Jocelyn Watts

Mrs. Workman
Honors Class, 7
11 January 2012
One and the Same
Orson Scott Card wrote Enders Game as a hardcore book filled with unshakeable
characters. They fit quite well with the plot, though, and after much deliberation I have decided
to compare myself to the Hive-Queen. Ender doesnt truly meet, or find, the Hive-Queen until
nearly the very end of the book, within the last three pages. The pupa of a queen bugger,
already fertilized (319). But within those three pages hide the qualities of the Hive-Queen.
In a few simple paragraphs, the Hive-Queen explains her entire story to Ender. In just
sentences, she forgives him and humankind for the destruction of their home, their race, and their
future. perhaps in time they can forgive you, too. The way that youve forgiven me (321).
Forgiveness is to pardon an offense or an offender. Humans did not forgive the buggers, even
after seventy-five years without any sign of them. And when the bugger planet was so suddenly
destroyed, the Hive-Queen did not feel pain or fear, just sadness that the humans did not forgive
them the way the buggers had forgiven them.
In a teenagers life, forgiveness is essential. Even though its hard, it is possible. I have
demonstrated the quality of forgiveness in my life many times. I have five younger siblings, ages
ranging from 12 to four, so forgiveness is rather important, as the youngest have yet to learn
what is completely right, and what is not. My 12-year-old sister left her brand new headphones
down where the small ones could reach, and they were ruined. Now I catch her stealing mine to
listen to her music on a near daily basis. And though it would be much easier to simply yell at
her and tell her to completely stop, instead I just nicely ask for them back, ask for an apology,
and forgive her. It causes fewer arguments between us, and at least some sense of peacefulness in
the house.
Another trait found in the Hive-Queen is perseverance. Putting the cocoon in a cool
place, a dark place, but with water, so she wasnt dry, so that certain reactions could take place in
the cocoon. Then time. Days and weeks, for the pupa inside to change (320). Through all these
years the pupa survived in the tower at the End of the World, waiting for Ender to arrive.
Through all the insanity of the war, the cocoon stayed in place, undisturbed.
Perseverance is another important trait in a teenagers life. This past summer, I had the
opportunity to go to Girls Camp, where we were required to hike a 2.5 miles up a mountain,
then 2.5 miles back down, marking off the requirement of a five mile hike. My friends and I
were only half-way up the mountain, when I started getting tired. They said I was okay, that I
just needed some more water. From that point on, the only thing that came out of my mouth was
complaints galore, until one of my friends told me that if I finished the hike, I would prove
everyone who believed I couldnt do it wrong. That was when my spirits were lifted, and I
pushed on. I persevered and finished the hike, and nearly died, but I did it.
Trust is a hard thing to give, and an equally hard thing to earn. The Hive-Queen entrusted
her pupa to Ender. She didnt have to, and she didnt know if Ender would take care of the pupa,
but she trusted him anyway. And lucky for her, Ender does. Ill carry you. Ill go from world to
world until I find a time and a place where you can come awake in safety (321). She also
entrusted the planet to the humans, and, through Ender, asked the planet to take care of the
humans who now inhabited it. Come into our home, daughters of Earth; dwell in out tunnels,
harvest out fields; what we cannot do, you are not our hands to do for us. Blossom, trees; ripen,
fields; be warm for them, suns; be fertile for them, planets: they are our adopted daughters, and
they have come home (322).
Trust is a two-way street. You need to trust the person, and they need to trust you.
Otherwise you have a dead relationship. Friends are some of the most important people a person
can have. If I didnt trust my friends, and they didnt trust me, then we would have some rather
interesting conversations.
The Hive-Queen persevered through countless events, and forgave and trusted Ender far
before he ever knew it. I share these same qualities, but in different ways. Im kinda like you.
Youre kinda like me. We write the same song to a different key. Trust, forgiveness, and
perseverance are qualities that are worthwhile, and shine out in us best. Were nearly one and the
same.