Student Question
Why did Valentine object to some stances Peter suggested for Demosthenes in Ender's Game?
"I thought the idea was to unify the world. If I write this like you say I should, Peter, I'm pretty much calling for war to breakup the Warsaw Pact." (Pg.136)
Quick answer:
Valentine objects to some of Peter's stances for Demosthenes because she fears his underlying violent and sadistic nature. She recalls past incidents, like the skinned squirrel, which highlight Peter's potential for cruelty. Valentine understands Peter's desire for power and control and worries that his suggestion to argue for the dissolution of the Warsaw Pact could incite a dangerous, warlike situation, contrary to their supposed goal of unifying the world.
In Ender's Game, Valentine both fears and loves Peter. She cannot help but recall to her memories of the skinned squirrel and fears Peter's sadistic, violent nature rises to the surface with his suggestion for Demosthenes to argue the dissolution of the Warsaw Pact. Nobody else in the world is in the valuable position that Valentine is in; as Peter's sister, she, better than anyone else, understands his drive for power and control.
As Peter coaxes her to make Demosthenes a more polarizing figure with her rhetoric, she fears that Peter will use the situation to create an even more dangerous and blood-thirsty war between the most powerful nations.
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