Philosopher King/Queen & Moderator & Lexicographer
PHILOSOPHY:
Panem's Agenda:
Panem is a dictatorship country that has had to put down rebellion in the past. Dictatorships are all about fear. The leaders of Panem fear an uprising and that they may lose their power. Because of this fear, the dictators try to instill fear in the subjects of the country in order to scare them into submission and away from any ideas of rebellion. In Panem, the Games are a vital tool that the leaders use to channel fear into their subjects. Who would rebel against a country so powerful that they can take away your children and make them slaughter eachother like savages while you are forced to watch? Nothing in the world could make people feel so helpless, and a helpless population is a docile population ensuring no rebellion and the dictators absolute control and power.
Trust in Panem:
Who can you trust in a country dominated by fear, hunger, and suspicion? Panem leader's greatest fear is that their subjects will unite and rebel. If they can keep the people alientated and isolated from one another however, then they can avoid rebellion. On the larger scale, the Capitol seperates its volatile subjects into 12 districts that are not allowed to contact or have any real knowledge or communication with eachother. If the districts are kept apart, then they will never be able to come to relate to and trust one another. By keeping a wedge between the districts not allowing any relationship or trust to form, the Capitol keeps its citizens in check. The Capitol not only seperates districts though; they also focus on the individual. They want people to feel all alone, and what better way is there to drive people apart than by making them hungry. When a person is fighting to survive so as not to starve, it is hard to be a team player. Starvation dehumanizes people and makes them focus solely on themselves. Katniss and some others like Gale overcome the Capitol's plan to isolate people because they provide food for their families. They stick together no matter how tempting it may be to just forget everyone else and drop their responsibilities.When Gale muses to Katniss about running away and leaving everyone and thing behind, he is not serious, just wistfully dreaming. He will not let the Capitol win and not be there for his family. They trust and depend on him to feed them, and he defiantly lives up to this dependency. Katniss herself does this as well, but she is somewhat affected by the Capitol's attempts to destroy all trust. Her mother abandoning her because of depression made Katniss very wary of ever depending on and trusting others. When she is thrown into the Games with Peeta, she struggles to trust his motives are pure because the Capitol has pitted her against him. Haymitch makes the the District 12 tributes rebel against this instinct not to unite or trust others by presenting Katniss and Peeta as a team. By doing this , Haymitch is sending a message, very subtly, that in order to triumph against the Capitol people need to unite and team up. He is sending a message to the Districts that by trusting and teaming up with eachother, they can beat the Capitol.
Panem Propaganda:
All the citizens are forced to watch the Hunger Games, the most effective form of propaganda used. The Capitol makes the citizens watch the reapings, so they see how easily their children can be taken away. The Games themselves show all the citizens that they are no match for the Capitol and completely powerless. If the leaders can take the people's children and force them to slaughter each other while parents and friends are forced to watch but unable to do anything, then they can do anything.
District 13: the Capitol shows videos of the wasteland that is now district 13 to show what happens when a district rebels. This propaganda is intended to scare the other districts from ever rebelling.
School: Katniss says how all she learns in school is the history of Panem according to the Capitol. After all, the victor of a war usually gets to rewrite history, so the citizens are deprived of learnign about alternative and better ways life and government can be run.
Spirit in Panem:
broken, supressed: Katniss does not see a point in challenging and rebelling because she does not see how that will help her or her family's situation in the long run
helpless, powerless: When Peeta tells Katniss that he wants to stay himself in the Games and not let the Capitol win by changing him, she fails to see any credibility to that idea. She asks him what the point is becuase she has no hope at this point in being able to beat th Capitol
100% focused on survival:The spirit and common attitude of the majoriy of the citizens is work hard, don't cause trouble, and try not to starve. There are few hopes and dreams outside these three depressing goals in life, so the spirit of Panem is rather depressing
bleak outlook: the only future forseen by the citizens is one of death by starvation, punishment, depression, or some other unpleasant way or a future filled with a neverending struggle to stay alive.Few see themselves working in fulfilling jobs and having a pleasant easy meaningful life
However, even though teh Capitol has repressed and broken and divides the people's spirits, occasionally some atrocity or touching act causes the people's spirits to flare up and unite. When Prim is chosen as tribute, the citizens are outraged because they see it as an atrocity that a beautiful, sweet, gentle, young little girl is going to be put in arena to kill and be killed. Then when Katniss volunteers for Prim, the citizens of district twelve are touched by her selfless love for her sister, her sacrifice, her bravery, and her defiance. Prim's name being called and Katniss volunteering caused the spirits of district 12 to break through and manifest into a gesture. They all united and waved Katniss a kiss with three fingers to say thankyou, and we appreciate, love, and admire you.
LEXICOGRAPHY:
The characters' names are words that hold meanings congruent to the characters' personalities.
Katniss:Katniss is a root that can eaten to survive. Her dad told her that if she can find herself, she will always be able to survive referrring to the root she was named for. Katniss is a survivor herself, and in the games when she finds herself and what she stands for and who she cares for then she manages to survive.
Peeta: Peeta is a baker's son and is always baking cakes and making bread to help his family. His name is sort of punny because there is a form of bread called "pita" which is pronounced as "Peeta's" name is. Katniss always refers to Peeta as "the boy with the bread" because when they were kids, and she was starving to death, Peeta gave her some bread at risk to himself and out of the kindness of his heart. Peeta is very selfless and very kind and loving. He is warm and solid like bread, and just as bread is a staple for life in many places, Peeta is somewhat a staple for life for Katniss. He saves her life when she was younger with bread. He becomes her rock throughout the books, and she frequently depends on him to survive emotionally.
Gale: A gale is a strong violent passionate gust of wind. Gale is a very strong forceful presence to be around. He is a dominating person who fights everyday to stay alive. When he is around, Katniss feels safe because he is so strong and dynamic. He is also very passionate and loud about his hate for the capitol just as a gale of wind is loud and energetic.Katniss witnesses his scathing violent rants about the capitol frequently in the woods.A gale is also a force of nature, just as Gale is. He is a part of the woods who moves and blends like a powerful wind.
Rue: Rue means to regret. Rue is a tribute of District 11 in the Games, and Katniss ends up allying with her in the midst of the games. Rue reminds Katniss of her little sister, Prim, because they are both so gentle and young and sweet and defenseless. Katniss regrets more than anything having to leave her sister behind in District 12 to fend for herself. In the Games, one of Katniss' biggest regrets is failing Rue by failing to save her. She watched Rue die and regrets that she did not get there fast enough to save her and that she let her go off on her own in the first place. So the name Rue embodies Katniss' feelings whenever she looks at Rue and is reminded of Prim and failing them both. Rue is also names after a flower just like Primrose which shows an even greater similarity between teh two delicate little children.
Katniss will RUE the day she left Prim behind, she will RUE the day she didn't save RUE. Katniss will make the Capitol RUE the day they decided to control and opress her, those she loves, and all the citizens of Panem.
Primrose: Prim is Katniss' little blonde sweet sister who was named after a beautiful and delicate little flower which definately reflects her personality. She embodies a delicate defenseless person when she is picked for tribute and waddles forward looking like a little duck. She is so gentle and sweet with animals that a flower is a perfect description of her.
Justine McKittrick
THE HUNGER GAMES
Philosopher King/Queen & Moderator & Lexicographer
PHILOSOPHY:
Panem's Agenda:
Panem is a dictatorship country that has had to put down rebellion in the past. Dictatorships are all about fear. The leaders of Panem fear an uprising and that they may lose their power. Because of this fear, the dictators try to instill fear in the subjects of the country in order to scare them into submission and away from any ideas of rebellion. In Panem, the Games are a vital tool that the leaders use to channel fear into their subjects. Who would rebel against a country so powerful that they can take away your children and make them slaughter eachother like savages while you are forced to watch? Nothing in the world could make people feel so helpless, and a helpless population is a docile population ensuring no rebellion and the dictators absolute control and power.Trust in Panem:
Who can you trust in a country dominated by fear, hunger, and suspicion? Panem leader's greatest fear is that their subjects will unite and rebel. If they can keep the people alientated and isolated from one another however, then they can avoid rebellion. On the larger scale, the Capitol seperates its volatile subjects into 12 districts that are not allowed to contact or have any real knowledge or communication with eachother. If the districts are kept apart, then they will never be able to come to relate to and trust one another. By keeping a wedge between the districts not allowing any relationship or trust to form, the Capitol keeps its citizens in check. The Capitol not only seperates districts though; they also focus on the individual. They want people to feel all alone, and what better way is there to drive people apart than by making them hungry. When a person is fighting to survive so as not to starve, it is hard to be a team player. Starvation dehumanizes people and makes them focus solely on themselves. Katniss and some others like Gale overcome the Capitol's plan to isolate people because they provide food for their families. They stick together no matter how tempting it may be to just forget everyone else and drop their responsibilities.When Gale muses to Katniss about running away and leaving everyone and thing behind, he is not serious, just wistfully dreaming. He will not let the Capitol win and not be there for his family. They trust and depend on him to feed them, and he defiantly lives up to this dependency. Katniss herself does this as well, but she is somewhat affected by the Capitol's attempts to destroy all trust. Her mother abandoning her because of depression made Katniss very wary of ever depending on and trusting others. When she is thrown into the Games with Peeta, she struggles to trust his motives are pure because the Capitol has pitted her against him. Haymitch makes the the District 12 tributes rebel against this instinct not to unite or trust others by presenting Katniss and Peeta as a team. By doing this , Haymitch is sending a message, very subtly, that in order to triumph against the Capitol people need to unite and team up. He is sending a message to the Districts that by trusting and teaming up with eachother, they can beat the Capitol.Panem Propaganda:
Spirit in Panem:
LEXICOGRAPHY:
The characters' names are words that hold meanings congruent to the characters' personalities.