Text corrupted beyond recovery, unable to extract subject matter

¶ … Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins: How does Katniss's role in her family affect her behavior in the Games?

Analytical response essay: How does Katniss' role in her family affect her behavior in the Games?

Suzanne Collins' dystopian novel The Hunger Games depicts a world whose ethical values have been turned upside down. A dystopian novel is defined as "a futuristic, imagined universe in which oppressive societal control and the illusion of a perfect society are maintained through corporate, bureaucratic, technological, moral or totalitarian control" ("Dystopias," Readwritething). The older generation is morally bankrupt and preys upon the young for entertainment. This can be seen in the relationship of its heroine Katniss Everdeen to her family and the other characters in the novel, including Peeta Mallark, the boy from her district chosen as tribute. The young people in the novel must assume many adult responsibilities as a result of the world the older generations have created.

At the beginning of the novel, Katniss is effectively both the father and the mother in her family, although she is technically her family's oldest daughter. Her father is dead and her mother is mentally ill, a shadow of her former self. It is Katniss who takes the risk to poach animals to supplement the family's meager provisions, using her skills as an archer to find food. Katniss also is very careful about voicing her strong, private political beliefs, knowing that this could hurt her family. She says: "I learned to hold my tongue and to turn my features into an indifferent mask so that no one could read my thoughts" in regards to the injustices inherent in her society (Collins 7). Katniss is very protective of her twelve-year-old sister, Primrose. When Primrose is selected to be the tribute for District 12, Katniss volunteers instead, knowing that being selected for the Hunger Games means certain death for her younger sibling.

Once conscripted into the Games, Katniss uses her ability as an archer to survive. This enables her to get support from wealthy viewers and backers during the Games such as food and additional weapons. During the preliminary events to the Game itself, which are televised, Katniss makes a great show of herself as an archer. Despite the fact that she loves another boy from her district named Gale, she goes along with the pretense on television of loving Peeta. She knows that is what is desired by the viewers and it will increase her chances of being the last person to make it to the end of the Games.

As a result of living in a poorer district, Katniss learned her survival skills at an early age. She also knows how to trust no one completely, to be very circumspect about her real opinions, and when necessary to lie to get ahead (such as when she pretends to love Peeta). She is even willing to let Cinna, a fashion stylist, create a very showy image for herself (a dress of fire), which is contrary to her plain style because she knows such showmanship is necessary to survive the Games. At times, the reality and the lie become blurred (Katniss is not entirely sure of her true feelings for Peeta) but Katniss never loses sight of the ultimate purpose of the Games which is survival. Her natural wariness and her knowledge gained in hunting the woods is why she does not make fatal errors, like eating the poisoned berries like Foxface.