Andrew Wiggin is the main character in the novel Ender’s Game.
His nickname is Ender. Andrew got his nickname from his older sister Valentine when he was born because Valentine was unable to say the name Andrew”, so she called him Ender. It has specific meaning in the book because Ender is expected to “end” events that someone else had started before him. One event that has been started before Ender, and that he is expected to finish, is the war between the humans on the planet and the alien “Buggers.” Ender is expected to end this war because his older siblings tested impossibly in the government’s way of determining aptitude or ability to become a general in the army that is preparing for a fight with the Buggers.
Rarely is a third child born, but in this exceptional case, Ender was permitted to be born because of his siblings’ test results. As soon as Ender is born, a monitor is placed in the base of his neck to analyze his thoughts and senses to determine whether he is Battleschool material or not. Ender eventually goes to Battleschool and takes a mass amount of badgering and teasing from the other kids who are also training. Ender easily moves through the ranks and frustrates every instructor he has. He becomes a commander and is given an army. Eventually, he goes to a planet called Eros, finds the Buggers, and concludes that they are bugs with a queen, like ants.
Ender finds an old man and discovers that it is Mazer Rackham, his former enemy. He finally realizes that all the games he had been playing since Rackham became his enemy were actually part of the real Third Invasion. Ender emerges as a hero. Another challenge that Ender had to confront was his conflict with Stilson on the bus to Battleschool.
Stilson and his friends make fun of Ender by calling him a ‘Third’ and do not let him get to his seat on the bus. Stilson calls Ender names and summons his friends to hold Ender back because he had tried to grab Stilson’s arm in defense. Ender says, “You mean it takes this many people to fight one Third?” and Stilson’s friends let go of him. As soon as Ender is free, he kicks Stilson in the breastbone and knocks him to the ground. Ender goes over to him, thinking that he must end this now or never, and kicks Stilson in the ribs hard. He then warns Stilson’s friends and finally kicks Stilson square in the face, making blood spurt everywhere.
After the fight was over, Ender went around the corner and cried until the bus came, thinking he was turning into Peter. I am just like Peter. Take away my monitor, and I am just like Peter.”
