Major Anderson Character Analysis in Ender’s Game

Major Anderson (later Colonel Anderson) is Colonel Graff’s immediate subordinate at the Battle School. He shares Graff’s belief that defeating the Buggers is humanity’s most important goal, but frequently objects to Graff’s harsh methods and callous manipulations of Ender. In the end, however, Anderson comes to agree—reluctantly—that Ender’s defeat of the Buggers justifies Graff’s actions.

Major Anderson Quotes in Ender’s Game

The Ender’s Game quotes below are all either spoken by Major Anderson or refer to Major Anderson. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:

Love, Empathy, and Destruction Theme Icon

). Note: all page numbers and citation info for the quotes below refer to the Tor edition of Ender’s Game published in 2008.

“So what do we do? Surround him with enemies all the time?”
“If we have to.”
“I thought you said you liked this kid.”
“If the Buggers get him, they’ll make me look like his favorite uncle.”
“All right. We’re saving the world, after all. Take him.”

Related Characters: (speaker), (speaker),

Page Number and Citation: 1

Explanation and Analysis:

“We got the judges to agree that the prosecution had to prove beyond doubt that Ender would have won the war without the training we gave him. After then it was simple. The exigencies of war.”
“Anyway, Graff, it was a great relief to us. I know we quarreled, and I know the prosecution used tapes of our conversation against you. But by then I knew that you were right, and I offered to testify for you.”

Related Characters: (speaker), (speaker)

Page Number and Citation: 306

Explanation and Analysis:

Major Anderson Character Timeline in Ender’s Game

The timeline below shows where the character Major Anderson appears in Ender’s Game. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

As Ender walks away, Graff turns and talks to a teacher named Anderson, who’s been watching the conversation. Graff tells Anderson that Ender is wrong—Graff is the best... (full context)

...with a conversation between X and Y (who, we can now guess, are Graff and Anderson, respectively). Anderson congratulates Graff for “masterfully” manipulating Ender into fighting his fellow students. Anderson also... (full context)

Games, Computers, and Virtual Reality Theme Icon

The chapter begins with a conversation, this time between two named characters, Anderson and Graff. Anderson objects that Graff isn’t being “fair” enough with Ender, to which Graff... (full context)

Anderson and Graff discuss how to teach Ender. For some time now, Ender has been optimistic... (full context)

...thoughts, Ender goes to free practice in the battleroom, as usual. There, he finds Major Anderson, who informs him that from now on, he’s only allowed to practice with people in... (full context)

...for him. Alai tells Ender he’d planned on practicing with him, only to find Major Anderson announcing the new rules. Alai and Ender try to joke with each other—Ender jokes that... (full context)

Anderson and Graff argue about the battle schedule Graff has planned for Ender. Anderson objects that... (full context)

One day, Ender receives a visit from Anderson and Graff. They ask him how his army has been doing, and ask him why... (full context)

After the battle, Major Anderson enters the battleroom, approaches Ender, and congratulates him on his victory. Ender is furious, however,... (full context)

The next day, Ender prepares to leave Battle School, accompanied by Anderson and Graff. Anderson has been promoted from Major to Colonel in the IF. Graff says... (full context)

There is then a conversation between Major Imbu and Colonel Anderson. They discuss the recent death that’s occurred in Battle School: Bonzo Madrid’s death in the... (full context)

The final chapter begins with a conversation between Graff and Anderson. Graff has recently been court-martialed for his manipulations of Ender. The court showed a jury... (full context)

Graff and Anderson talk about Ender’s future. Graff tells Anderson that Locke and Demosthenes have arranged for Ender... (full context)