Katniss Symbolism

People are put into different classes and are sometimes discouraged by their background. Some may be rich while others may be less fortunate. People come from different places and have a skin color unlike someone else. People come from dissimilar backgrounds and are sometimes treated differently because of this. In the novel The Hunger Games, Suzanne Collins uses symbols like the mockingjay to show key themes of social inequality, hope, defiance, and playing in a game to emphasize the idea that one can inspire people and change their views on society. The symbol of the mockingjay is first seen in the pin Katniss is given and in the arena. Mockingjays were once used to the advantage of the capitol until they broke free from their control.

This inequality between the districts is a reason that Katniss is able to survive the games. District twelve is one of the poorest districts. Capitol citizen are have an abundance of food unlike the citizen of the lower district (sparknotes, 12). To feed her family Katniss must hunt illegally so that they will not die from starvation. Katniss is one of the few people who will defy the capitol and is able to hunt. Katniss’s knowledge of the woods helps her adapt and survive in the arena. Even though Katniss comes from a poor family she is able to inspire people and change their views on society. She does this by winning the Hunger Games and showing people that she is strong even if her financial situation is not. Another example of inequality between the rich and the poor is the system of the tesserae system. This is the system that choses tributes at random. This system gives the poor a better chance of being picked because they might have put their name in more than needed. The rich also have an advantage in the games, they are able to start training way before the games. They are more experienced because they are able to afford special training giving them a better chance of winning. Suzanne is saying that the rich are usually seen to be more successful. Someone may look at a poor person and assume that they can not do much but, in reality they might be capable of a lot. She uses Katniss

Before Katniss and Peeta win the games the districts have no hope that Panem can change. They have no hope that they will ever be free from the reign of President Snow because they have learned to live with the lives they have. Many are too scared to start a rebellion because they fear that the capitol is to strong and they do not have a leader. Katniss becomes the symbol of hope for a nation. She is able to defeat the Capitol by threating to eat some berries. Katniss gives people hope because they see that a poor girl is able to defeat the capitol and win The Hunger Games. They are able to relate to her because many of them are poor as well. Not many people from a poor district have won the games before. Since Katniss knows the hardships they face she is able to have a deeper effect on them, and they trust her. Because Katniss gives, hope to the districts, they no longer fear the capitol and have hope that they can overcome their hardships. This hope that Katniss gives is stronger than any weapon because now the districts know that together they can defeat the