THE CHARACTER FILES
01. The Girl On Fire
Hello everyone! And welcome to The Character Files, a weekly article I'll be writing that delves into analysis's of popular characters! Starting off, I'll cover the face of young adult dystopia herself - Katniss Everdeen. There will be spoilers for the Hunger Games Trilogy by Suzanne Collins, so be warned!
 |
Risen from the Ashes (Background)
“District Twelve. Where you can starve to death in safety.” -Katniss Everdeen, the Hunger Games
As were most of the non career districts, District 12, Katniss’ birthplace, was rife with poverty. Disease and starvation were rampant, many people dying from them. (It is interesting to note that, despite seeing ill people frequently since her mother treats them, Katniss is not desensitized to seeing sickness. In fact, she is one of the least desensitized to it.) And, to top it all off, District 12 became the most ridiculed one, with only 2 victors to its name before Katniss and Peeta showed up. Clearly, things were already bad enough just living in District 12. But, after an incident in the mines, young Katniss’ life went from poor to even poorer.
When Katniss was 12, her father, a coal miner, died in a mine shaft explosion. Her mother then succumbed into a heavy depression, leaving Katniss as the sole breadwinner of the family. She struggled, but she managed to gather enough food and supplies for herself, Prim, and her mother. The fight to survive hardened Katniss, giving her the guts to go into the forest and black market by herself. As a hunter, her skills with a bow were honed, as well as other survival skills. She also became close friends with Gale over their mutual need for survival. Speaking of friends...
A Protective Big Sis (Character Dynamics)
"I volunteer!" I gasp. "I volunteer as tribute!" -The Hunger Games
Katniss' most famous moment, both in and out of universe, is when she volunteered for the Games in her sister's stead. And for good reason too- after all, it was the moment that kick started the plot. This moment also revealed quite a lot about Katniss' relationship with her sister, Prim.
Growing up, Katniss had to fend for both herself, her mother, and Prim. While her relationship with her mother is strained as a result, Katniss only became more protective of Prim, who she strives to keep innocent and pure. This protectiveness is transferred over to Rue, who resembles Prim but, like Katniss, had to take care of both herself and her young siblings. Prim and Rue are also similar in the fact that they're both dead.
Katniss and Prim can be seen as foils of each other. Katniss, resembling her father, has an olive complexion and dark hair, while Prim is fair in both skin and hair color. While Katniss is a reserved hunter, Prim is a soft healer. Finally, Prim dies and Katniss lives on with PTSD.
One cannot talk about Hunger Games character dynamics without bringing up the infamous love triangle between Katniss, Peeta, and Gale. So, let's delve right into it!
Gale and Katniss met over their mutual need for survival, and then became partners in crime (literally, since hunting is technically illegal in District 12). Meanwhile, Katniss knew Peeta from school, but only really paid attention to him when he risked a beating from his mother to give Katniss, a starving child, bread.
Really, the resolution to the love triangle side-plot can it still be called that if it takes over the main plot for most of the last book can be summed up with a single quote:
...what I need to survive is not Gale's fire, kindled with rage and hatred. I have plenty of fire myself. What I need is the dandelion in the spring. The bright yellow that means rebirth instead of destruction. The promise that life can go on, no matter how bad our losses. That it can be good again. And only Peeta can give me that.
-The Mockingjay
While Gale invokes Katniss' "fire" and rebellious side, her interactions with Peeta show her compassion and kindness. Furthermore, Gale and Katniss are partners, but perfectly capable on their own. Meanwhile, Katniss and Peeta constantly find themselves dependent on one another, both emotionally and physically.
Another interesting to note is that, while Peeta and Katniss grow closer as the story goes on, the opposite is true for Katniss and Gale's relationship. Prim's death might've helped with that. This reflects Katniss' development throughout the series, where she starts similar to Gale, a hardened survivalist, and ends as someone more open to emotions, more human.
Katniss likes, (or liked) Gale as a person, and tries to love him, but she is only truly in love with Peeta. It takes her a while to realize it, though. However, it is very clear that she does by the time he's rescued from the Capital; even after he's been brainwashed to hate her guts, Katniss refuses to give up on Peeta.
A Broken Bird (Character Development)
"My name is Katniss Everdeen. I am seventeen years old. My home is District 12. I was in the Hunger Games. I escaped. The Capitol hates me. Peeta was taken prisoner. He is thought to be dead. Most likely he is dead. It is probably best if he is dead. . . . "
-Katniss Everdeen, the Mockingjay
Panem is not a kind place to live in, especially if you are at least a semi-important character in the story. Seriously, most of the characters are either dead or have PTSD at the end of it all. Katniss is no exception.
By the end of the Mockingjay, she is no longer the headstrong rebel she was in the Hunger Games. After taking part in two games, several murders, a rebellion, and witnessing most of her loved ones dying, she's been broken down, and cannot deal with positive things happening without worrying that they'll be taken away. But, unlike countless many, she continues to live.
So what does she do with her life after the war is over? Live aimlessly, being fed by those a little more sane than herself? Well, for a while, yeah, she does. But she doesn't stay that way forever, instead writing out memories of the dead, keeping them alive within the pages of a book. This is similar to when Peeta shows her paintings of the Games he made. Back then, Katniss was repulsed by the paintings, but understood where Peeta was coming from. Both recorded their memories in a way to try and stop them from haunting them. But there was another reason why she wrote down the memories: guilt. Katniss feels like all the deaths that took place, were her fault. Even though the end result justified the means, she still feels guilty for all the lives that were lost. And then there's the epilogue...
Conclusion
Katniss is, perhaps first and foremost, a survivor. Beneath that, she's caring and protective to those she loves, such as Prim and Peeta. Alongside her fiery (ha) personality, this is what makes her so captivating to many, from rebels to Capitol sponsors. This reflects her popularity as a character in the real world, where she’s admired for both her relatability and courage.
Even after all that's left of her is a shell of her former self, she lives on and tries to keep memories of those that died in the war. She starts a family, which shows that, eventually, she finally feels that the world is safe enough to bring children into. And she seems like she's doing a pretty good job as a mom! "Much worse games to play" indeed.
"Katniss Everdeen, the girl who was on fire, burns on." - Claudius Templesmith, 'the Mockingjay'
Up Next…
Thanks for reading this week's Character File! Tune in next week where I'll cover everyone's favorite Golden Deer. That's right folks, I'm covering Hilda Goneril-
just kidding, it's Claude von Reigan.
Finally, please leave a comment to give feedback or to suggest a character! It'd be much appreciated!
Comments
Post a Comment