Well, the wait is over. Tonight is the night that I will enter the arena with Katniss and Peeta and Rue and all the other tributes. The only question now is: Will I survive?
The truth is that I'm not all that sure. The world that Collins paints is a bleak one, at best. A country that is more military state than anything. People confined in the districts near starvation while the Ruling Elite in the Capitol eat, drink, and be merry. The sheer overindulgence and obliviousness of the Capitol's population in turns, bewilders and horrifies the reader. How could an entire nation be so out of touch with itself? How could the government's propaganda brainwash so many into believing everything in the world is as it should be?
Because that is how many in Panem see the Hunger Games. It's fun. It's entertaining. It's just a game. Only those in the districts seem to know the truth. Or at least, they are the only ones who allow themselves to see the reality of the Capitol's agenda.
If I were a tribute, I'd feel as Katniss does. Anger at the way they are paraded before the public. At being forced to "volunteer" to enter the arena and basically forfeit your life for the entertainment of a nation. But, unlike Katniss, I'd most likely be paralyzed with fear, unable to make a run for it in those first tense seconds of the Games as everyone is scrambling for cover, running for their lives.
Okay, so maybe I'd be more like Peeta. Unwilling to hurt anyone and would rather play at the color station in training than learn combat. It served him alright. So, why not me, right?
What about all you fun folks? Are you more of a Katniss or a Peeta? Cato? or even Rue? I'll just be over here, getting ready for my entrance into the arena tonight when I go see the Hunger Games myself. Oh, and here's a parting gift for you, in case you've been living under a rock in the Sahara for the last three centuries and thus have no idea what I've been yammering about.
PS...This is our Book Hungry selection for March. Check back on Thursday to see how the movie matched up with the books!
I would be the first one out, I'm sure. :(
ReplyDeleteI agree with Peeta's idea that I'd want the capital to know they hadn't beat me even if I lost.
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