One of the major themes in Speaker for the Dead was misunderstandings. The book puts forward the idea that if you can understand someone, and they understand you, then all of the problems between you can be solved. The entire point of the section where Ender speaks for Marcao was that once the people of Lusitania understood why Marcao had acted the way he had for all those years, while they couldn't condone him for it, they couldn't really condemn him for it either. This is the function of a Speaker for the Dead. But the misunderstandings don't end with the humans. In Ender's Game the reason for the xenocide was a misunderstanding, and all of the problems between species in Speaker also stem from them. The piggies kill humans without knowing that they will not get a third life. The humans in turn treat the piggies with fear and distrust since they have killed two respected members of the community. The problems between Jane and Ender are also started by one race not understanding the other, because Ender did not grasp the significance of turning off Jane's implant.
Even though all the problems begin with a lack of understanding, Speaker seems to be suggesting that humans as a whole will try to block communication that might be painful, even if it will bring healing understanding. This is true on a personal scale with Novinha, preventing her children from knowing the truth about their father, and on the political scale with the Starways Congress preventing any real communication with the piggies. Card is telling us that two-way communication will always be important for any relationship, and that it will be especially important when and if we meet another sentient race. This stance is made clear since all of the problems between the Lusos and the Piggies are solved within a day of real communication beginning. Of course the Starways Congress, the stand-in for the human desire to not communicate reacts by planning to blow up the planet. The message is clear: if we cannot speak with those we have differences with, the more violent parts of our brain will win out and one side will be destroyed.
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I would agree with you that the lack of two-way communication or dialogue is at the root of miscommunication between species in Card's novels. This is one of his prevailing themes and he consistently shows that misunderstandings lead to conflict.
ReplyDeleteUndoubtedly, clear communication is important to resolving conflict. To bring this to the real world, it seems in recent times some effort has been put into initiating dialogues between different countries and cultures to clear up misunderstandings (ie - the UN). Despite these efforts conflicts prevail, but are they all due to lack of communication and understanding?
Terrorist actions against the U.S. are due in part to the lack of a dialogue between Al Qaeda and the West - neither seems to understand the other. Yet are there other reasons for the continued conflict?
I think there is always a prioritization or hierarchy of interests. Every country places their interests on a scale. What I mean to say is that if a country or entity cares more about expansion or acquisition of natural resources then clearing up miscommunications becomes secondary or tertiary - it is devalued and appears to disappear out of view. Thus, the logic of a country's actions is relative to their priorities.
-Michael Ginsberg