Feminism
Katniss
is a character that embodies many of the characteristics sought out by
feminists. She is a rebel, and yet true to a sixteen year old self.
She deals with issues of self-doubt, devotion to her family and friends, and
has a will to always do the right thing. She maintains a relatively
positive outlook throughout the text, and yet her decision to not marry (and
thus, not have a child who would be put through the torture of the Hunger Games)
defines her as a strong female leading character.
She is determined, inventive, and
clever, and these aspects of her personality make her not only a more relatable
character, but in addition, these characteristics help keep her alive
throughout the Hunger Games. She is smart and cunning, and she has strong
emotions, yet is always able to keep these feelings in check. She is
continually aware that her family, friends, and district are watching her, and
continues to do this for their sakes as much as her own.
Even when kissing Peeta, she
maintains her integrity by doing so to keep him alive, rather than for selfish
reasons. Although the public admires and adores this doomed couple,
Katniss is able to understand that “one kiss equals one pot of broth.”
(261). She does all of this to benefit him, rather than herself.
Being such a strong female
character, Katniss is a breath of fresh air for young adults that would
normally veer towards books such as Twilight. Like Bella, Katniss is
caught in a love triangle between Peeta and Gale, but this is a subplot, rather
than the main theme of the book. Although her love for these two boys is
prevalent within this novel, the main plot of the Hunger Games is
survival.
Marxism
The Capitol is depicted as a sort of
aristocracy—a place where the wealthy watch as these tributes from the twelve
districts must battle to the death.
The
Hunger Games themselves are shown as a symbol of power and control which the
Capitol exercises over the twelve Districts.
However, even within the space of the Capitol the citizens face a
dystopia similar to that of the Brave New World or Feed.
The
citizens of the Capitol are taught only to consume and live a life of extreme
luxury. There being thin and young is
indicative of one’s wealth, where as in the Districts (especially District 12)
being plumper or older is a sign of a hard lived life worthy of respect. The citizens of the Capitol are forced to
consume and worry only about their appearances. (Regarding focus on appearance, this is similar to the women in Iran in Persepolis where Marjane comments on how they've forgotten the politics behind the using of the veil.)
What
is frightening is that they force the Tributes to be beautified prior to the
Games. They pluck every hair, shape
brows, clean the nails and strip the adolescents of the rags which tell of
their miserable lives in the slums of Districts. The government doesn’t allow the Captiol citizens to
know that outside of their walls exist populations of hungering people. They are simply distracted by their luxurious
lives to care.
Yet
more frightening is the fact that during the games the Tributes are forced to
think of their survival and consumption of goods. Their beautification is an ad for their
survival, the better they look the more sponsors they get to send the extremely
expensive gifts of food, weapons, or medicine in the arena. We find during the Games that this is a large
portion of Katniss’ preoccupations.
