In the novel, Catching Fire,
by Suzanne Collins it tells a story about two young adults who won the 74th
Hunger Games. They have to face many consequences based on their actions they
did in the arena. Katniss is
an extraordinary girl because she becomes a hero by achieving success in the
games and giving hope to Pamen. Two
winners at the Hungers Games was never seem before. Katniss and Peeta, the
winners, were able to do this by faking a fake love and holding up the berries against
the capital. The capital saw this as an act of rebellion. Katniss has given the
districts of Pamen hope to rise up against their government. Also, the symbol
of defiance for the rebels is Katniss’s Mockingjay which is a bird that the
capital never intended to create. Districts are starting to rebel against the Capital
because they don’t want The Hunger Games to keep on happening. Katniss has
become a major symbol is Pamen.
Katniss Everdeen, the
protagonist, is a sympathetic character because we as the readers can relate
with her. For example, before Katniss went into the games, she provided food
for her family by going into the woods to hunt. Many people can relate with her
because they can feel the pain and hard work she has to go through in order to
provide for her family. From the beginning of the novel she is a likable
character because she says, “All
I was doing was trying to keep Peeta and myself alive” (Collins 18). Katniss wanted to live to come back
to her family but also wanted Peeta to live. Characters, like Katniss, show quantities
that people really like because they can relate to her. I personally can relate
to Katniss because ever since I started working, I help my mom with utility
bills and things needed in our household. It’s hard for a single mother to pay
all the bills so I do anything to help her. Like Katniss she helps her mother
by going hunting and bringing food.
Katniss shows her
sympathetic character by her heroic qualities. Katniss is a hero since the beginning of the first
novel when she volunteers to take her sister spot in the games. In catching
fire, heroism is shown through Katniss interference with the peacekeeper to
stop hitting Gale. Collins explains, “Instead I throw myself directly between
the whip and Gale. I’ve flung out my arm to protect as much of his broken body
as possible” (106). She protected Gale from being whipped more. She even got a
whipped herself by the peacekeeper when she stood up in front of Gale. She
didn’t care about being whipped as long as the peacekeeper stopped hitting Gale.
The author wants us to see Katniss as a hero because her courage and caring
qualities are demonstrated by her actions. Katniss actions are motivated by her
willingness to keep her loves ones alive, mainly Prim. Like any big sibling, we
want the best for our brothers and sister. We don’t want them to go through any
hardships especially pain.
Katniss willingness to
sacrifice herself for Peeta shows her heroism. She explains, “I look up into those blue eyes that no
amount of dramatic makeup can make truly deadly and remember how, just a year
ago, I was prepared to kill him. Convinced he was trying to kill me. Now
everything is reversed. I'm determined to keep him alive, knowing the cost will
be my own life, but the part of me that is not so brave as I could wish is glad
that it's Peeta, not Haymitch, beside me” (212). This act of willingness
demonstrates to the readers that Katniss is willing to do anything to keep her
love ones alive. Katniss does everything to keep her love ones alive because
she is a person that will do anything to keep them safe.
When Katniss is in the
victory tour in district eleven everyone is touched by Katniss speech. Her
heroic speech about Thresh and Rue made every feel emotion. The author says, “Every person in the crowd presses the
three middle fingers of their left hand against their lips and extends them to
me” (61). Katniss is seen as their symbol of hope. She has given everyone
strength to rise for what they want. “Could it be the people in the districts
are right? That it was an act of rebellion” (118). People see Katniss action as an act of
rebellion. Holding up the berries against the capital gave the people of the
districts the strength to stand up against the capital and start rebelling.
Katniss was the boost everyone needed in order to stand up against the
government even though she had no intention of doing this.
Katniss rises up
for the districts of Pamen because she wants to help the other districts from
living in a terrible society that is being control by the capital. Mainly the
districts from five to twelve because they have to go through hardships on
workforce. For example, in district twelve, people have died in the mins and
their work area is poor. Like we know Katniss’s father died in the mins. What
she believes in most is the preservation of those she loves. She wants to keep
everyone safe. She cares about the people of the other districts because she
doesn’t want the Capitol to hurt innocent people. The old man in district 11 is
killed for holding up the three finger sign and whistle noise. She felt guilty
for his death and wants to keep everyone safe. She doesn’t want any more deaths
under her name but people have gotten strength from her.
Finally, Collins
wants us to view Katniss as a heroic character overall. She made Katniss a hero
because she has emotional strength to keep her family alive. Katniss is the
first one after years to give hope to the districts in order to rebel against
the Capitol. She has given the districts hope and strength. Her goal during the
Quarter Quell Games is to keep herself and her allies alive. Her heroic
character helps the reader understand what it takes to be successful in order
to strive for something bigger such as the rebellion. Collins is successful in
making Katniss a hero because she has all the qualities of one.
Fausto Benitez
Prompt 6
Collins, Suzanne. Catching Fire. New York: Scholastic Inc, 2009. Prin
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