Children often bring contentment into the lives of families. The birth of a child to families is as special as a blossoming bud of a Marigold. However, in Orson Scott Card’s Ender’s Game, it is illegal for parents to have more than two children. Ender Wiggin’s birth as a third child is a negative fact to himself and others, especially to his parents, siblings and classmates. To begin, this negativity and antipathy is rooted in his parents’ religious tormenting past that they are trying to evade. Furthermore, Ender is resented by his older siblings, especially Peter due to the fact that his birth as a third child proves that he is better than his siblings. Moreover, Ender is ostracized at school by his classmates as he is …show more content…
Born as a third child, Ender is despised by his older brother Peter Wiggin because he is the living proof that Peter was not good enough. It is illegal for parents to have more than two children in Ender’s society. However, the government permitted Ender’s parents to have more than two children with a belief that the third child had great potential to be a military leader one day who will save the Earth from an enemy alien species known as the "Buggers” and due to the promise shown by the other two siblings. Peter was too aggressive and Valentine was too compassionate. The government believed that Ender possesses the qualities of a great leader, since he can be violent at times like his brother Peter, and also be passive like his sister Valentine which creates the perfect combination. Peter is envious of Ender and resents him, since the birth of Ender as a third child proves that Peter and Valentine were not good enough so the government allowed a third child who was believed to be better than the other siblings. To express his jealousy and contempt for Ender, Peter often teases and bullies him for being born as a third child. Ender’s birth as a third child has affected his siblings negatively, as the siblings were not the competent and qualified individuals that the government were looking