The Hunger Games

Of course since everyone else is reading these books, I felt the need to see what was so great about them. And after reading all three, I can honestly say that I found them to be very enjoyable. The entire series has an undercurrent of rebellion. Even in the beginning, Katniss Everdeen shows true character as she volunteers herself for the Hunger Games in place of her sister Prim. "Prim's face is as fresh as a raindrop, as lovely as the primrose for which she was named" (page 34). While Katniss is the hunter-strong, resourceful, quick-her little sister is shown as very fragile and sweet. I have noticed, while reading the series, that there are a lot of metaphors and comparisons used in describing the characters. Prim is like a rose, Buttercup's eyes are like color of rotting squash, etcetera. I love the setting most of all, it is very strong and well structured. The set-up of Panem and the Districts makes for the perfect dystopian society and sets the basis for the hunger games and the later rebellion that occurs. Anyways, I would like to go back to looking at Katniss. With the death of her father at a young age and the resulting depression of her mother, she is forced to take on a role of a parent, hunting to provide for her starving parent-she is forced to mature and lose her initial innocence early (although we find mature in many ways, we later find that she is immature in the world of men). "District 12, where you can starve to death in safety" (page 66). There is irony in this statement, the government claims to want the best for its people, yet her district starves and people die from hunger and the government does nothing. The notion of "peacekeepers" becomes ironic as well because these individuals do not keep peace, they cause havoc while attempting to restore the skewed "order" the capital believes in. This section immediately hits an emotional response with the reader, we see  the life that Katniss has had and we truly empathize for her, we want her to win the games and become emotionally attached to her journey.  And what a journey it is, the Hunger Games are exactly what their name implies, provide a grueling and psychologically scarring arena where two children from each district are forced to fight to the death-a punishment from the capital a  rebellion that had occurred before the time of the children's grandparents. This is a sadistic way for the Capital to enforce its rule over the people-to crush any thoughts of rebellion, it is a symbol of the government's true power and willingness to take lives to keep power. Throughout her interactions at the Capital, Katniss sees the frivolity and innocence that the people have in attitude toward the games. An example of this are Katniss's make-up crew and Effie. Effie and the crew gossip over the costumes and the publicity of the Games, obsessed with these things, not looking above the frivolity and accepting the fact that their society is sadistically killing its youth. In an attempt to promote her District competitors, Peeta and Katniss, Effie states that "Well, if you put enough pressure on coal it turns to pearls!" (page 906) and it is almost humorous how she states this. She tries to promote the children who came from the struggling coal mines in a light way-but ironically, the statement that she has made can be taken in an entirely different manner. It can mean that the struggles the children have had growing up in the harsh coal mines has shaped them into strong and capable fighters for the Games. Thats what I love about this book, I can always find several deeper meanings to statements that may seem upon first glance to be simple and non meaningful. There are so many hidden ideas, themes, and symbols that the reader just needs to look for in order to gain a greater understanding of the author's purpose for the novel! My next post will delve even more into this idea! As for now have a nice night everyone :)