Katniss as a Symbol for Hope and Revolution - Literature review Example

Katniss Everdeen the female Protagonist Introduction Katniss Everdeen is a fictional female protagonist character that is illustrated by Suzanne Collins in her trilogy novels,’ the hunger games. Her name is believed to be derived from a plant that is known as the Katniss, she plays a major role in the hunger games novels; both part one and part two. Katniss happens to come from a poor district known as district 12 in the fictional country of Parem (Collins 8). Katniss shows her bravery when she decides to take her sisters place Primrose Everdeen in a game that she was called upon on the reaping day (Collins 9). This game comprises of twenty four other contestants who are supposed to fight each other to death and only one person is supposed to remain as a victor (Collins 11). Karris makes an alliance with rue that actually came from district eleven too fight the other contestants. Rue really reminded her of her own sister. Rue later dies in a way that leaves Katniss very touched. Katniss then later joins with one of her own from district 12 known as Peeta Melark. They eventually finish the game together defying the rules that expect one of them to kill the other in order to gain victory (Collins 12). Katniss uses the knowledge that she has on hunting and archery to survive all through the game. She is however seen to later rebel against the oppression imposed on the residents of District 12 by their leader Capitol (Collins 14). Origin of the character The character Katniss originated from the mythical story of Thesus and the Minotaur. This is a story from the authors’ origin that she knew while still very young and was not happy with its ruthlessness and cruelty, it was basically; the story of how twelve boys and eight girls were taken against their will every year and taken to the minotaur to be eaten, Thesus being a victim of the same also went to the ruthless ritual but instead of being eaten alive, he killed the minotaur (Collins & Mccormic 14). In these novels therefore the author illustrates Katniss as a version of the present Thesus in her own unique way. The author’s father also happened to fight in the Vietnam War and thus the Katniss character was influenced by the fearful experiences that the author went through when her father was fighting (Collins 16). Katniss is known to be very knowledgeable. She has hunting skills, and also knew how to survive in any given circumstance. Apparently, the author in a way that she was taught to hunt and most of the time the father would bring home haunted game for their food. Furthermore the author did a wide research on hunting through guideline books before coming up with the Katniss character (Collins 19). Before the fighting competition starts, the contestants are supposed to impress and win over the heart of sponsors who would be responsible for bringing food supply to them during the time of the game in the arena (Collins 34). The sponsors can either up loud your efforts in the arena or decide to eliminate you off; therefore Katniss had to really work hard to achieve the approval of the sponsors. In this novel, Katniss character is a symbol for hope and revolution. She represents strength and courage all through the hard times and her story inspires the reader to stand up to themselves to anybody who tries to control them (Collins 28). She is seen to be particularly strong even without Peetas help. She is seen to be very relevant influential memorable and dynamic. She is seen to fight to protect those that she loves which include her family and also Peeta. The origin of Katniss name The name Katniss is derived from the plant that is known as Sagittarian, the plant is an arrow head tube plant often found in the water, this root can be consumed as food (Collins 56). The characteristic of this plant plays a major role in Katniss life; this is because she can survive under any given circumstance. Her father once told her that as long as she found who she really is, then she would never starve for the lack of food. Therefore Katniss happens to find herself always getting a breakthrough in most circumstances (Collins 58). The plant name also shares with the zodiac sign which means ‘the archer’, it is seen evidently that Katniss has got great skills in archery (Collins 34). Therefore it is evidently seen that Katniss name is very symbolic and thus enhances her character (Collins 59). The Hunger Games The games take place in North America in the fictional country of Parem. This country contains twelve known districts. Katniss happens to come from district 12 (Collins 88). She volunteers to take the place of her sister who was one of the fighters. When a contestant is introduced to the crowd, there is always a round of applause but this happens in the contrary when Katniss is introduced to the crowd (Collins 89). Instead the spectators hold their mouths with their hands as a sign of both respect and admiration. After Katniss had been called out, the master of ceremony goes ahead to a call out a male contestant from district twelve. The male contestant happens to be Peeta Melark (Collins 90). This face rings a bell to Katniss and she remembers the kindness that the man showed her years back when she was eleven years old (Collins 91). We are then thrown taken back to a flashback to a time that Katniss father had just died and her family was slowly succumbing to hunger. Katniss therefore decided to take her sisters Prims clothes to the market in order to sell them and bring home food with the money that she would have gotten (Collins 92). Unfortunately no one seems interested in the clothes and thus she does not make any sells, frustrated, Katniss decides to go back home (Collins 94). On her way she passes the rich suburbs of district twelve and passes by a bakery, the smell of the baking bread almost makes her dizzy, she decides to check in the bakeries trash cans if she can find any leftovers to take to her family. While she was still checking Peetas mother finds her and really scolds her telling her to go away (Collins 95). When Peeta saw this, he intentionally burns bread and this immediately draws his mother’s attention that quickly comes and scolds him even hitting him which results to Peeta bruising his cheek, when told to go out and throw the burnt bread, he throws it to Katniss who takes it and takes to her family. She eventually a have a meal for her family and the following morning wakes up strong and resumes her normal routine of haunting the game (Collins 110). After Katniss and Peter have been selected, they say goodbye to their families as they are not expected to ever come out alive. They are then taken to a train which is supposed to take them to the arena where they will fight. When they arrive in the capital, they are amazed at how fascinating it is (Collins 112). They are then taken to the respective training houses. During the opening ceremony, the contestants are expected to wear something that that represents the district and so Katniss and Peeta wear mining costumes. Both Katniss and Peeta are warned of the arrangement of the parade. This makes the two of them to stick together. More so, their stylist tells them to hold hands while in the parade as a symbol of togetherness (Collins 113). This brings a kind of warmth between them and thus they become friendly to each other this is contrary to the other fighters who are cold to each other. This really draws the attention of the sponsors as they are intrigued by the kind of unity that Fatness and Peeta have and so they assume them to be love struck. They hence term them as unforgettable (Collins 116). Katniss creates an alliance with Rue who comes from district eleven but she is later killed by a contestant from District 1.in the process the rules change that if two people from the same district remain they emerge to be winners. Katniss rushes to find Peeta and they form once again a loveable alliance (Collins 118). This draws sympathy from the sponsors leading to the two winner’s rule being revoked; however they later settle on having two winners instead of one. After Katniss and Peeta winning they are taken on a tour around the country. While in the tour she is forced by the president snow to act like she is so much in love with Peeta and that she wanted to commit suicide as an act of proving her love to Peeta (Collins 120). In fear of the safety of her family, she decided to play along with the president’s needs. She later realizes that there is nothing she can do too suppress the ongoing uprisings and thus decides not to follow the president’s requirements (Collins 124). She is involved with Peeta and another man known as Gale .she is however confused by the outcome of the future and the fear of having children who will later be subjected to hunger games (Collins & Mccormic 130). In conclusion, a repeat of the hunger games is created and hence the victors of the previous games expected to participate. During the game, Katniss and Peeta escape but Peeta is later captured by the capitol. Katniss is later informed that district twelve was bombed although her family is well. Katniss later visits district 12 to see the remains (Collins 23). Here a love triangle erupts between Katniss, Gale and Peeta. Katniss is therefore expected to make a decision on whom she really wants to be with, however the decision is complicated as Gale is with her while Peeta is still locked up (Collins & Mccormic 65). Peeta is later released but he has been brainwashed into thinking that that Katniss is a mutation and so he is determined to kill her, this really angers Katniss and she swears to kill the president. The quest to kill the president is not an easy one as katniss sister is killed right before her, several lives are lost and finally Katniss herself is severely burnt (Collins 78). Although she heals from the burns, she is traumatized by the loss of her sister that she loses the ability to speak. President Snow is eventually found guilty and executed of his crimes. However Katniss kills a soldier during that time of execution and then tries to kill herself too. Peeta rescues her but she is arrested and later confined .she is then found not guilty of the assassination attempt as she was not of sound mind at the time of committing the crime (Collins 89). She is later released and taken back to district twelve and kept under care. Here she spends most times with Peeta and she realizes how much she loves him (Collins & Mccormic 63). They later get married and have two children, a boy and a girl. Work Cited Collins, S. Catching Fire. London: Scholastic, 2013. Collins, S. Hunger Games. London: Scholastic, 2013. Collins, S. Mocking Joy. London: Scholastic, 2013. Collins, S. The Hunger Games Complete Trilogy. London: Scholastic, 2013. Collins, S., & Mccormic, C. Mockingjay. London: Scholastic, 2013 Read More