Critical Context: From the Boy Who Lived to the Girl Who Learned

The essay I picked to read was called “From the Boy Who Lived to the Girl Who Learned”.  This essay showed similarities and differences between Harry Potter and Katniss Everdeen. Both of these series have to deal with a child/young teen going through life dealing with lots of interesting situations that come their way. One of the biggest differences that seem to be made clear was how in Harry Potter something good always happened after a bad situation, whereas in Katniss’s life nothing good ever seem to happen. Her sister was picked to go to the games and she did not want to see her sister die so she took her place and was quickly shipped off to the capital where they paraded her around just to send her into an area with 23 other boys and girls where only one person was suppose to come out alive. After her and Peeta are both allowed to be crowned victors her life continues to have negative effects. I will not go into those because some of the readers of this blog might not have read the second and third books. Katniss has to fight hard for everything she manages to keep. In Harry Potter most of the families live a middle class lifestyle, unlike in The Hunger Games most of the families besides the capital are poor and have to work very hard for the little bit they get. Katniss is from an extremely poor district and if it was not for her hunting and gathering skills most likely her family would of died before her sisters name was ever picked for the reeping.

Katniss Everdeen

Harry Potter 

The author of Harry Potter seems to touch a little bit on bad things like the way Harry’s aunt and uncle treat him or his meetings with Voldemort but never jumps into them giving the readers a feeling that it could really happen where as the author of The Hunger Games writing makes the reader wonder if this could happen in our lives since it is suppose to be based in the future. In Harry Potter he lies his way through a lot of things, Katniss on the other hand is a bad liar and does not use lying as a way to get her through life. She does hide some facts while she and Peeta are in the cave from the viewers, but she is not good and lying and making stories up.  

In the essay it talks about the definition of the cornucopia in Harry Potter compared to in The Hunger Games, the cornucopia in each book has a very different meaning and expectation.  In Harry Potter cornucopia is like a holiday  in the wizard culture that they enjoy a feast together without worrying about being harmed, were as the cornucopia in The Hunger Games is an area in the arena to get  supplies but retrieving theses supplies mean you could face death.   

In both Harry Potter and The Hunger Games; Harry and Katniss come out alive, but both of them have to overcome a lot of emotional and physical journeys. 

Citation

Pharr, Mary. “From the Boy Who Lived to the Girl Who Learned” Of Bread, Blood and The Hunger Games: Critical Essays on the Suzanne Collins Trilogy. Eds, Mary F. Pharr and Leisa A. Clark, Jefferson, NC: McFarland, 2012 219-228. Print. 

Personal Synthesis and Feminist Analysis

A feminist point that was shown in the book was how the Capitol chooses a male and a female from each district to go to the games. They did not treat the females any differently than they treated the male tributes. They all got the same treatment before they entered into the games.

Katniss and Peeta during the Parade of Tributes

Katniss at a young age had to become the provider for her family, when her father was killed in a mine explosion. Her mother went into an extreme state of depression and Katniss had to step up so her family would not die. Normally that would have been the male’s role to provide for the family. Katniss tends to take on a lot of male characteristics that are frowned upon by many of her classmates. Her father had taught her how to hunt which became her main way of keeping her family alive. She would take the animals she had shot and bring them to the seams and trade for things her family needed. She also remembered and found plants that her mother and father had showed her that were edible or would help with curing things. Having some of these masculine traits allow her to survive better than the others in the hunger games. She was able to hunt during the games which provided her with meat, and she also was able to pick out plants that she knew were edible which gave her an advantage over others with not having to rely on what was provided in the beginning of the hunger games at the cornucopia. Besides her physical attributes she does not allow her emotions to show through and get in the way.  She has a strong outer shell that’s makes her hard to relate to and for others to get to know her. Throughout the hunger games many people made comments on how unpleasant of a person Katniss was and how she needed to be more personable and give the audience more to like about her.

Katniss Hunting 

                  

Reader Response

After reading other people’s reviews of The Hunger Games it was clear to me that people loved the book or hated it.  I didn't get the impression that it was a book people didn't feel strongly about one way or another. 

I started reading reviews of the book on Goodreads first.  I got the impression a lot of the people leaving comments were younger, maybe between the ages of 18-40.  I thought this because there were lots of memes that made fun of certain characters or the book.  I felt like there were many people who didn't love the book on this site.  One reviewer, Kelly - Maybedog Hawkins wrote, “I found it trite, slow-moving, predictable, not written that well, and completely unrealistic” (Kelly - Maybedog Hawkins 1). I thought that out of the three sites the Goodreads audience was the most torn over their love of the book.  Many people liked it many didn’t.

Next, I moved on to the Barnes and Noble reviews.  It was very clear before I even read any of them that everyone who reviewed The Hunger Games here loved it.  I clicked through the first 3 pages of reviews with 20 single responses on each page and out of those 60 only 4 gave the book less than 5 stars.  The reviews I read mostly stated how much people loved the book.   A reviewer named Betty_Betty commented, “THIS BOOK IS BETTER THAN TWILIGHT!!! I COULDN'T PUT THIS BOOK DOWN IT WAS REALLY THE BEST BOOK I HAVE EVER READ" (Betty_Betty 1).  I felt like I should keep this quotation in call caps because after reading quite a few pages of reviews on the Barnes and Noble site this was the general consensus.  Everyone really loved the book and there were multiple comparisons to the Twilight series (which according to these reviews was much worse). 

Lastly, I moved on to the Amazon reviews.  Much like the other two sites most people really liked the book.  As I read further through the many reviews I noticed that several people were comparing the book to the movie, much more than on the previous two sites.  I thought this was interesting because on the other sites people wrote about their love or dislike for the book, but the movie theme seemed to come up more on this site. Also, reviewers here were more excited about the next two books.  One reviewer named Josue2394 wrote, “One of the BEST books I've ever read, I couldn't stop reading, it trapped me. It's better to read the book and then watch the movie” (Josue2394 1).  Many of the reviews on this site raved about the book, but said they were disappointed by the movie. 

Overall, I thought the reviews were fun to read.  It’s evident that all three of these review sites, Goodreads, Barnes and Noble, and Amazon, had the same goal in mind, but they all give the reader a very different view of The Hungers Games. 

Citations 

Kelly - Maybedog Hawkins. “The Hunger Games.” Goodreads. N.p., 20 June. 2012. Web. 18 Oct. 2012.<http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/61363038>.

Betty_betty. "The Hunger Games." Barnes & Noble. N.p., 1 May. 2009. Web. 18 Oct. 2012. <http://www.barnesandnoble.com/reviews/Hunger-Games%2FSuzanne-Collins/1100171585>.

Josue2394. "The Hunger Games."  Amazon. N.p., 22 Oct. 2012. Web. 22 Oct. 2012. <http://www.amazon.com/gp/pdp/profile/A1E5I2SKUB6AGP/ref=cm_cr_pr_pdp>.

Just for Fun

The Hunger Games is a really great book, but at times it's a little intense...

 

Reader Response

Suzanne Collins is an amazing writer; she keeps the reader’s attention from beginning of the book to the very end. I viewed a bunch of reviews probably way more than I need to, but so many people seemed to be effected by the book and I found them all very interesting and I could connect or see how they felt a certain way.  While looking at reviews on the Amazon website I felt a lot of the readers had some sort of fear after reading The Hunger Games. One reader wrote about how they felt like there was hidden cameras watching them everywhere they went, and how that could be connected to how we live today with the government being able to watch someone without their permission. Or even tap into a person’s phone line and listen to their conversations and the person would never have a clue. It’s scary how similar some of the book is with the way we live today. The Barnes and Noble reviews that I read seemed to deal more with not being able put the book down. The readers wanted to keep reading but a lot of them found parts of the book to be a bit brutal and were not prepared for that. I felt that way to with all three of her books once I finished one I had to start the next one right away. At times I did have to walk away from the book because I could not read the harsher scene. Before this book I read mostly love stories or stories that would have a bit of a mystery to them but nothing that had any gore to them. The Goodreads website the readers seemed to make fun of the book. I saw a lot of pictures with silly captions about the book. I personally do not think I would use Goodreads before the other two sites to get book reviews off of. It did have some good reviews and I only looked at the first ten that showed up on my computer. Overall I believe readers either liked this book or hated it. Very few reviews showed something in the middle. I would personally give this book a rating of 4 stars and would recommend it to someone looking for a different type of book with a story line that keeps you thinking the whole way through. 

Film Comparison

A big difference I noticed between “The Hunger Games” movie and book was the relationship between Peeta and Katniss while they were in the cave. 

In the book after Katniss found Peeta and was trying to save his life I received a feeling that she was starting to fall in love with him. She talks about the warm feeling she gets when she kisses him through her whole body, she also makes comment that it is not the fever she is feeling. This shows how she can be a softer more feminine person than she is shown to be throughout the story.  In the cave with Peeta she is more vulnerable and willing to open up to him. I do believe some of this is for the audience and to get sponsors, but I think she trusts Peeta and wants him to actually know things about her, she does have feelings for Peeta whether she would admit it or not. Peeta and Katniss being stuck in the cave together for such a long time is a big building block for the relationship they have throughout the whole series I believe. 

In the movie the relationship between Peeta and Katniss is not played out as much. I think them being in the cave together gives you a better understanding for Katniss and allow you to see another side of her. In the movie I do not believe you get a sense that Katniss is falling for Peeta as much as you do in the book. She is still shown as a harsh, not as caring person. If I would have just watched the movie and never read the book I would have hated Katniss and thought she only cared about herself.  

One similarity I saw between the book and the movie was the Capitol. When you read about it in the book you have to use your imagination to get a picture of what it would look like. I think the movie did a great job of showing it like the book describes it. Along with the Capitol the Hunger Games start in the Capital and the book and the movie seem to be right on with each other as how they decorate the tributes and parade them through the Capital. 

Film Comparison

On of the biggest differences I noticed between The Hunger Games book and the movie was when Peeta’s father came to visit Katniss before they were taken to the Capitol. 

In the book Katniss is taken to a room in the Justice Building where her family and friends can say goodbye to her.  One of her first visitors is Peeta’s father.  Katniss is not expecting him and is pretty surprised that he came to see her.  Katniss recalls trading with him in the Hob and how he was always more generous with his bakery then he had to be.  He gives Katniss some cookies as a parting gift and even more importantly to Katniss he assures her that he will keep an eye on Prim to make sure she doesn’t starve to death.  This is a huge relief to Katniss knowing there will be someone else looking after her little sister besides her mother. 

In the movie the only visitors that Katniss is allowed to see are her mother, Prim and Gale.  The screen writers completely cut out the part about Peeta’s dad visiting her. 

I understand that a movie can only be so long and there are always parts that are going to have to be cut out of books, but I felt like this was an important point.  I think that Peeta’s father came to see Katniss because he wanted to let her know that he understood that Peeta probably wouldn’t be coming home alive.  Even though he never said it out loud the fact that he came to see her makes me think that he wants Katniss to know that he understands his son’s fate and he has accepted it.  Peeta’s father knows that even thought Katniss is a girl she has a better chance of getting out of the arena live then Peeta does.  He knows that Katniss is a competitor who has what it takes to stay alive in the game, unlike his son Peeta.       

One main similarity between the book and the movie was the relationship between Katniss and Rue.  In the book and in the movie the reader definitely got the sense that Katniss saw Rue like a little sister.  The part of their relationship that both the book and the movie were totally in sync on was when Rue was killed.  In both cases we saw how much Rue meant to Katniss.  Katniss who has showed very little emotion up to this point finally breaks down and cries.  She wants Rue to have a peaceful death so she sings to her and surrounds her with flowers.  This is one of the few time in the book and movie that Katniss experiences a “feminine” emotion. 

In both of these cases Katniss falls back on the masculine tendency she knows well, control.  With Peeta’s father she doesn’t fall to the floor thanking him for saying he’ll look after Prim and promising him she will not kill Peeta.  She gives him a heartfelt thank you and that’s it.   Rue’s death is very hard on her and instead of breaking down Katniss quietly sheds a few tears, sings, and says her goodbyes.  Her control allowed her to mourn over her friend’s death, but not let it consume her.  Many times controlling women are seen as cold and unfeeling, but because of the circumstances Katniss’ control allowed her and her family to stay alive. 

Personal Synthesis and Feminist Analysis

In the book The Hunger Games Katniss is an atypical teenage girl who shatters multiple feminine stereotypes throughout the book.  During our class discussions about the book there seemed to be a common thread that came up often, Katniss’ masculine characteristics and Peeta’s female tendencies.   Katniss went hunting, provided for her family and took care of Peeta during the games.  She basically took on the masculine role in most of her significant relationships.  Was it acceptable for her to take on those masculine characteristics?    I think it was.  Katniss did everything she could to adapt to her situation which always seemed to be getting worse.  If her mother mentally checked out again Katniss wanted to make sure she could provide for Prim.  The only way she knew how to do that was to go out into the woods like her father taught her.  Growing up Katniss chose the more masculine tasks of hunting and trading in the Hob with her father, instead of becoming a healer like her mother.

Katniss in the Hob.

Just because society expects women and men to act a certain way doesn’t mean they have to.  Katniss doesn’t care that she is defying gender stereotypes; she wants to make sure her family doesn’t starve to death.  If that means taking on a job that is usually done by men she doesn’t care.  She doesn’t feel comfortable acting like the love sick girlfriend to Peeta because she has never had that kind of relationship with a man.  Even in Katniss’ relationship with Haymitch she wanted to make sure he saw her potential for winning.  She was not afraid to call him out on his drunkenness, whereas Peeta was the one who cleaned him up when he threw up on himself. That is just another example where both Peeta and Katniss took on uncommon gender stereotypes.  Katniss’ instinct is to shift the relationship with Peeta so she is in control.   She risks her life to get him the medicine he needs, even when he tells her not to. She feeds Peeta soup when he is on the verge of death and she takes off her jacket to make sure he stays warm.  These are things that society typically expects a man to do in relationships not a woman. 

Many times on the class blog and on the twitter feed the discussion circled back to society accepting men and women in different roles.  Just like Katniss was comfortable in a more masculine role, Peeta had no problem taking on more feminine role.  One of Peeta’s greatest strengths during the games was his ability to disguise himself.  He learned to do this from decorating bakery, not typically something most men know how to do.  When he threw Katniss the burnt loaf of bread he was showing his compassion, which society also usually deems a more feminine quality.     
 

Peeta at the Bakery.

In the end it was good that Katniss and Peeta had the qualities they did.  They both used the skills they had and it helped them win in the end.  It doesn’t matter that Katniss took on the role of provider and that Peeta was the one who wore his emotions on his sleeve for everyone in the Capitol to see.  All that matters is that they both came out alive. 

Katniss: A Style Evolution

Katniss before the games.

Katniss during the reaping.

Katniss and Peeta at the opening ceremonies.

Katniss at the Capitol.

Katniss with Claudius Templesmith doing her interview.

Katniss during the Hunger Games.

Critical Context: Costuming the Revolution the Female Spectacle of Rebellion

The essay I chose to write about is titled “Costuming the Revolution the Female Spectacle of Rebellion”.  It focuses on how important the clothing Katniss wore is to the rebellion of Panem.  The essay talks about how throughout the book Katniss was never really concerned with what she was wearing.  When she was out hunting for food with Gale she wore practical clothing that was comfortable.  Once Katniss is chosen for the games and Cinna becomes her stylist he slowly begins to transform her into a symbol of revolution, the mockingjay. 

Amy Montz the author of the essay draws some really great parallels between the way Katniss is dressed for the games and how women use clothing and their bodies as ways of protest today.  Montz talks about how Slutwalks are becoming more and more popular around the United States.  Slutwalks are protests in which women dress however they choose.  It can range from very minimal clothing to casual everyday shirt and jeans to a burkas if they choose to.  The main purpose of these protests to make it known that just because a women is dressed a certain way doesn’t mean she deserves to be raped.  Montz makes a clear point saying, "...Slutwalk protesters ultimately turn their viewers' attention to the ridiculousness of the proclamation that a victim of rape could be "asking for it" by the way she dresses" (Montz 142). These walks/protests are a way for women to ban together and make a stand about the way they choose to dress.  Much like how Katniss and Cinna used her fire dress and interview with Claudius Templesmith to make the people of Panem fall in love with her and her story of being a star crossed lover with Peeta.     

The author goes on to talk about how the clothing Katniss wears becomes a symbol of change and hope for all of the districts.  Although Katniss doesn’t really care what she looks like or what she wears throughout most of the book, the people of Panem do.  They see her as a face of revolution.  At one point in the book Katniss is told she is too valuable to actually do any fighting.  It’s upsetting to her to realize that her only real part of the revolution is to look pretty.  Montz states, "While (Katniss) seems quite capable and willing to participate in the rebellion, at no point is she eager to lead it.  Nor, it seems, is Katniss willing to be its poster child" (Montz 144).  Katniss wants a revolution, but she is reluctant to be its leader.  

I agree with what the author of the essay is saying. I tend to pay more attention to the overall plot of a book and overlook details like clothing.  When I read the book for the second time and saw the movie it was much more obvious to me how important Katniss’ clothing actually is. The essay talks about how the way characters are dressed throughout the book effects certain outcomes.  When Prim is chosen for the reaping the back of her shirt is untucked, when Katniss sees that she immediately volunteers to replace her sister.  The outfit Katniss wore at the opening ceremonies catches everyone’s attention.  Lastly, her fire dress makes the people of Panem like her even more.  If Cinna wouldn’t have been Katniss’ stylist or just put her in a coal miner outfit the revolution probably wouldn’t have happened.  It’s strange to think that the things we wear can be seen as anything other than clothing but as the Slutwalk and Katniss prove they can be. 

2011 Slutwalk in Dallis, TX

Citation

Montz, Amy. "Costuming the Resistance The Female Spectacle of Rebellion." Of Bread, Blood and The Hunger Games: Critical Essays on the Suzanne Collins Trilogy. Eds. Mary F. Pharr and Leisa A. Clark. Jefferson, NC: McFarland, 2012. Page numbers start-end of article. Print.