Chapter 9 Summary

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Opening Section

Colonel Graff argues with Major Imbu, another teacher at Battle School. Graff is appalled that the computer showed Ender a picture of Peter in the mirror. He wants to know why the game showed that image. Imbu has no explanation; he says that the computer is making up Ender’s training as it goes along. Graff finds this comforting because he is doing the same thing.

Main Narrative

Back on Earth, Valentine celebrates Ender’s eighth birthday by lighting a small fire and imagining that Ender, in outer space at Battle School, can see the smoke. Valentine and her family now live in the wilderness of North Carolina. She knows her parents hope that these natural surroundings will have a softening effect on Peter, but she also knows it is not working. Peter now shows his violent side less readily in public, but he is as ruthless as ever. Valentine has seen evidence that he tortures squirrels in the woods.

Peter finds Valentine in the woods and threatens to kill her, but she is not afraid because she knows he has nothing to gain from hurting her. Peter explains that he thinks the Russians are moving troops in preparation for a war on their neighbors. This goes against the Second Warsaw Pact, which helped to keep peace between countries on Earth when Earth faced the bugger invasions. Peter says that either the buggers are no longer a threat or the threat is about to be eliminated. The Russians are preparing for a land war.

Peter confesses that he wants to find a way to influence world events. Valentine mocks this desire, saying that no adult listens to a twelve-year-old boy no matter how smart he is. Peter explains that he has a plan to go on the nets and write columns anonymously until people start listening.

In spite of herself, Valentine grows increasingly excited about this plan. She likes the idea of writing articles that influence people. Still, she does not agree right away. She does not really think Peter will gain much power, but she is reluctant to help him because she knows he might hurt people.

Peter senses her feelings. He cries and says he does not want to be a monster. He begs Valentine to help him with is plan and also to be a good influence on him. Valentine assumes Peter is trying to manipulate her, but she wonders if he might be sincere. She agrees to help him, hoping that she can maintain a little power over Peter.

From this point on, Peter and Valentine are inseparable. On the nets, Valentine becomes Demosthenes, and Peter makes her write paranoid anti-Russian articles. Peter becomes Locke, a more moderate and reasonable character. This arrangement means that Valentine, who is not as ruthless as her online persona, is dependent on Peter’s input as she writes her articles.

To Peter’s surprise, Demosthenes gets more attention and respect than Locke does. Valentine does not find this surprising. She reasons that moderate arguments get less attention and therefore take longer to gain a following. However, Valentine is appalled when her father becomes a fan of Demosthenes’s articles; she cannot believe that such a smart man would believe in the fear-mongering ideas she is spreading.

At Battle School, a year has passed, and Ender is in a deep depression. He is still the highest ranked soldier at Battle School, and he still has good friendships with Alai and Shen. Ender is a toon leader under Petra Arkanian, who is now a commander. Everyone respects him, but he has no opportunities for fun or laughter. In the mind game on his computer, he is stuck at the End of the World, unable to win the game that shows him his brother’s face in the mirror.

Back in North Carolina, Colonel Graff visits Valentine. At first she is frightened, thinking the International Fleet knows she is writing columns under the pseudonym Demosthenes. However, Graff only wants to talk about Ender’s depression. Valentine agrees to write Ender a letter, but she feels guilty for letting Graff manipulate her.

When Ender receives Valentine’s letter, he cries openly in front of everyone in his barracks. He knows the teachers are using his sister, the person he loves most in the world, to make him do what they want. He logs on to the mind game and instead of trying to fight the snake, he kisses it. The snake transforms into Valentine, and Ender walks with her through the mirror. He knows that in spite of everything, he and his sister still love each other.

On Earth, Valentine receives a medal for her efforts to help the war effort. She is convinced that she has helped the International Fleet make her brother suffer. Her feelings of guilt deepen.

Expert Q&A

In Chapter 9 of Ender's Game, what is Peter's plan to conquer the world?

In Chapter 9 of Ender's Game, Peter plans to conquer the world by using the nets to influence public opinion. With Valentine's help, they obtain adult access to the nets and post under pseudonyms, with Peter as Locke and Valentine as Demosthenes. Peter aims to create a Pax Americana, influencing political debates and public sentiment to establish peace and prepare for potential alien threats.

Why does Valentine allude to the Bible story of Daniel's dream interpretation in Ender's Game, chapter 9?

Valentine alludes to the Biblical story of Daniel's dream interpretation to highlight Graff's role in shaping Ender into a hero. Graff's inability to understand Ender's psychological struggles mirrors the king's forgotten dream. Valentine acts as a prophet, warning that the process could turn Ender into someone like his violent brother Peter. Her letter, although contrived, reassures Ender and allows him to complete the "End of the World" game, enabling his ascent to commander.

What is the significance of the unicorn, dragon, and exit with Valentine in chapter 9 of Ender's Game?

The unicorn and dragon in Chapter 9 symbolize the dual nature of change, with the unicorn representing positive, idyllic transformation and the dragon symbolizing destructive change. This dream sequence reflects Ender's subconscious sorting of his siblings' roles as Demosthenes and Locke. The "exit with Valentine" signifies a need to break free from destructive cycles, highlighting a philosophical theme about overcoming brutal ideologies. However, Card's portrayal is limited by the characters' young ages and emotional maturity.

What is ironic about Valentine's award in Chapter 9 of Ender's Game?

The irony of Valentine's award in Chapter 9 is that she receives the highest military honor for civilians, yet it must remain secret due to the confidential nature of the Buggers' conflict. Valentine feels used and guilty for aiding the military, which has separated her from Ender. The award, meant to honor her, instead deepens her resentment and guilt, as she neither desires military recognition nor can publicly acknowledge it.

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