Character Analysis: Katniss Everdeen - Essay Example

Character Analysis: Katniss Everdeen This paper will attempt to analyse the female protagonist, Katniss Everdeen of the novel Hunger Games written by the author Suzanne Collins. The character has been depicted as a strong-willed and confident 16-year-old girl who after losing her father at a tender age looks after her mother and younger sister. Kindness and sincerity are strong elements in her character. Her protective feeling towards her family along with her courage to do something for the world make this novel even more special, and the character endearing to the readers. Characterization of Katniss expresses feminine qualities in ways, but also not following all feminine stereotypes due to some masculine qualities and stereotypes. Katniss can be described as having both paternal and maternal instincts, an impact of weak and suffering parents. Although Katniss is a caring character who tends for her mother and sister, and during the game for the other characters she however fails to recognize the signs of her heart. She has mixed feelings about both boys, Gale and Peeta, both of whom are enamored by her. Indeed, her courage is depicted more in pursuing of animals rather than pursuing love from boys, which is a trait that makes her apart from regular female characters of other novels. Her strength of character is also depicted in the fact that she has not let romantic feelings engulf her. Even the one time that she kisses Peeta it was because she was scared that he was about to die, “It’s the first time that I ever kissed a boy, which should make some sort of impression I guess, but all I can register is how unnaturally hot his lips are from the fever” (Collins, 257). However, it is also true that Katniss has overwhelming love and a protective feeling towards her mother and sister, 12 year old Prim as she states “I protect Prim in every way I can, but I’m powerless against the reaping” (Collins, 16). Her protective nature is apparent when she volunteered herself as the tribute from her district although it was Prim who was selected. Her initial fear of the entering the game was surpassed by her apprehension of her sister’s future; “I volunteer!” I gasped. “I volunteer as tribute” (Collins, 23). Her courage is evident by the fact that when she was asked her name she “swallow(ed) hard” (Collins, 24). Katniss was also well aware of the contrasting characteristics between her and Prim. Unlike the more feminine and flexible character like Prim, Katniss is more strong-willed which is reflected when Katniss says “People deal with me, but they are genuinely fond of Prim” (Collins, 39). The courageous aspect of Katniss is another prominent part of her character which can be seen in numerous sequences one of which is when she shows ambivalent feelings towards the rebellious relation between the Capital and the Districts. She thus resists signing onto the rebellion although she acknowledges the fact that the President who is supporting the Capital wants to cause her harm. Katniss’s love and caring personality can be seen throughout the progress of the so called reality game which contrasts her character in the way that it encourages killing instincts in participants that calls for insensitivity and cruelty to win the game. The tenderness of Katniss’s character can be seen in her protective feelings towards her fellow contestants like Peeta, Rue and the others. Another character of this novel, Rue is also prominent because of the sisterly bonding that develops between her and Katniss. The bonding between the two characters stands strong amidst the violence that was erupting all around them as part of the contestants’ fight for survival. Katniss even hunts to secure food for Rue and tries to protect her from the other contestants. Eventually however Katniss’s protective veneer crumbles as Rue, another romanticized and gullible soul, dies. Such dual characteristics of love towards family, and her strength of character depicted in her hunting abilities to survive in the forest are evidences of her masculine and feminine traits. Katniss is an underdog who cannot resist from supporting and helping the other underdogs like her fellow contestants. The love and protection that she bestows on her mother and little sister, and subsequently during the game on Rue and Peeta are proofs of her feminine side of personality. Since she has lost her father in a mining accident, as the eldest child of the family it became her responsibility to take care of her mother and sister more because her mother became emotionally detached since her husband’s death. Thus she played the role of the masculine member of the family. Rue is the 11-year-old selected from District 11 for the Hunger Game. She has the skill of flying from one tree to the other and can also do wonders with mockingjay bird calls. In spite of being a small girl she exhibited great performance during training session. Her name also means “sadness” or “guilt” which as if tells the readers of her ultimate fate in the game. The profound relationship that she developed with Katniss was reflected in the final moments of her life when she urged Katniss to sing a song. Rue’s death pronounced the brutality of the game and also induced the feeling of helplessness within Katniss as she states “Rue’s death has forced me to confront my own fury against the cruelty, the injustice they inflict upon us. But here, even more strongly than at home, I feel my impotence. There’s no way to take revenge on the Capitol” (Collins, 233). At this point Karniss projects some feminine characteristic of vulnerability or weakness. However, Katniss shows ultimate strength when she dared to defy the rules of the games that only one tribute had to be the winner. The courage in Rue can be seen in her caring towards Peeta when the latter was wounded. Katniss, along with Peeta, pretended to eat poisonous berries to fool the Capitol knowing very well that she can be punished for such stunts. It was a true display of masculine courage to save the life of both Peeta and herself. Conclusion Katniss is courageous in her motives and actions. She cares more about the lives of others and therefore she, throughout the game, risks her life more for others than for personal fame. However, selflessness cannot be a sole sign for courage unless there is something bigger to sacrifice for. Therefore, she outshone in the final sequence when as an act of defiance against the Capitol she played the berries bluff as if to say that the Capitol cannot always impose rules on her. At different junctures of her life she brings out the softness which is so relevant to feminism and a gifted strength that related more to masculinity. It is the feminine qualities which help her relate to the other characters and compels her to be bonded with them. The masculine strength helps her fight for the sake of humanity and a greater cause as well as try to protect her friends. Thus the novel integrates the traditional concepts of femininity and romance although it consecrates its teenage female protagonist. Reference Collins, Suzanne. Hunger Games, 2008 Read More