterization Although most novels have different settings and plots, they can both share an equal theme to express to a reader. In this case, two dissimilar novels, Ender's Game and Lord Of The Flies share a common theme but have divergent plots. Enders Game, an intriguing novel, is about a mastermind child trying to find himself throughout the war against the alien "buggers". Lord Of The Flies is an allegorical novel about a group of boys finding their way on a deserted island. Although both novels may sound disparate, both Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card and Lord Of The Flies by William Golding examines how no matter how bad the past turned out, the future will always get better using characterization and imagery. William Golding illustrates characterization throughout his novel Lord Of The Flies to prove that the future can always change for the better. A strong example of Golding's usage of characterization is when Piggy is trying to introduce himself among the boys, trying to coral the group after the plane crashed. He talks about his past life, how easy things would be, but blurts out in the middle of his speech "I don't care what you call me so long as...it's not what they used to call me in school...They used to call me Piggy!" (Golding p.11). Piggy uses characterization through character's dialogue to other members in his little speech to develop himself as a character, and turning out to be one of the main roles. This passage demonstrates Piggy developing as a character, one of the main protagonists within the short novel. He describes a little of his past and things he doesn't like, in this case his name. This ties into Golding's use of characterization because Piggy develops characters, he talks to others and gives them roles to play to make the novel one of the top best sellers in its time. Orson Scott Card also illustrates good use of characterization within his novel Ender's Game, also to prove that the future can always change for the better. A strong example of Card using characterization is when Ender is thinking in his mind he has to help win the war soon or the buggers would take over. Card brilliantly characterizes Ender as a genius little boy that can change the world with his ideas with provoking ideas in Ender's mind like “I have to win this now, and for all time, or I’ll fight it every day and it will get worse and worse.” (Card p. 7). This passage demonstrates how Ender is characterized, not only through his dialogue but also through his thoughts. This quote helps prove how no matter how bad the past is, the future will always get better because although in battle school Ender had a rough time away from people, he can be celebrated with his actions in the future. This quote also proves Card's remarkable use of characterization by giving Ender a purpose to develop the novel. At a later point in the novel, Card proves us with great character detail while using the old man to explain the enemy and the mind control games Ender must play to manipulate the system and gain victory for his planet: “An enemy, Ender Wiggin," whispered the old man. "I am your enemy, the first one you've ever had who was smarter than you. There is no teacher but the enemy. No one but the enemy will tell you what the enemy is going to do. No one but the enemy will ever teach you how to destroy and conquer. Only the enemy shows you where you are weak. Only the enemy tells you where he is strong. And the rules of the game are what you can do to him and what you can stop him from doing to you. I am your enemy from now on. From now on I am your teacher” (Card 223).
With Card's use of characterization, he provides us with key ideas on how to move on through tuff situations and let the future control itself. Both Lord Of The Flies and Ender's Game use characterization throughout the novel to prove that no matter how bad the past was, the future