Danielle Jago - The Hunger Games

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            I originally read this book when I was in seventh grade…or was it ninth? I am honestly not sure, but the point I’m trying to make is that I had my first reaction to it at least five years ago. With that being said, this time I still loved it. I just loved it in a different way. I think because I have had certain life experiences since I read it the first time, the text had new meaning to me. In either case, I still liked the book (but don’t even get me started on the movie). Anyway, we read Lord of the Flies in school shortly after I read this book, and I think the similarities are uncanny. Kids killing each other, the struggle for survival, the cliques and alliances that form within that framework, it’s just so similar! As a future high school English teacher, I have thought about which one would be better to teach since they have similar themes so I found this article (http://www.brighthubeducation.com/high-school-english-lessons/38419-teaching-literature-lord-of-the-flies-vs-the-hunger-games/) that advocates for The Hunger Games over Lord of the Flies, but I do love the classics so who knows how I will handle that in the future.
Anyway, I think The Hunger Games is written well in terms of illustrating adolescent issues. I think that because Suzanne Collins presents these teen social dynamics in the context of a dystopian society you see adolescent problems magnified. For example, Effie chides Peeta and Katniss on page 47 for laughing at Haymitch and she says “Haymitch can well be the difference between your life and your death!” I think this exemplifies a power struggle many adolescents (at least me) go through with authority figures. Adolescents want to have some input in their own fates yet they are placed in situations in which others are controlling them and making choices for them. I think the completely corrupted government and the games push this dynamic to the forefront of our vision. We see these adolescents struggling with normal adolescent things, but instead of their parents deciding not to let them go to a football game, the government doesn’t let them live without a fight. Collins just lays it out there. She illustrates this total lack of control that each adolescent in this world has (and the adults, for that matter) which I think can be easily translated to the way in which adolescents are constantly told what is best for them and what they must do.
Another adolescent issue I think Collins portrays well is the struggle for identity. I see this particularly with Peeta. One of the most memorable moments of the book is when Katniss meets Peeta on the roof on page 142 and he says “Only I keep wishing for a way to… to show the Capitol they don’t own me. That I’m more than just a piece in their Games”. Peeta is grappling with his own identity, as well as his identity in relation to his society and his government. The context of Peeta’s situation makes this a much more serious scenario than a typical adolescent probably goes through, but nonetheless uncovering and becoming comfortable in your personal identity and how that allows you to fit or not fit in your society’s status quo as an adolescent is extremely important and I think Collins reflects that struggle well.  

While I was reading the novel, my main question was why Madge was not in the movie?? She was so important! I digress, but my actual question for the purpose of the class was about Cinna. I talked about this in the chat on Friday, but I have always wondered if Cinna was from the Capitol. Katniss describes him as someone who is clever and aware which completely contrasts the other stylists who seem vapid and completely oblivious. He wanted District 12, and he is not nearly as flamboyant as all of the other stylists in attitude or appearance. Kind of SPOILERS: I think Cinna was in on things with Plutarch and they were basically infiltrating the system from all sides, but who knows really. That’s just my explanation, because I cannot bear to think that Cinna was just doing all of this for purely selfish reasons just so he could have an extremely successful debut as a stylist in the Capitol. I just can’t believe that was his motivation. 

Comments

  1. AnonymousSeptember 6, 2016 at 1:43 PM

    Let me start off by saying that I am sincerely jealous of you writing language. After posting my blog and then reading yours, I realize how weak my writing looks. I suppose things sound better in my head as opposed to me writing them.
    Back to the topic at hand, I love your point that the dystopian society magnifies adolescent tribulations. I thought that it took away from first world adolescent issues and put us in the mindset of people who don't have the same privileges and supplies as us. But you zoned in on authority conflicts for adolescents and how their society proves just how powerless adolescents actually are. I admire that! Congrats on your thoughts.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. AnonymousSeptember 6, 2016 at 1:44 PM

      Congrats on your thoughts sounded really uppity. I think I meant great analysis.

      Delete
  2. Ms LopezSeptember 6, 2016 at 7:49 PM

    I think you're right about Peeta's struggle for identity and his lack of control. He clearly feels that he's trapped in his situation and wants to show that the Capitol can't control him, but he knows the risks of doing that. To some extent all adolescents - in real life - are expected to step in line and certainly in a dictatorship, which used to be more common, teenagers were especially vulnerable to violence since they were more likely to want to join protests. I think young people especially tend to find their identity through social movements like protests. For Peeta, there doesn't seem to exist any form of protest and he doesn't even seem to have an outlet like playing an instrument or a sport. He just has to hide his feelings. Even his feelings for Katniss are reduced to a survival method.
    Anyway great quotes!

    ReplyDelete

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