The Hunger Games

On the sphere we call earth lies a chunk of continent named as America, and in the ruins of North America hid a nation of Panem, which was considered to be cutthroat and harsh by its citizens from twelve outlying districts. Katniss Everdeen was half-forced and half-volunteered to attend the annual Hunger Games hold by the Capitols. The games was a gamble on life and death. It was also when Katniss wrote down her epic under the repression of the Capitols that gave me an inimitable journey.

It’s confusing why the Capitols chose creating the Hunger Games rather than simply selecting twenty-four tributes and killed them. Wasn’t killing them directly more scandalous and easier? I think the answer lies within the saying: the cruelest thing you can do to your enemies is to give them a little hope and then crash it. In the story, the game was glamorized with honor, fame and fortune, which meant an opportunity to get rid of the miserable life caused by the evil government. But actually, the chosen tribute would have a mere chance of one-twenty-fourth to survive. The only purpose of the Hunger Games was to show the citizens that the Capitols could make you wealthy but also lead you to death, so you had better watch out. This is the most horrible part of totalitarianism, where the victims’ lives were controlled by someone and they didn’t even know the value of being alive. For the residents of Capitol, they didn’t know that they themselves were killers, either. Everyone lose their own identities.

However, Katniss didn’t see the Hunger Games as a shortcut to become renowned, which might be what the other tributes were considering. After struggling in district twelve for sixteen years, she fully understood that the Justice Hall didn’t care about justice and the peacekeepers didn’t keep peace and the honor of being chosen was just a lie. Nevertheless, what impressed me the most is how courageous Katniss was even though she had an insight into all these things. I was touched when she protected Prim from attending the games, which meant that she would be the one risking life. How sincere must her love had been toward Prim for her to volunteer without hesitation? All I saw was a courageous girl who still kept a compassionate heart in that remorseless world.

Katniss wasn’t just a follower; she showed her disobedience in her own distinct way. When Rue, her strong alliance, died in her arms, she neither just walked away like nothing happened nor sniggered. Katniss held Rue’s hands till the end of Rue’s life and decorated her body with wildflowers in sincere pain, respect and blessings. This was the way she told the Capitols that whatever they do there was a part of every tribute that they couldn’t own. That the tributes were more than just puppets for their entertainment. By doing so, Katniss also slammed the gamemakers in the face by comparing how worthless they saw life to how worthy she saw it.

Above all, I particularly admired her perseverance and persistence. Although facing extreme stress, crucial dilemma and all the uncertainties, she never gave up the faith that she must win and survive. No matter how depressed she felt at first, she always adjusted quickly, stopped complaining and was ready to fight again. The reason why she won the game was that she clung to hope all the time.

I was amazed that Katniss seemed to be standing in front of me and telling her stories after closing the book. The way the author describes totalitarian, value and love is so gripping and deep. And I start reflecting on myself. Will I be as courageous, compassionate and persistent as Katniss if I were under the same circumstances? The Hunger Games not only gives me a fruitful journey but also reminds me to examine myself-- the part that no one can take away.