Ender's Game (1-324)

This passage occurs after an important moment in the book, Ender has just fought, and unbeknownst to him, killed, Bonzo Madrid in the shower. Ender, at heart a peaceful boy, regrets being forced to resort to violence to protect himself.

Ender stepped under the water and rinsed himself, took the sweat of combat and
let it run down the drain. All gone, except they recycled it and we'll be
drinking Bonzo's bloodwater in the morning. All the life gone out of it, but his
blood just the same, his blood and my sweat, washed down in their stupidity or
cruelty or whatever it was that made them let it happen. (214)

This excerpt, though short, is meaningful and I can relate to it. Although I can thankfully say I've never killed someone, I have participated in my share of athletic events. The first thing I do after each game is shower. It feels to me as though the running water washes away more than just the foul odor and sweat, it feels as though the water is cleansing me morally. As if the water is forgiving me and giving me a fresh start. I can understand then, why Ender would take a shower after the fight. He wants the water to wash the blood from his hands and let him start over clean oncemore.

Card, Orson. Ender's Game. New York, NY: Tom Doherty Associates LLC, 1991.