Peter Wiggin's Road to Hegemony

Peter's ambition evolves from torture and manipulative threats to political mastery, finally making him Hegemon of Earth.

increasingBearing stren­gth in each eventdecreasing

The Dangerous Big Brother

The Dangerous Big Brother Peter torments Ender with a game of buggers and astronauts, kneeling on his chest and threatening to kill him. Valentine stops it by threatening to expose him. Context Peter has failed the I.F. tests and resents Ender for succeeding. His intelligence is clear, but so is his cruelty. Significance Peter's early violence defines Ender's fear of becoming a killer and also reveals Peter's hunger to dominate.

Torture and Confession

Torture and Confession Valentine discovers that Peter has been torturing squirrels in the woods, and later he admits to her that he is afraid of becoming a monster. He asks her to help him find a better path. Context Peter has learned to hide his cruelty from his parents, but Valentine knows him too well. His confession is a manipulation, yet it also contains a thread of sincerity. Significance Peter's ability to use his own weakness as a tool is the foundation of his political genius.

Locke's Respectability

Locke's Respectability Peter writes as Locke, a moderate and thoughtful commentator who gains the trust of intellectuals and politicians. He deliberately uses this persona to counterbalance Demosthenes' radicalism. Context Peter controls both personas, assigning the most radical writing to Valentine as Demosthenes. He is building a reputation that will survive any investigation. Significance Locke becomes the respectable face of Wiggin ambition, and Peter's long wait begins to seem justified.

The Hegemon Emerges

The Hegemon Emerges Locke's authorship is finally revealed to a small circle of leaders, and Peter uses his accumulated power to become the Hegemon. Valentine is horrified by how much he has grown. Context Peter has saved Earth from a terrible war, but he did it out of a desire for control. The public sees Locke as a genius; only Valentine knows the full truth. Significance Peter now controls the Hegemony and tries to lure Ender back to Earth to serve as his puppet, setting the stage for Valentine's intervention.

The Old Hegemon's Message

The Old Hegemon's Message After receiving Ender's first book, Peter writes to him through the ansible and asks Ender to speak for him when he dies. Ender agrees and composes the Hegemon volume. Context The brothers have been separated for decades. Peter's final act is to ask Ender, the Speaker for the Dead, to understand him. Significance The Hive-Queen and the Hegemon become holy texts, uniting the two sides of the Wiggin family: the killer who destroyed the buggers and the tyrant who held Earth together.

the evening after Ender's monitor is removed

in the woods near Greensboro

during the years of the bugger war

after the League War

seventy-seven years old, near the end of his life