Independent Reading Book: The Hunger Games: Synthesis Page: Critical Thinking Question

Question: Is this story fair? Why/why not?

        The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins does not have a fair plot. The reason the book is unfair, is because there are annual "hunger games" held between the thirteen different districts, all under the rule of the Capitol. These hunger games involve a boy and a girl chosen at random from each of the districts, from the age of twelve! If your lucky you might just get to see your sibling or family member killed for the Capitol's entertainment, now there's something unfair about that. Here are quotes from Suzanne Collin's terrifying utopia that make you realize how unfair the story is.

Quote 1: " 'The earlier revision has been revoked...only one winner may be allowed'...I stare at Peeta  
                   in disbelief as the truth sinks in." [pg. 342]

Elaboration/context: In this scene Katniss and Peeta have just technically one the hunger games,          
                                 because contestants from the same district are allowed to win together if they are
                                 the last two standing. However, the Gamemakers (those who plan what happen
                                 in the arena) removed the earlier rule to add more drama, a horrible ending and
                                 completely unjust. Peeta and Katniss have worked and fought through something
                                 extremely hard that they were forced into, risking death, and now things got a            
                                 whole lot harder. This is just the first reason the book is unfair.

Connections: In the real world, there are plenty of things we are forced into doing, yes, not always
                      risking our death. However, many things we do everyday can always kill us, as you
                      cross the street, you could be hit by a car and die. You could also be shot, or choked to
                      death, or even be bombed unexpectedly by a plane. In the world we all risk our lives in
                      a way as well.




Quote 2: " 'Listen up. You're in trouble. Word is the Capitol's furious about you showing them up in
               the arena'...Prim, my mother, Gale, the people of district 12, everyone I care about back
               home could be punished..."

Elaboration/Context: Katniss has just managed to survive the hunger games, the hunger games,
                                  probably the hardest and biggest thing that could happen to her in her life.
                                  However, she may now be in danger, since she managed to get Peeta and herself  
                                  out of the arena by threatening to have both of themselves commit suicide, then
                                  there would be no winner and the Capitol would be fooled, so they both had to
                                  win so that there would be at least a winner(s). Since the Capitol was fooled,
                                  they aren't happy and they are now going to threaten Katniss and her whole
                                  district. The horrors will never end for Katniss and it is not fair to her, Peeta or
                                  their district.

Connections: In the world there are many people who suffer horrors everyday and believe it will
                      never end. Those who are abused feel like the abuse will never end, feeling pain very
                      day in different ways, always feeling in moments of danger, like Katniss, always in a  
                      position of danger. This also goes for modern slavery and etc. .




Quote 3: "She just has time to reach her hand through the mesh and say my name before the spear
                enters her body."

Elaboration/context: In this extremely deep scene, where Rue, Katniss' ally in the hunger games, is    
                                  killed gruesomely with a spear, Katniss is heartbroken. The smallest girl in the
                                  arena, forced to fight, has just died in front of Katniss. Adding to all her pain
                                  and mixed feelings she developed in the arena. Rue was the one girl who would
                                  keep a smile on Katniss everyday and support her with all her supplies, now
                                  their bond has been destroyed in the arena, an unfair arena, a dangerous one.
                                  Not only has Katniss been placed in these games, but now she watches someone
                                  be killed and is forced to kill others she doesn't even know. It is clear how mean    
                                  and unjustified the text and fantasy world is.

Connections: Many people lose and have lost family members or close friends on this planet.
                      Through war, gang violence and much more, even my dad's cousin was shot through a
                      set up after a night of drinking very sadly. Think about the Holocaust, a horrible    
                      experience during world war II. So many situations similar to Katniss' during the
                      hunger games happen very frequently in this world.



        Overall, the book is clearly unfair and Katniss' and Peeta's experience in the games was horrible and things to come in the next book could be even worse. Half of the book was spent in Katniss' sorrow and deep feelings for the utopia she lives in and how mean and dangerous it is, but everyone still fights on. The book is beautifully written anyway and contains suspenseful feelings that got my heart pumping, it was wonderful.