May the Odds be Ever in Your Favor

   “Deep in the meadow, hidden far away
A cloak of leaves, a moonbeam ray
Forget your woes and let your troubles lay
And when it's morning again, they'll wash away
Here it's safe, here it's warm
Here the daisies guard you from every harm
Here your dreams are sweet and tomorrow brings them true
Here is the place where I love you.”
― Suzanne Collins

     From a conversation with my younger brother:

               Me: "Yeah, Peeta is a likable character. You end up rooting for him. But Katniss, she's a lot harder to like. She's rather prickly."

               Him: "Yeah she's just like you."

    A rather humorous anecdote from my daily life, but I really couldn't argue with him. Pehaps the fact that I can relate made Hunger Games memorable for me. I enjoyed the books, (though I am far from obsessed with them) and I was satisfied with the translation of the novel into the movie. A few parts really stood out to me, though I confess that I'm not certain I really have a point that I'm making with this blogpost.

     There are several tragic parts in the novel, but the hardest for me was the Reaping. It brought tears to my eyes. See, Primrose was a skinny, little blonde--and so is my sister. I would have stepped up to take her place just as Katniss did. The cinematography was fantastic for that part. Rue's death was sad as well, but it was the Reaping that tugged at my heart.

     Speaking of Rue's death; there has been much controversy over the violence in the film. However, that is the way the book is written, and it is not violent for the sake of being violent. There is an underlying condemnation of evil, and a hidden warning within the pages of the book (and the movie). Even the Tributes of 1 & 2, though skilled the arts of killing, were only surviving in the best way they knew how. If the threat of death hung over you constantly, you would train to survive as well.

      Maybe it's the fact that I'm a history major, and read too much into such things, but there have been instances of such horrors in the history of the world--and though I don't believe that anything like the Games will ever occur, we must be careful as a society that we never become as desensitized to violence as the people of the Capital were. That is just one of many political warnings the book has to offer.

     The book/film seem to be much more politically-oriented than actual romance media, yet I read a report the other day that said that the Hunger Games was the new Twilight. Seriously? Yeah, it is the newest cult phenomenon, and I'm sure that the actors are going to garner a large pre-teen following that will declare their affections for either Gale or Peeta, but there are several key differences between Peeta and Edward.

    I could Twilight-bash all day long, but I will try my best to refrain to just a few insults. Peeta is not manipulative, controlling, depressing, obsessive, suicidal, and does not boss his girlfriend around (as Edward does). Not to mention the fact that Peeta doesn't sparkle. But anyways, back to my point. Younger girls (though some other women as well) have developed an "Edward-mentality." This basically means that they want their men to be tall, dark and perfect. That is a highly unrealistic thought that sets any relationship up for failure. Peeta (I won't talk much about Gale (as I think Peeta is the better man for Katniss) is a much more "real" character.

    I honestly feel bad for Peeta. He's a guy stuck in a hard spot. I will admit, when I first read the books I was unhappy that Katniss ended up with Peeta; but after reading them a second time, and after watching the movie: my opinion shifted. Peeta realizes he's fighting a losing battle. He knows that Katniss is keeping him alive and pretending to like him because that leaves them with the best chance of survival. Yet, even if they do survive, he won't get the girl. Despite that, he loves her and fights to protect her. If the time comes, and she chooses Gale, he knows he will walk away. But he refuses to do that without a fight, and he won't let her die. Still, he doesn't boss Katniss around, and though she knows she CAN live without him, she comes to realize that she doesn't WANT to. I think that's the mark of a healthy relationship. Katniss was brash, ornery, oft-depressed and undecided, but Peeta balanced her, and ultimately healed her. He loved her despite her damage, and that I think, is a more realistic romance than any other. But one should still never try to model their real life upon reel life.

                  “You don’t forget the face of the person who was your last hope.”  
                                                                                          ― Suzanne Collins

     It was a book probably written for an audience slightly younger than myself, but I think that there are valuable lessons to be learned from Hunger Games. You might disagree with some things I have stated, but I'm really just being honest. If you hadn't read the books then I reccomend them, though I will admit I was disapointed with the ending of Mockingjay.

   Well, I think I have said all that was on my mind. I apologize if this seems a bit rambling, as I'm having difficultly articulating exactly what I want to say. If you read all the way through, then thank you.

  

    Whatever road you end up traveling, "may the odds be ever in your favor." -Lola