After finishing reading the second and last part of The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, a big reoccurring theme integrated throughout the book is once again, Power. In the first half of the Hunger Games, I discussed in my previous post the manipulations the Capitol (the totalitarian government of Panem) have put forth upon its people how evident the theme of power is in the book. After reading the second half of the book, the theme of power is still evident but a new theme, Love, is integrated in the book.
Power is obviously the main theme of the book. After putting down a rebellion put forth by the thirteen separate districts of Panem (and destroying the thirteen district), the Capitol created the Hunger Games to take place each year. How the Hunger Games works is that they choose one boy and one girl from each district (both children) from a box full of names. The result is a number of twenty-four children put in a arena to fight to the death until one is left. The reasoning behind the games is to remind the people of the districts how powerful the Capitol is and how they can kill them in an instant by taking their children away. It works because the Games have put enormous fear upon the people of Panem and even though the games take place once a year, the fear it brings is present year round.
The main character, Katniss, puts a twist to this year’s Hunger Games. When her younger sister is chosen to take place in the Hunger Games, she knows theres no chance shes coming back out alive. In a split second she heads for the stage to take her sisters place, in which the Capitol agrees to. The people of the twelfth district show a small act of rebellion towards the Capitol when the representative for the Capitol asks for a round of applause for Katniss volunterring:
Though this simple act might seem meaningless, it is in fact a sign of rebellion against the Capitol, something rarely ever seen ever since the huge rebellion took place before the Hunger Games. Into the Games, we see similar small acts of rebellion by Katniss all throughout the book. Katniss play a big role into opening hope for all twelve districts of Panem. She becomes a favorite to all those watching back home, especially with her daring move towards the end of the book, which got under the skin of those back at the Capitol.
Power is obviously the main theme of the book. After putting down a rebellion put forth by the thirteen separate districts of Panem (and destroying the thirteen district), the Capitol created the Hunger Games to take place each year. How the Hunger Games works is that they choose one boy and one girl from each district (both children) from a box full of names. The result is a number of twenty-four children put in a arena to fight to the death until one is left. The reasoning behind the games is to remind the people of the districts how powerful the Capitol is and how they can kill them in an instant by taking their children away. It works because the Games have put enormous fear upon the people of Panem and even though the games take place once a year, the fear it brings is present year round.
The main character, Katniss, puts a twist to this year’s Hunger Games. When her younger sister is chosen to take place in the Hunger Games, she knows theres no chance shes coming back out alive. In a split second she heads for the stage to take her sisters place, in which the Capitol agrees to. The people of the twelfth district show a small act of rebellion towards the Capitol when the representative for the Capitol asks for a round of applause for Katniss volunterring:
“I stand there unmoving while they take part in the boldest form of dissent they can manage. Silence. Which says we do not agree. We do not condone. All of this is wrong. At first one, then another, then almost every member of the crowd touches the three middle fingers of their left hand to their lips and holds it out to me. It is an old and rarely used gesture of our district, occasionally seen at funerals. It means thanks, it means admiration, it means good-bye to someone you love” (24).
Though this simple act might seem meaningless, it is in fact a sign of rebellion against the Capitol, something rarely ever seen ever since the huge rebellion took place before the Hunger Games. Into the Games, we see similar small acts of rebellion by Katniss all throughout the book. Katniss play a big role into opening hope for all twelve districts of Panem. She becomes a favorite to all those watching back home, especially with her daring move towards the end of the book, which got under the skin of those back at the Capitol.
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