In the book, The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins shows many views of the characters being in competition with each other. Another view she showed in the book, was some characters working together. These views that the author portrays in the book, answers the questions, how does this text deal with individuals and groups? Are the people acting alone or in competition with one another? Does the text help us imagine people working together? These questions relate to the book The Hunger Games, because I think the characters in it are either working together, or in competition with one another.
Additionally, in the book, the author includes several of views of how the characters in competition with one another. One way she shows it by, showing, "A boy, I think from District 9 reaches for the pack at the same time I do and for a brief time we grapple for it and then he coughs splattering my face with blood...I see the knife in his back"(150). This quote was said by one of the main characters, Katniss, who was trying to get supplies, that the boy from District 9 also wanted too, but ended up dying from the another tribute stabbing him, in the back. This shows that harsh competition was taking place in the book for the characters just to win a game, by a tribute killing another tribute. By winning, I meant if only one tribute is remaining in the hunger games, after all of the other tributes are dead, then he/or she is called the winner, which was the reason why the boy from District 9 died. Also Katniss tried to get the pack that the boy was also reaching for too, and if he hadn't got stabbed, then there would be competition between him and Katniss, since they both wanted the same thing. Another way the author showed competition was by showing this text, "why don't we kill him now and get it over with"(162). This quote was said by one of the other tributes to another tribute when they both caught one of the main characters, Peeta and were deciding whether to kill him or not, because Peeta could lead them to Katniss which they wanted, so they can also kill her. This quote shows there is competition going on because if those tributes wanted, they could've let Peeta go with out expecting something back. Also in their minds they really wanted to kill Peeta, just for to be a step closer to winning the hunger games, but they also had greed to kill Katniss, therefore they were in a dilemma of whether or not to kill Peeta.
Furthermore, Suzanne Collins also shows many views of how some of the characters were working together. One of the views she tries to show is, "I give Peeta's hand one last squeeze as a signal, as good bye, and we began counting" (344). This quote was said by Katniss when Peeta and her were about to eat the poisonous berries, since they didn't want each other to die, and be entitled for the winner of the hunger games. This shows how serious Katniss was about ending the lives of herself and Peeta, which shows that they were working together, by both of the characters thoughts not being self-centered, and by not having the crave to kill each other and become the winner of the hunger games. Another view the author shows of working together is "Taking Rue as an ally seems a better choice all the time. We divided up our food supplies, so in case we are separated, we'll both be set for a few days"(204). This was said by Katniss when she kept Rue, one of the tributes that is twelve years old as her ally. This quote shows that Rue and Katniss were working together and weren't even thinking about killing each other, because if they did, they wouldn't have kept each other as an ally. Also they cared for each other, because in the quote it mentioned that they both divided up their food supplies, so in case they got separated; they still would have a backup support. That showed they cared for each other since they knew that if one of them got separated then, they wouldn't have enough food to live off from, and both of them didn't want that to happen, since they didn't want each other to suffer.
The competition and working together, that the characters evaluated throughout the book, makes me feel and think about how some people can be self-less and how some people can be self-centered. This thought came in my mind, because I imagined that if I were Katiniss's place, in the book and was in the hunger games, would I work with someone else and be cooperative or fight by myself to be the only winner for hunger games, which will create competition?
Good Post! I really like how you thoughtfully described your question, answered it, while giving me a good synopsis of the book! Your blog post was really only focused on one thing and that was the question you were assigned to writing about, and that is key to writing a good blog. God job!
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