While the odds are never in favor of the districts that are
impoverish and starving, after Katniss volunteers for her sister Prim, it
appears the odds begin to bestow favor onto her. Several characters and
circumstances lead to Katniss’ success and survival in the Hunger Games. Peeta
makes her look more likable to the Capitol by confessing his love to her on
live television. Afterwards, Haymich remarks to Katniss, “He made you look
desirable! You were about as romantic as dirt until he said he wanted you. Now
they all do” (135). Haymich explains that Peeta’s interest in her has made the
Capital more interested in her as well. This is something that Katniss could
not achieve on her own without Peeta’s assistance. Cinna makes her an eye
catching and memorable tribute through his outfit designs during the Hunger
Games ceremonies. After the ceremonies, Katniss thinks to herself, “Cinna has
given me a great advantage. No one will forget me. Not my look, not my name.
Katniss. The girl on fire” (70). Cinna’s designs make Katniss more popular as
they allow her stand out from the rest of the tributes with her memorable
outfits. Both Peeta and Cinna’s actions benefit Katniss’s survival as
popularity of a tribute within the Capitol leads to vital sponsors during the games.
These sponsors sent necessary materials to Katniss during the games that
assisted in her ultimate survival. Additionally, the location of the Hunger
Games is extremely advantageous to Katniss and assists in her survival. The
forest location is exactly the terrain that Katniss is accustomed to in
District 12 where she regularly hunts and gathers in a similar wooded area. Her
skills with a bow compliments the location of the games as she can easily hunt
for food as well as seek shelter in the trees unlike her fellow opponents. All
these circumstances lead to Katniss’ success and survival in the Hunger Games.
It appears that the odds are ever in her favor after she volunteers as a
tribute to save her sister, Prim.
There are many occurrences throughout the novel that tip the odds of the games in her favor. Many of this comes from assistance from her peers. Lacking great social skills, Haymitch, Effie, Cinna, and Peeta work to create her “girl on fire” persona. Cinna makes Katniss feel immediately comfortable around him, allowing her to trust him. His costumes stun the capitol citizens, making Katniss a crowd favorite before the games even begin. Still befoore the games, Effie and Peeta work on making Katniss a desirable people-pleaser. After Peeta’s statement of love during his interview, Katniss thinks that she has been made “beautiful by Cinna’s hands, desirable by Peeta’s confession, tragic by circumstance, and by all accounts, unforgettable” (137-138). Up to that point, the capitol has really only seen Katniss through other’s interference to their perception. This continues to an extent in the arena as well. Katniss is able to win over sponsors through indulging in the love story between her and Peeta. As she mentions frequently, Peeta is much better at playing the camera than she is, and he is able to still shape their view of her. Haymitch also drives her actions toward Peeta by reinforcing her actions with sponsor gifts. I agree that Katniss does have personal skills that help her survive, but the guidance of others truly leads to her victory.
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