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Yesenia Santiago
English 114B
Professor Lawson
15 April 2014
Project Text Essay Final Draft
1292
The Capitol and Individuality
In The Hunger Games trilogy, by Suzanne Collins, there are many themes that can be
seen and analyzed as a critique of American society. The novels are set in the futuristic dystopian
society of Panem. Panem is a country that consists of twelve districts and a Capitol. The people
in the districts view the capitol citizens as strange, and inhumane because of their ridiculous
beauty ideals and the crazy things they are willing to do in order to stay fashionable and
attractive. The trilogy addresses the themes of individuality and also critiques the superficial
culture of the capitol. The capitol is in many ways like our society, with our disturbing obsession
with celebrities, unrealistic ideals of beauty and our ability to be easily entertained by the media
without asking ourselves whether the things the media presents to us are accurate. Because of all
the preposterous activity surrounding the Capitol, individuality is also a strong theme present in
the trilogy as Katniss struggles to maintain herself as a separate individual from the capitol and
its ways.
There is a strong individuality presented in Katnisss character, as she breaks free from
the stereotypical girl in young adult novels. Unlike most girls in young adult novels, Katniss is
presented as a strong independent thinker who can be seen as playing the role of a male
character. The article Killer Katniss and Lover Boy Peeta discusses the traits Katniss
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possess that make her different from other female characters in young adult literature.Katniss is
often described as a female character who balances traditionally masculine qualities such as
athleticism, independence, self-sufficiency, and a penchant for violence with traditionally
feminine qualities such as idealized physical female beauty. (Lem and Hassel Par. 1) Katniss
is a hunter, and doesnt like to portray much of what she feels, unlike Peeta who is a baker and
unafraid to display his feeling and affection. Unlike most female characters in young adult
novels that are often portrayed as fragile and easily falling in love, Katnisss character is
different. She has a hard time understanding her feelings for Peeta, who has no trouble
expressing his affection towards Katniss. She doesnt act like the love-crazed girl in most novels.
Scott argues that, The Hunger Games allows or maybe compels a kind of universal
identification that is rare, or maybe even taboo. Its generally assumed that girls can aspire to be
like Harry Potter or Spider-Man, or can at least embrace their adventures without undermining
their own femininity. (Scott, Par. 11) Katnisss individuality as a character is given more
validation as Collins wrote and described her as a new kind of female protagonist. Unlike many
other novels with a female protagonist that make the female character the same stereotypical
female character, Katnisss character breaks free from that stereotype of a weak, helpless female
character. Katniss is the epitome of a modern role model for young girls and boys as she is
portrayed as a character that embodies both genders. She is a strong individual female who can
survive on her own without the need of a dominant male figure. Katniss is a very important
character that teaches young boys that it is okay to envision themselves in a female character
such as Katniss and that doing so does not undermine their masculinity.
Katniss is an independent thinker, who strives to keep separate from the capitol and its
superficial ways. Although she is aware of what is considered beautiful in the eyes of the capitol
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she never tries to attain that look by her own will. The article Burn with Us: Sacrificing
Childhood in The Hunger Games argues that, From the moment Katniss is selected as tribute
she becomes public property. Her body is not her own, and as she sees herself prepared for an
interview her own image is made strange... Katniss's commodification has made her object,
animal, and alien: inhuman, or perhaps, posthuman. (Tan, End Page 60) Because Katniss is
aware of the fact that once she became a tribute the capitol would be free to do whatever they
wanted with her, she tried to remain as separate from capitol culture as much as she could. She
told herself that she would not allow herself to be turned into another one of the capitols freaks.
Katniss is not the only character in the trilogy that displays individuality. Peeta is among
the characters that stands out and tries to remain separate from the cruel ways of the capitol.
Before entering the arena he tells Katniss that he doesnt want to be just another piece in the
capitols cruel games. Peeta demonstrates his individuality when he tells Katiss that he cant go
down without a fight. Only I keep wishing I could think of a way to to show the Capitol they
dont own me. That Im more than just a piece in their Games. (Collins 142) These words that
Peeta reveals to Katniss in their first games are the words that stick with Katniss through out the
entire trilogy. When Peeta reveals his thought to her, she doesnt understand what he means but
as time progresses she understands and tries to also be more than just a piece in their Games.
Maintaining themselves as separate individuals from the Capitol is extremely important to Peeta
and Katniss because they do not want to be associated with the cruel, superficial ways of the
capitol.
The Capitol of Panem is very much like our own society, as both societies share an
obsession with entertainment, idolization of celebrities, and superficiality. To the Capitol the
games are nothing more than just a source of entertainment, they never see it for what it really is,
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a cruel way of punishing the districts. When arriving to the capitol and viewing the dramatic
looks of the Capitol citizens, Katniss cant help but wonder What do they do all day, these
people in the Capitol, besides decorating their bodies and waiting around for a new shipment of
tributes to roll in and die for their entertainment? (Collins pg. 65) Every year the Capitol waits
with great anticipation for the games to come around and be entertained by it once more.
Because of how eager and overly enthusiastic the people in the capitol seem for the games,
Katniss cant help but wonder what else these people do with their lives because all she can see
are these strangely obsessed individuals who are too naive to realize the credulity of it all. In our
society reality T.V and many other forms of entertainment are viewed in a similar way as to how
the capitol views the games. Our society is just as celebrity obsessed as the capitol is obsessed
with the victor of the games. We venerate and idolize these people in a way that can be seen as
being just a foolish and ridiculous as that of the capitol citizens and their obsession with the
victors.
Throughout the trilogy the districts describe the Capitol as a freak show, because of their
strange fashion and beauty ideals. The culture in the Capitol is very similar to our culture and our
superficiality and love for material possessions. The fashion trends in the capitol are described as
obnoxious and strange. The Capitol is filled with people who have dyed skin, bizarre hair, and
strange fashion. The people are extremely superficial, and are willing to undergo any procedure
as long as they remain fashionable. American culture is extremely similar to this, always trying
to keep up with trends and striving to reach the ideal image of beauty. Our society is willing to
undergo crazy procedures, just like the capitol, as long as the ideal figure, and image of beauty is
accomplished. Because of all these strange and ridiculous obsessions the capitol has, Peeta and
Katniss strive to maintain themselves as separate individuals.
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The Hunger Games trilogy has many great themes in it that can teach both adults and
young readers about important issues in our society. Collins embeds the themes of individuality,
and non-conformity in her critique of the capitol and its ridiculous culture. The Capitol can be
seen as the epitome of American culture, with our obsession with celebrities, unrealistic beauty
ideals, and our blindness to the world around us. Collins demonstrates individuality in several
ways, as she breaks from the stereotypical female and male characters, in her portrayal of
Katnisss strong character, and in Peetas free-willed spirit.