Friendship

Another major theme found throughout the Hunger Games is teamwork and friendship. Even though the characters are placed in this unbelievable situation that could never picture yourself in, you can still relate to the characters because of their relationships with each other. Because of this real factor to the story, it makes it more realistic and enjoyable even though it is completely fictional. Teamwork is an essential component of this book right from the beginning. Katniss and Gale are hunting partners. The forge through the woods together searching for food and always watching the other person’s back. They split up whatever they scrounge up in the day and take it home to their families. Every day they do the same thing and from this partnership grew a beautiful friendship.

Katniss and Peeta’s relationship is a little bit different. They are forced to be friends against their own will. They are being shoved into this predicament where people are expecting them to be “star-crossed lovers” when really they will be fighting against each other to survive in the games. I think everybody at some time in their life has pretended to like someone that they actually cannot stand. Girls especially, (not to be stereotypical) but we have a tendency to put on a fake “oh I’m so happy to see you” face when as soon as they are gone we start badmouthing them behind their back.

Mean Girls Clip - http://www.youtube.com/embed/tJyyhNwdQz0

 

Like Katniss and Peeta though, if you give it some time and give that person a chance, they might grow on you. They might not be so awful after all, you just have to get to know them.

Stick it to the Man!

“The Hunger Games” by Suzanne Collins makes you consider what is possible in the future. It takes place after North America collapsed upon itself due to unnatural weather and raging wars. What remained was rebuilt into thirteen different districts, together they are called Panem.

Some of the districts are very poor and if a person starves to death, it would not be a surpise. This makes me realize how much I take for granted every day and how good my life really is. The districts that were most deprived started a rebellion against the Capitol and were defeated, the Hunger Games are the punishment each year to remind the citizens that the Capitol is in complete control. Control is a major theme throughout the entire book. The Capitol trying to prove that the citizens are nothing without them and the citizens try to resist control without being killed. The Hunger Games is a competition held each year. One male and one female are chosen from each district to compete in a fight to the death. The Capitol takes away somebody’s child and delights in watching them struggle to survive. I have never had to fight for my life but if you down scale it a little bit, there are power struggles in everybody’s life.

Different types of control issues in today's soceity. - http://www.speakoutloud.net/category/power-and-control/

Whether it is a drinking for the first time, a child who does not want to eat their vegetables or an adult quitting their job, at least once in your life you will feel the urge to “stick it to the man.”   

The Solution - http://www.livestrong.com/article/14694-handling-the-use-of-power-and-control/