How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #1
"It is another chance God has give us," declared Archcardinal Pio of Baia. "We can be redeemed for the destruction of the buggers." (Prologue.3)
The piggies are often figured as a second chance, a way for humans to make up for having wiped out the buggers. That seems to reduce the piggies to being a kind of trope or plot twist for humans; they're there to help people get over their unhappiness, rather than there for themselves. Who is compassion there for—the object of the compassion, or the person who feels bad?
Quote #2
For he loved her, as you can only love someone who is an echo of yourself at your time of deepest sorrow. (5.89)
Ender is in love with Novinha before he even meets her because she reminds him of himself and his own sorrows. Compassion here seems like a form of self-pity. Also, Novinha is like thirteen, and Ender flies off to marry her. Shmoop is not sure Shmoop approves.
Quote #3
"Even the most evil of men and women, if you understand their hearts, had some generous act that redeems them, at least a little, from their sins." (8.49-50)
Ender is talking about Marcao here, but he's also talking about himself, since Ender's the one who committed über-genocide. In general, Marcao is a stand in for Ender—both are sinners, both seek love, both marry Novinha. When Ender speaks for Marcao, you could argue he's speaking for himself.