In The Hunger Games, Katniss
is portrayed as lacking certain characteristics. She is not personable, friendly, or trusting. As Haymitch notes, Katniss has a habit of
coming off as “sullen and hostile” (116) when she speaks. Though the lack of these traits does not pose
an issue in her everyday life, it becomes apparent that having some of them
would assist her in the Games by helping her appeal to the audience to obtain
more sponsorships. One may wonder why,
even when these traits could help Katniss save her own life, they do not come
naturally to her. However, the real
question is, why would they?
At a very young age, Katniss becomes the sole provider for
her family after her father is killed in the mines. With the death of her father, Katniss loses
her sense of security. Her mother, deep
in depression, finds herself unable to get out of bed, and “no amount of
pleading from Prim seem[s] to affect her” (27).
As a child, Katniss mistakes her mother’s inability to provide for her
children in their time of need as abandonment.
She feels that she “ha[s] lost not only a father, but a mother as well”
(27). This feeling of desertion instils
trust issues in Katniss that affect her still while she is in the Games and
cause Katniss to become extremely independent, arguably to a fault.
Additionally, Katniss’ lack of friendliness can be explained
by her resistance to form emotional bonds with others. Though she and Peeta come from the same
district, they experience very different lives.
Katniss is required to live day by day, relying on illegal hunting just
to feed herself and her family. On the
other hand, Peeta does not face the same obstacles. As Katniss puts it, “there are things you don’t
question too much . . . when your home always smells like baking bread” (266). Katniss watches neighbors starve to death in
The Seam, but Peeta lives in the wealthier part of District 12 among the
shopkeepers and is not so close to this kind of pain. This partially explains the stark contrast
between Peeta’s and Katniss’ personalities.
Katniss is all too familiar with the frailty of life. She pushes people away instead of allowing
herself to form close relationships because she is afraid of experiencing for a
second time the pain she feels when she loses her father. This can be seen in the fact that even when
she realizes “how much [she] doesn’t want [Peeta] to die” (297), she finds
herself unable to express her feelings.
This is partially due to her hesitance to form a close emotional bond
with Peeta and partially due to her inexperience with expressing emotions
caused by years of avoiding relationships to spare herself of emotional turmoil
when she loses her loved one.
Considering these attributes of Katniss, it does not make sense that she would ally with Rue in the Games. As you mentioned, Katniss pushes people away because she is afraid of losing people like she lost her father. Katniss prefers to rely on herself and her own abilities. Although, in the Games, Katniss cannot survive on her own. After Katniss is burned in the fire, she becomes vulnerable to the Careers. Without Rue showing her the tracker jacker nest (184), Katniss may not have escaped them. Immediately, following her recovery, Katniss tells Rue, “You know, they’re not the only ones who can form alliances” (200). Katniss, the girl who keeps people at arm’s length, partners with Rue without hesitation. Katniss explains her decision by noting, “She’s a survivor, and I trust her, and why not admit it? She reminds me of Prim” (201). While Rue cannot offer her much in terms of physical strength, she reminds Katniss of her humanity. Rue becomes Prim in her mind. In this way, Rue is not an outsider she must push away, but instead, a sister she must protect. Rue’s life and death gives Katniss perspective in the Games, which is more valuable than anything gained from the Career’s alliances.
ReplyDeleteWhile the loss of Katniss’s father plays a role in her lack of certain characteristics, Katniss herself attributes her bleak personality to something else. When she was younger, Katniss used to speak her mind about everything - the Capitol, Panem, District 12, anything she could find to complain about. However, as she got older, “I understood this would only lead us to more trouble. So I learned to hold my tongue and to turn my features into an indifferent mask so that no one could ever read my thoughts,” (6). Katniss admits she guards even her deepest feelings in order to protect herself and her family. Therefore, her inability to appear personable, friendly, or trusting is a direct product of her anger, and yet fear, of the Capitol.
ReplyDeleteAfter the conclusion of the Games, Katniss’s fear of the Capitol intensifies when Haymitch informs her that she’s in danger and that, “the Capitol’s furious about [her] showing them up in the arena,” (356). The fear she experiences from this statement only induces her to excessively display the emotions she so desperately tries to hide. During their reunion, Haymitch indicates Katniss sitting close to Peeta will not suffice. Out of fear of the Capitol, she removes her shoes and describes, “I tuck my feet to the side and lean my head against Peeta’s shoulder,” (361). While the Katniss before the Games would have never dreamed of behaving this way on national television, she knows she must act in this manner to save herself, just as she had to hide all emotions and anger towards the Capitol.
I agree, however, Katniss also feels the need to provide for everyone in her life. As you mentioned, this originates from her dad’s death, as she “took over as head of the family” (27). Since her mother was unable to provide for her children, Katniss was forced to become both the mother and father figure for Prim. Even Prim looks up to her sister more than her mother, since Katniss provides everything for her. Similarly, Katniss “[protects] Prim in every way [she] can” (15). For example, even though “trespassing in the woods is illegal,” Katniss hunts to find food for her family. Additionally, she volunteers as tribute in the Hunger Games to prevent her sister’s death. She puts her sister’s life ahead of her own by providing for her in every way possible. Regardless of how she feels, Katniss tries to win the games “because of Prim” (36). Katniss knows Prim cannot survive without her help, so she decides to try to win the games for her benefit. Overall, Katniss takes pride in caring for her family, as it becomes part of her identity. As a result, Katniss becomes extremely protective, which helps her succeed in the games, since she is used to providing for herself and others.
ReplyDeleteA “stark contrast” between the two personalities of Katniss and Peeta is evident. He is amiable and kind, emphasized throughout his interview with Caesar Flickerman. Katniss, however, is independent and standoffish. This difference in their personalities is incredibly important as it ultimately leads to their mutual survival at the culmination of the games.
ReplyDeleteThe events outlined above that have made Katniss who she is are incredibly important because they have turned her into a formidable opponent within the Hunger Games. She is not a weak girl from the Seam doomed to die in the bloodbath. She is resourceful, and, as noted by Prim, “fast and brave. Maybe [she] can win” (36). Her score of 11 makes her a good prospect, but her personality keeps her from being a winner. She ultimately relies on Peeta’s charm to attract the admiration of the Capitol and the financial sponsors who save both of their lives.
Without Katniss’s survival instincts and strength, Peeta would most likely not have survived the arena. However, without Peeta making her attractive to the Capitol, Katniss would not have lived much beyond her burned leg. Rather, Peeta’s openness and awareness of the workings of the Capitol were able to make Katniss desirable, with Haymitch noting, “The most I could say about you after your interview was that you were nice enough, although that in itself was a small miracle. Now I can say you’re a heartbreaker. Oh, oh, oh, how the boys back home fall longingly at your feet. Which do you think will get you more sponsors?” (135). These sponsors give her the burn cream that allows her to keep moving and broth to feed the two in the cave (among others).