Topic > The theme of success in Ender's game and the absolutely true diary of a part-time Indian

Success has no secrets. It is the result of preparation, hard work and learning from failures. The main protagonists of the novels; The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Alexie Sherman and Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card explore how their outcast status in their world motivates them to succeed and surpass their peers. Both authors apply this principle in their novel by having the main character endure severe bullying, having him face injustice in his life, and having society discriminate against his social status. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay First of all, both Arnold and Ender face severe bullying throughout the novel. Arnold is bullied by the occupants of the reservation. He has all kinds of physical problems that are a result of his brain damage, which is why bullies pick on him. Arnold asks, “Do you know what happens to retards on the rez? We get beat up. At least once a month” (Alessio 4). Arnold is targeted because he is different from everyone else on the reservation. According to Mr. P, Arnold is bullied by others because everyone has lost hope; that Arnold is the last one who hasn't given up yet. This hope motivates Arnold to follow his dreams and go to a place where there is still hope so that he can follow and achieve his dreams, leading Arnold to transfer schools to Reardan. Similar to Arnold, Ender experiences bullying from his classmates. Ender is bullied because he is a Third, the third child of a family. The term Third is an insult because they come from non-conforming families who broke birth control laws in the dystopian world. At the beginning of the novel, right before his fatal confrontation, Stilson says, "We're people, not Thirds, you shitface." You're as strong as a fart!' (Sheet 37). Ender being constantly bullied and being called Third throughout his childhood pushed him to prove that he was better than everyone else. This motivation is what ends up getting him chosen for Battle School and, ultimately, what makes Ender the leader of the fleet that would destroy the Buggers, saving the world. Both novels reveal how the protagonists' troubled pasts of bullying and being an outcast brought them success. The Absolutely True Diary shows physical bullying through Arnold's appearance, while Ender's Game explores verbal bullying through Ender's social status. To summarize, the bullying the characters face motivates them to work harder than anyone else. Similar to how Arnold and Ender deal with bullying, the injustice they face in their lives motivates them to work harder. The injustice in Arnold's life is connected to his family's poverty. Because of this, Arnold often skips meals and school and has no money for school events because his parents cannot provide enough money for his expenses. Arnold states: “But we Indians on reservations cannot realize our dreams. We don't have these possibilities. Or choices. We are simply poor. This is all we are” (Alexius 13). Arnold feels hopeless as if he can do nothing while living in poverty. This feeling creates a reason for him to surpass his ancestors so he can end his family's curse of poverty, forcing Arnold to work even harder to achieve his dreams. This injustice is also reflected in Ender's Game. Ender, who is by far the.