Onomastic Irony in Orson Scott Card’s ENDER’S GAME

Andrew Wiggin (aka Bastard, Ender, Fart Eater, Pinbrain, Pin Prick, Scrunchface). Bernard called him “Maladroit.” (48). When Ender tells Mick that his name is “Ender” Mick responds, “That’s a name.” “Since I was little. It’s what my sister called me.” “Not a bad name here. Ender. Finisher. Hey” (42).

Like Ender himself, Bean is young and undersized. “Name, kid?” “This soldier’s name is Bean, sir.” “Get that for size or for brains?” (160) Bean is an ironic name, as is Fly Molo (192). Ender’s friends at Battle School are given names like Scorpion, Spider, Flame and Tide. These are all aggressive (war) names (Card 42). Other friends and allies are Alai, Mick and Petra Arkanian (aka “baby butt” and “Petra the Poet”) (82), and Dink Meeker (106). Shen is nicknamed “Worm” by Bernard “because he’s so small, and because he wriggles. Look how he shimmies his butt when he walks.” “Shen stormed off, but they only laughed louder. “Look at his butt. See ya, worm!” (48)

Note that “End Game” is used in Chess; “End Game” is also used in military strategies. When Ender arrives at Command School he discovers that he is not the first commander to work under Mazer. When he says, “I’m not the first, then,” Mazer responds, “No, but you will be the last.” Throughout Ender’s Game Ender thinks that he is playing war games. But at the end of the novel, he discovers that throughout the novel he has been commanding a real Battle Fleet against a real enemy. Therefore, “Ender’s Game” wasn’t a game at all.