Locke and Demosthenes

Peter and Valentine Wiggin invent two political personas to intervene in world events from childhood, first as play, then as powers.

increasingBearing stren­gth in each eventdecreasing

A Proposal in the Woods

A Proposal in the Woods Peter tells Valentine that the world is heading toward a catastrophic war and asks her to help him enter politics through the public nets. He is twelve and she is ten. Context Valentine has seen Peter torture squirrels and recognized his hunger for power. She agrees reluctantly, believing she can control him. Significance This moment creates a partnership that will eventually shape Earth's post-bugger politics.

Building the Net Identities

Building the Net Identities Peter and Valentine create the pseudonyms Locke and Demosthenes and begin writing essays on the nets, testing their ability to sound like adults and attract attention. Context The children are brilliant but cannot reveal their ages, so they carefully craft two separate personas with different styles and opinions. Significance The experiment works better than they expected: Demosthenes becomes a popular radical voice and Locke becomes a moderate intellectual.

Demosthenes' Column

Demosthenes' Column A western newsnet offers Demosthenes a weekly column, and soon the column is syndicated across the country. Peter's Locke also receives a column in a New England net. Context The children use Father's citizen's access and carefully separate their writing styles to avoid detection. They begin to influence public debate without ever leaving the woods. Significance The columns plant the ideas that will later be credited with keeping Earth from destroying itself during the League War.

The Locke Proposal

The Locke Proposal When the League War breaks out after the bugger war, Locke publishes a proposal for restructuring the Hegemony, and Demosthenes supports it. World leaders accept it as the basis for peace. Context Peter has spent years building Locke's reputation for wisdom and using Demosthenes to create public pressure. The proposal is his first real act of statecraft. Significance The Locke Proposal ends the League War and makes Peter the most powerful political figure on Earth, even though his public identity remains unknown.

Demosthenes Retires

Demosthenes Retires Valentine publicly announces that Demosthenes is joining the First Colony and will no longer write. In private, she tells Ender that Peter has become the Hegemon and they must leave Earth forever. Context Demosthenes' 'retirement' is actually Valentine's escape from Peter's control. She has used the persona one last time to protect Ender. Significance The retirement closes the book on the Wiggin children's secret political project and opens the way for Ender's new life among the stars.

when Valentine is ten

after they gain citizen's access

within a year of their first essays

during the League War

before the First Colony ship leaves