Jonathan Nunez

Edinger

Eng. IV

10-22-06

Thematic Analysis

In literature, there are many different techniques utilized to analyze certain works,

in order to capture the true meaning or purpose of the author. The author may include

characters, events, and settings that correlate to the different types of themes the author

may attempt to emphasize. The themes that are prevalent in both books are survival, and

militarism, and are used by the authors in order to amplify the essence of the books,

which are Deception Point by Dan Brown, and Enders Game by Orson Scott Card.

A very clever strategy used by authors to get their point across to the reader is

through the use of characters. The protagonist of the first novel Ender’s Shadow, Bean,

has many traits that coincide with the theme of survival. There are many instances in

which display survival through Bean’s personality such as his up-bringing or childhood.

For example, Bean is shown to have a certain survival instinct that others in his situation

lack. His unusual intelligence plays a key role in his ability to weather the storm, and

become a leader. His ability to manipulate others and analyze certain situations, allowed

him to move on despite starvation, and violence, and alienation.

 In the novel, Deception Point, the main character, known as Rachel Sexton, was

also a symbol of the theme survival. Although she was perceived to be weak because she

was female, she proved this to be wrong by surviving through what her male counterparts

could not. In the book, she and her fellow scientists are on the run from a military group

controlled by the government designated to terminate them. Sexton shows signs of being

a true survivor, by managing to avoid being killed by this group. This shows that survival

was a key theme used in the novel.

The first setting connected to the theme of survival was Rotterdam, a city in the

book Ender’s Shadow. This place displays survival by showing the reader that although it

seems inevitable to get through it, it is possible, and what it takes to do so. For example,

survival is shown through Bean’s life there. He is introduced in the book as a four year-

old, who lives in the streets of Rotterdam; a city abundant in street urchins, and violent

groups of young children. It is incredible how such a young child like Bean managed to

survive this environment filled with older, stronger, and more experienced youths. The

author emphasizes Bean’s survival by showing the reader how he rose from this deadly

city to become part of a large school for geniuses like himself. Throughout the book the

author shows the rewards and consequences of decisions that characters make in this

setting, and what should be done to survive, and what can cause someone to give in to

this cannibalistic society.

 In Deception Point, the setting that most clearly seems like a symbol of survival

is the Artic setting which challenges those who enter it, with a dangerous climate. This

place has an incredibly cold climate making it barren of living things, and without proper

protection, can easily be lethal to those in it. This area is a true form of survival because,

the odds are against those here, especially those like Rachel Sexton who was unprepared,

and had no previous experience of such an environment. Although it is just a setting, the

desolate artic environment helps capture the theme of survival in which the author tried to

show the reader.

Another form of demonstrating survival in which authors use is through specific

events. These events can have equal effect, whether they are very brief, or exceptionally

long. An example of survival through the use of events is evident in the novel Ender’s

Shadow, where conflict between characters is presented. This event is when Bean uses his

acumen to persuade others to partake in his plan to attack a notorious older child, in order

to make them feared throughout the city. This event shows what one who is destined to

survive, must do in order to do just that. This event portrays the theme of survival

because it shows what is necessary to persevere in such an environment.

An event that also shows the motif of survival is one which takes place in

Deception Point. This event takes place when Rachel Sexton and another character,

Michael Tolland, are ambushed by the deadly government-trained group called Delta
Force. Even with an unfair advantage in advanced technology and equipment, Delta force

failed to succeed in completing their mission to destroy them. This discrepancy in

survival tools creates an even bigger emphasis on how the protagonist, Rachel Sexton,

managed to overcome those odds, and survive.