Enduring Understanding

CHARACTERS

In the books, The Hunger Games and The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, Suzanne Collins uses characters to express themes of survival, rebellion, and power. The characters Katniss Everdeen and Coriolanus Snow are the central figures to allow the reader to understand how different values and beliefs influence actions and decisions in a dystopian world. To begin, Katniss Everdeen is the protagonist in The Hunger Games and a symbol of rebellion against the Capitol. She is initially seen as a caring tribute, volunteering to take the place of her sister, Prim. Katniss’s survival instinct is constantly tested throughout the games and within the arena. She struggles accepting the public image the Capitol places on her by utilizing their power over the tributes. In The Hunger Games, Katniss explains, "I protect Prim in every way I can, but I’m powerless against the reaping,"(115), highlighting her awareness of how the Capitol will always be the highest level of power. Throughout the Games, Katniss must survive. She understands that she must survive, “Every sense I have goes into overdrive as the need to survive takes over. There’s no time to judge if a move is the correct one. When there’s a hiss, I act or die,”(168). This highlights the theme of survival instinct and the need for instincts within the games. Katniss’s story allows readers to see the personal toll that power and the need for survival holds on a person. Coriolanus Snow, on the other hand, is the main character in The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, and his story offers a different perspective on power. Snow is seen as ruthless, and will do anything to rise above the Capitol in power. Early in the story, Snow is given the task of mentoring a female tribute from District 12, Lucy Gray Baird. His actions within the book show how he was power hungry, his manipulation, and his obsession with social status. In one scene, Snow contemplates, "The more he believed in his survival, the more he hated the world that had allowed his family's fall from grace" (295). His obsession with power and status contrasts Katniss’s drive for survival out of obligation for her family. Though it could be argued that Snow is trying to live up to the name of his family and represent them proudly, it is shown he is wanting power more than he is honoring his family. Separately, these charters represent the themes of the Collins writing, but together they deeper explore these themes. Katniss, who wants to fight for her family, and not obey the cruel rules of the capitol, and Snow's desire to hold his family's status create opposing views. 

SETTING

In both The Hunger Games and The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, Suzzanne Collins uses settings to deepen the understanding of the story’s tone and themes. The setting is a very important part when creating the world of Panem because they not only describe the scenery, but the social status that comes with each location. Through the settings like the Capitol, the Arena, and District 12, Collins deepens the understanding of power, rebellion, and status. The setting of The Hunger Games is unique because it is a dystopian world where the Capitol controls the Districts. The Capitol is a place of extreme luxury, while the districts, especially the lower ones, experience extreme poverty. The Capitol utilizes their power within the games. There are mutations of animals that,” During the rebellion, the Capitol bred a series of genetically altered animals as weapons,”(40). This not only explains the setting of the games, but also shows how the Capitol utilizes their power against the tributes, making them completely vulnerable to the Capitol during the games. This shows the power and manipulation that the Capitol uses. In the Ballads of Songbirds and Snakes, the setting of the Capitol is similarly displayed. The setting of this book takes place decades before the Hunger Games book, while the Capitol recovers from a war. Snow’s family, once rich, now lives in a run-down penthouse that shows the Capitol’s weakness. Collins describes, “The apartment, once grand, now seems a shadow of its former self,”(80). This setting highlights the Capitals unstable power, and Snow’s desperation to regain his family's name. The downfall of the Capitol within this story relates to the corruption later occurring within the storyline of the Hunger Games. Within both of these books, the arena symbolizes the power and control the Capitol holds. Katniss describes it as “a garden of nightmares,” where every element is manipulated to cause pain and death (198). The arena represents the Capitol’s control over life and death, emphasizing the power it holds over the tributes. In contrast, the arena in The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes is a rundown zoo, much more basic and dangerous. The chaos and danger in this early version of the Games reflect the Capitol’s fragile control over the situation. This setting emphasizes the contrast between the Capitol’s growing control in The Hunger Games and its more chaotic, unstable beginnings in The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes.

PLOT/STRUCTURE

In The Hunger Games and The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, Suzzanne Collins uses plot and structure to help the reader’s understanding of the complex characters and world the storylines take place in. Both Novels make a vivid image of oppressive systems, with each story reflecting different phases of power in Panem. Through manipulation of the plot and structure, Collins highlights the character’ relationships with power, survival, and rebellion. In The Hunger Games, Collins puts Katniss Everdeen in District 12, where she struggles to provide for her family. Her dedication to her family shows when she says, “I volunteer as tribute,” immediately after her sister was selected at the reaping. This highlights the sacrifices she has to make in order to support her family. Her journey to the Capitol and participation in the Games, make the turning point to this struggle. As Katniss fights for survival in the arena, she becomes a symbol of rebellion against the capitol. As the book highlights Katniss’s internal struggles while battling survival, the understanding of her ways of survival are better understood. She speaks of Peeta as, “the boy with the bread, is my ally, and my only chance of survival,”(168). The plot explores ways of survival for Katniss and then highlights how she becomes the symbol of rebellion. Similarly, in The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, Collin uses the plot to show the moral decline of Coriolanus Snow. The novel is divided into three parts, with each part representing a distinct phase in Snow’s journey towards power. In the first part, Snow is introduced as a young student at the Capitol’s academy, struggling to rise above his poverty. His relationship with Lucy Gray is initially one of mentorship, but he begins to manipulate her and use her for power gain, showing how he prioritized personal gain. He explained how he saw Lucy Gray as “The girl was his ticket. He had no choice but to take her to the top,”(79). This highlights how the relationship between the two was solely one that would only benefit Snow. The structure of the novel allows the reader to gain insights on Snow’s decisions, but this leads him to his darker path. The relationship of the two characters creates a plot that endures manipulation and power, which is also highlighted in The Hunger Games Series. 

SPEAKER

In The Hunger Games and The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, Suzanne Collins uses the speaker to shape the reader's understanding of the characters, their motives, and the dystopian world the story takes place in. Through her narrative choices, Collins creates a strong connection between the reader and the characters, allowing us to better understand their thoughts and emotions. In The Hunger Games, Collins uses first-person point of view through the main character, Katniss Everdeen. This choice allows readers to experience Katniss' struggles and thoughts directly, giving insight into her survival instincts, her relationships, and her role as a symbol of rebellion. For example, when Katniss first volunteers as tribute, the reader is immediately put into her perspective, “I volunteer as tribute!” (page 22). This line is not just a reaction to the situation but also reflects her internal sense of need to protect her sister, Prim. The speaker is Katniss, and we see her constant battle between personal survival and role as a public figure. Throughout the Games, Katniss struggles with the idea of being seen as a symbol, but the speaker helps us understand how she is shaped by this role, whether by choice or not. We also get insight on the relationship Katniss has with Peeta throughout the story. The speaker gives us insight into her feelings for Peeta, blending her personal survival instincts with her personal feelings. In The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, Collins shifts to a third-person point of view that focuses on Coriolanus Snow’s perspective. Coriolanus Snow's story provides an insightful look into his actions and obsession with power. For instance, when Snow reflects on his strategy during the Hunger Games, the narrator reveals his logic, “He wasn’t just protecting Lucy Gray. He was securing his future, ensuring that his name would be remembered” (134). This passage highlights Snow’s understanding that the hunger games are about survival but just as much, they are about power. The third-person narrator allows the reader to see Snow’s thoughts from a different perspective, emphasizing the complexity of his character. The choice of speaker in both novels is crucial to understanding the characters’ inner struggles and how they navigate the world of Panem and the powerful Capitol. In The Hunger Games, Katniss’s first-person narration allows readers to connect with her character more. In The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, the third-person point of view gives insight into Snow’s power-hungry and morality thinking.