Friday, November 9, 2012

What do you learn about Katniss based on her internal/external struggles?

In the book The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, the character Katniss appears to have multiple levels to her personality. Throughout the book, her internal and external struggles reveal to the audience that there is more to her than there initially appears. Some of these revelations include insight into her strength and her sensitivity.


Beginning with her strength, many of the external and internal struggles reveal how unbelievably strong Katniss truly is in the story. Regarding the external, Katniss faces the Hunger Games and provides for her family’s wellbeing after her father’s death. Internally, Katniss also expresses personal fears (such as surviving the Hunger Games), but continues to fight through without giving up. Throughout all of these circumstances, Katniss persists and utilizes her strength to overcome the struggles.


Subsequently with her sensitivity, we can see that Katniss truly has a more sensitive and caring spirit underneath her tough exterior. With her internal struggles, she reveals how much she cares for people, even when she has not known them for very long, such as with the loss of her friend Rue. This is also portrayed when she meets the Avox again. Katniss feels deep guilt and remorse because she did not try to save her from her capture. As Katniss herself explains when seeing the girl:



“But even as I utter the words, I feel my insides contracting with anxiety and guilt at the sight of her, and while I can’t pull it up, I know some bad memory is associated with her.”



As a result, these internal and external events reveal the strength of Katniss; however, they portray a sensitive side to her as well. Although throughout the story she naturally seems more comfortable with demonstrating her strength, she illustrates her sensitivity and care for people at numerous moments. This juxtaposition of sensitivity and strength cause Katniss to be an even more admirable character.

No comments:

Post a Comment

What was the device called which Faber had given Montag in order to communicate with him?

In Part Two "The Sieve and the Sand" of the novel Fahrenheit 451, Montag travels to Faber's house trying to find meaning in th...