FRQ3

In the novel “The Hunger Games”, Suzanne Collins employs the characteristics of deception in order to convey that deception is crucial for Katniss and Peeta to gain support and survive within the games, ultimately illustrating how though deception can seem as manipulation it can be a positive benefit towards success. 

In the Hunger Games Katniss and Peeta present themselves as star-crossed lovers to gain the support of sponsors and the audience. The support of the sponsors became a crucial necessity to find success in the arena. With limited resources in the arena Katniss and Peeta deceived themselves to be in a relationship in order to gain materials from sponsors necessary in life and death scenarios. The “feast in Cornucopia” had the necessary medicine Peeta needed, but due to the dangers of receiving it he would not allow Katniss to receive it. The sponsor then sends a sleep syrup in order to allow her to retrieve the medicine to save Peeta. Because Peeta and Katniss present themselves as in a relationship in order to gain the support of The Capitol they are able to gain more resources. Consequently the need for many medications and foods are higher when living in a resource scarce environment like the forest in the arena. When having the help from sponsors the focus within the games was towards the defense aspect rather than the necessity to survive. This can lead to more success and a more lasting time in the games. Therefore the deception of being in a relationship, as Katniss and Peeta did, was manipulating the audience and sponsors to be in support of the love-struck relationship. This was the leading factor in the victory of the Games since they were able to utilize the deception in a positive way by receiving the help from others. Not only does this help them gain support from the sponsors to help show success but so does support from the viewers. When Katniss and Peeta were seeking support from the viewers they made a dramatic entrance during the opening ceremony. Cinna, their stylist, creates outfits for the lovers to make them appear as if they were on fire. They continue to play the part by holding hands to not only impress the audience with their outfits but to introduce them to their connection. When Katniss and Peeta used their relationship and connection to perceive the audience into supporting them it is positively helping them because they are able to receive more support from the Capitol. Since Viewers can also become sponsors when gaining the support of the viewers the 2 tributes are able to benefit and utilize the support to manipulate competing tributes with the support they are gaining. Thus as they begin to deceive the Capitol Katniss and Peeta are able to use the deception within the game and against their opponents creating a total mind game. 

The 2 star-crossed lovers successfully use deception to gain support, but with that support they are able to have a higher likelihood of survival. Survival is the key component to The Hunger Games and the most important factor of the book series. For example a crucial part of the games was the end. When Peeta and Katniss both threatened to eat poisonous berries, presenting as if they would rather die together than kill each other. The Capitol is then forced to declare both winners because the beloved “star-crossed lovers would die”. Because this strictly shows the benefits of deception it successfully shows how Katniss and Peeta gain survival. Consequently when appearing to rather die together than to lose their love the audience is drawn in more and forced to feel sympathy for the two. Therefore the satire changed the government policies and granted them both victory and survival due to manipulation the two placed on the Capitol.  The deception first handedly saved them towards the end but in the beginning deception set a foundation for survival. When the 2 tributes were given interviews to introduce them to the public Peeta reveals his love for Katniss. This initially created the Star-crossed lovers idea and gained attention from the viewers. The expression of feeling set a central theme for the book because the two continue the act throughout the entire novel. Since the audience viewed Katniss and Peeta’s relationship as a love story there was intriguing drama that gained the support of sponsors and created alliances. The alliance with Rue or the medications received were prone to survival.Thus as the act continues to grow and become more believable, the deception transcending into reality creates a positive ending for the lovers’ story.

Deceptions play a crucial role in Katniss and Peeta’s support and survival in The Hunger Games. By creating a narrative of star-crossed lovers and manipulating the viewers their relationship becomes a powerful tool. It then navigates them to victory in the arena granting them both survival and success.

In the novel “The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes”, Suzanne Collins employs scenes of violence in order to convey the manipulation and corruption of the Capitol, ultimately illustrating a darker symbol of human nature and influence of power.

The acts within the games show much violence, all supporting the power of the capital. The first example of the arena showing violence, is when the people are first put in the arena. Some attack each other right away, while some will go and try to find a place to hide. Because some go straight into the concept of killing and along with the games, it shows the manipulation of the capitol. Consequently, most of the tributes seek for survival, through this they will do whatever it takes turning most into cold-hearted killers. The capital changes the people by putting an incentive of survival. Therefore, human nature is programmed to resort to violence due to the manipulation of an object that holds more power than the dividual. Not only does the beginning of the games show much violence but the games as a whole. Later in the arena, a tribute for District 2, Marcus, is hung in the middle of the arena. Though it is unknown who did this, it is assumed to be the capitol to signify their power after the Tribute attempted to escape. The act of violence is an example of power because the Capitol being seen as the most powerful people within the city of Panem utilize their resources to ensure they still had control. Since, the tribute defied the capitals when escaping after the bombing the Capitol made a stand. They sacrificed one of their own to ensure the understanding of the games were seen. Thus the darkness of brutal death used by the Capitol helps to maintain their power over the tributes and other citizens.

When getting to the end of the games violence decreases making the capitol search for a way to regain control. The capitol utilizes different actions throughout the novel to continue to maintain control and force the people to defy not the rule set. In the earlier moments of the novel, Arlo was publicly executed in front of citizens including main character Lucy Gray. His hanging was a violent scene that was a reminder from the capital of their authority. Because the capitol utilized a gruesome way of death to publicly be displayed, it shows that not only was it a form of punishment but also a display to intimidate and scare the citizens. Consequently, this was just the beginning of public deaths, since the games had not started. This was the capitols way of setting an understanding of who was in charge. Therefore, the human nature of power is never satisfied and the capital continues to strive for ways to ensure its power in the novel. As the Capitol lost control of the games they began to alter the rule first set in place. Dr. Gaul creates an experiment that releases snakes within the arena to then kill the Tributes off faster, making it the last one to survive rather than survival of the fittest. Though this act of violence doesn’t fully fulfill its job it still creates death. This scene of violence, and killing off tributes with other resources because the capitol had lost control adds to the understanding the capitol will do as necessary. Since, the tributes were unable to proceed with killing each other the Capitol utilized its power to ensure the games to still be entertaining. The tributes then experienced fear and one tribute was put to death with the snakes. Thus, the use of the snakes and creating fear not only in the arena but for the watchers made the City of Panem clear who was in control. The human nature of doing what's necessary is done by the capitol, in this case with death.

Scenes of violence through the novel are shown as the act of power. The Capitol greatly utilizes death, torture, and punishment to ensure the citizens understand where the control is. The Capitol, much like the idea of human nature, utilizes whatever to maintain power.