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Erin Kovac
Mrs. Williams
English 102
23 July 2014
Multi-Genre Persuasive Essay: Feminist Critique
Katniss Everdeen: An Outstanding Example of Honor, Courage, and Sacrifice.

Dear Reader Letter:
Dear Reader,
Within this essay you will find a collaboration of views and genres related to the film The
Hunger Games from a feminist criticism lens. As you will read the main character Katniss
Everdeen rises in the film as a feminist role model. Her strength among many other traits deems
her as perfection in the role. You will read into detail the reasonings behind how her character
stands out from most other films with a feminist main character. There are many links which will
lead you to videos, songs, and even a Facebook page created in Katniss honor. I hope you enjoy
reading the information I have discovered and look further into detail on this amazing character,
Katniss Everdeen. Thank you.
Sincerely,
Erin Kovac


A heroine owns her power and controls her own destiny.
(Dorothy Snarker, AfterEllen.com)
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The character Katniss Everdeen, played by Jennifer Lawrence, the female protagonist in
the film The Hunger Games. This character is the perfect image for feminist critique. The gender
role reversal within this film gives for strong feminist views. One of only few films to portray the
leading female character is such a way, giving her the masculine or heroic traits. Within this film
Katniss demonstrations what has been termed as the movie girlfriend and movie boyfriend.
These demonstrations equally divide her masculine and feminine traits seen on screen between
her two love interests, Peeta and Gail. As well as developing her character into an even stronger
feminist icon. She becomes the perfect character in the feminist role by exhibiting strength,
heroism, independence, along with remaining fierce as well as tender.
View Points By Stormy:
Lets look at the traits Katniss has that are stereotypical male traits:

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Shes the hunter, while Peeta is the gatherer
She kills with a bow & arrow (decently close-range) and is the one who kills more often
She is less openly emotional
She is less romantic
She is more likely to use things for her own personal benefit
Shes the one more set on survival
She comes up with the plans once her & Peeta are together
Shes the one who thinks of using the nightlock to best the Capitol at the end of the
games
She hunts, cooks, & cleans
She uses less words shes not as good with words and language as Peeta is

On the flip side, Peeta is potrayed in the following manner:

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He gathers while Katniss hunts
His only kill in the 74th hunger games was an accident(unless you count the girl at the
beginning, but we dont know if he really killed her it happens off-screen). It was also by
poison, which is interesting. My dad is a criminal investigator and has always told me that
women are most likely to kill someone or commit suicide by poison.
He is more openly emotional. He lets the world see him cry. He tells Katniss how he feels
about her, even when he knows the entire country is watching.
He is more romantic. Katniss is portrayed as having never given much thoughts to boys
until the beginning of the book. Even in the book, she really only thinks about it because she has
to play a role for the cameras. Peetas had a crush on Katniss most of his life.
He is a baker. Hes physically strong, but in a different way than Gale, who might be
considered the traditional male lead model.
Hes a creator. He frosts the cakes at the bakery, he paints, he draws, etc.
Hes kind. He throws the burnt bread to Katniss.
Hes the more passive one in the relationship. Katniss takes charges. Partially because
Peeta is injured, but also partially because thats the way their personalities would play out in
most circumstances.
Hes better with words and language. Hes portrayed as most likely having a high verbal
intelligence.
http://www.bookblogbake.com/2012/12/29/gender-identity-and-the-hunger-games/
Consider Katniss strengths, independence, and heroism by looking at the very beginning
of the film, or the background story leading the characters image. Katniss was alone after the
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death of her father, alone to take care of her taken sick mother and much younger sister. Her
mother falls into the deepest of depressions forcing Katniss into a mother role among the task of
care taker to the whole family. It was now her duty to find ways to feed and provide for their
household. This is when Katniss developed her hunting skills into survival for her family, food
on their table and food to trade for other items needed to survive. All of these traits are perfect
examples alone of feminism, describing her strength and independence, not even scratching the
surface at her heroism yet.
Katniss preforms many acts of heroism throughout the film. The very first act seen is her
heroic gesture of volunteering as tribute taking her young sisters place, ultimately saving her life.
The character of Primrose Everdeen, a young girl of the age of only eleven, quaint and delicate,
would never last one minute within the arena during these games. Prims traits are quite opposite
of her sister Katniss. She is kind, loving of all things, and perhaps not yet exposed to the outside
world as Katniss has had to be. As a heroic and loving person, Katniss knowing her sister would
surely die steps up in her place taking on a potential death herself. Katniss displays many more
acts of heroism throughout the film, such as her care and affection she shares with and for Rue
and Peeta. She puts her safety and life aside to save and help both of these characters. While
helping these tributes she is also exposing her tender hearted side. She exposes her loving and
passionate side of the character to enhance her feminist role.
Song:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=RzhAS_GnJIc
"Safe And Sound"

I could lift you up
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I could show you what you wanna see
And take you where you wanna be

You could be my luck
Even if the sky is falling down
I know that we'll be safe and sound

We're safe and sound

I could fill your cup
You know my river won't evaporate
This world we still appreciate

You could be my luck
Even in a hurricane of frowns
I know that we'll be safe and sound

Safe and sound
We're safe and sound
Safe and sound
We're safe and sound
Hold your ground
We're safe and sound
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Safe and sound

I could show you love
In a tidal wave of mystery
You'll still be standing next to me

You could be my luck
Even if we're six feet underground
I know that we'll be safe and sound

We're safe and sound

Safe and sound
Safe and sound
Hold your ground
Safe and sound

I could lift you up
I could show you what you wanna see
And take you where you wanna be

You could be my luck
Even if the sky is falling down
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I know that we'll be safe and sound

I could lift you up
I could show you what you wanna see
And take you where you wanna be

You could be my luck
Even if the sky is falling down
I know that we'll be safe and sound

We're safe and sound
We're safe and sound
We're safe and sound
We're safe and sound

Safe and sound
We're safe and sound
Safe and sound
We're safe and sound
Hold your ground
We're safe and sound
Safe and sound
We're safe and sound
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During the film Katniss passion and pain comes through in many forms. Tears are the
obvious form; she sheds tears to express her love when the unfortunate death of her small friend
tribute Rue is killed. This scene is so touching and empowering for Katniss, where we see her
pain of her situation really shine. As Katniss sits with Rues dying body she begins to sign a song
she had sung to her sister Prim many times, a beautiful lullaby. She also conveys these traits well
through her care for Peeta. Setting aside her own safety by making life risks to gather Peeta
needed medicines to survive, allowing their love to blossom on screen. As for Peeta his constant
need to be helped or saved by Katniss throughout the film is where the whole idea of movie
boyfriend comes in. Katniss is taking on masculine traits to support Peeta who displays many
feminine traits of being in need. She becomes the hunter while he is the gatherer. Katniss takes
on these roles with such power and skill. Going from tender and loving to brave and fierce.
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=3AilblBXlWU
Skills of a hunter give Katniss her fierce outlook to the game keepers among the other
tributes. A quote from the film is an example of the shift between tender and fierce, If Im going
to cry, now is the time. By morning, Ill be able to wash all the damage done by the tears from
my face. But no tears come. Im too tired or too numb to cry. The only thing I feel is a desire to
be somewhere else. So I let the train rock me into oblivion. She displays her intensity
throughout the entire film from start to finish. In the very beginning while Katniss is out hunting
and spots a deer, she is fearless and confident she will succeed in its killing and then the selling
of the deer for trade. This act is illegal in all districts of Panem, whereas Katniss is not afraid to
break the rules to feed her family. The day she is out hunting was the day of the reeping, the day
when the tributes are chosen. Here is when Gail comes in as her peace of mind and guidance. He
spokes her forcing her to miss the deer and essentially saving her from any trouble. The perfect
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example of movie girlfriend, Katniss takes on the roles of being in need and looking up to Gail
for safety and as a provider. Gail after all was the one who taught Katniss many of her skills
which of make her such a fierce competitor in the games. He taught her to fish, trap, and helped
to perfect her bow skills. Spending all this time matures a confidence and love between Katniss
and Gail. Katniss is now brought right back to ordinary girl in love and helpless without her man.
The relationship between the two turns Katniss into movie girlfriend also pulling most
feminist traits away from her. Katniss has a small girl crush on Gail, polluting her image of
strong and powerful. Gail even gives her the silly demeaning nickname of Catnip. With these
examples how could Katniss be a perfect feminist icon? She is only brave when she needs to be,
and is consistently undermined by male figures throughout the film. Haymitch her mentor and
hunger game victor, calls her sweetheart almost the entire film. Every plan or idea is always a
secret to Katniss for fear she will be unable to handle the task of succeeding. Another aspect to
consider is the consistent worry of how Katniss looks or is dressed, bringing her appearance of
stronger importance then her weapon or her herself. She is actually always being saved by men
during the film rather than saving herself or others. Here is a quote from an article with a perfect
example and opinion from the opposing side of Katniss as a feminist icon:
Katniss, in this season of woman-hating, is a stunning example of feminism at its finest
hour. She is compassionate, yet strong. She cares deeply about her family. While she is
tempted to run away with Gale, instead of leaving her sister and mother to fend for
themselves, she stays to support them.
...None of those things are feminism, those aren't even praiseworthy. Those are
basic, ordinary, unremarkable characteristics of every reasonable human being for 6000
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years, and all animals. But that's the bar the reviewer has set for Katniss, for feminism.
That's the fantasy world she'd like to see women eventually get to (Knight of Nothing).
Just another girl Katniss may be as revealed above.
Katniss Everdeen Barbie:

Facebook & Twitter:
https://www.facebook.com/HungerMemes https://twitter.com/EGM013
With the evidence of Katniss demonstrating the normal or reasonable acts of any girl, it
may be truly hard to ignore the stand out actions that makes her character sit just above any
ordinary girl. Theres not every ordinary girl with the traits Katniss carries with her head held
high. She is indeed heroic, courageous, and bares outstanding sacrifice. Her strength, heroism,
independence, fierce and tender heart make Katniss a poster child of astounding role model to all
young girls out there. Any young girl watching this film and look up to this character, which
follow any actions, or take on any of her traits on, would be a strong feminist icon of their own.
Poem:
The element that is the most striking to me, though, is Katniss, portrayed in the film by the
splendid Jennifer Lawrence. Katniss has qualities usually given to boys: a hunter whos kept her
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mother and sister from starving since she was 11, shes intrepid and tough, better at killing
rabbits than expressing her feelings, a skilled bargainer in the black market for meat. No teenage
vegetarian she! At the same time, shes feminine: never aggressive or swaggering, tenderhearted
and protective of the defenselesswhen her little sister Prims name is chosen for the Games,
Katniss volunteers to take her place; during the games she risks death to protect the lovable
girlchild Rue (Amandla Stenberg). Not to get too literary about this most popular of popular
fiction, you can see Katniss as a version of the goddess Artemis, protectress of the young and
huntress with a silver bow and arrows like the ones Katniss carries in the Games.
http://www.okwonga.com/?p=857
Articles:
Houston, Shannon. "Why Feminists Love Katniss Everdeen." Hollywood.com. Hollywood.com,
3 Oct. 2013. Web. 17 July 2014.
The article titled Why Femisists Love Katniss Everdeen written by Shannon Houston.
Shannon studied global marketing at Berkeley University, she writes for Hollywood.com
along with paste magazine. She writes her article with beliefs of the protagonist character
of Katniss Everdeen encompassing a whole human being having traits of being brave and
honorable, as well as being multi-layered and at times also vulnerable. Stating that for
most feminists Katniss is a total dream who impatiently await her next on screen debut.
In the article Shannon shares how feminists really love Katniss for reasons such as, Her
survival as an individual and the survival of her family and community come first
(Houston). Katniss is just a person, a normal girl who then develops into the hero that
everyone enjoys, feminist or not.
Oleksak, Joshua -. "Katniss Everdeen Is Positive for Feminism?" Katniss Everdeen Is Positive
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for Feminism? Liberty Voice, 11 Apr. 2014. Web. 17 July 2014.
This article Katniss Everdeen Is Positive for Feminism? highlights and expresses the
opinions from a mans point of view on feminism, Joshua Oleksak. Joshua is a well-
known reviewer of media and art, writing many blogs during and after attending
Hampshire College as liberal arts major. The title of this article is punctuated as a
question; Joshua quickly makes clear of the question believing it to hold much truth.
Joshua highlights just how not only the character of Katniss being a strong and heroic
figure but how the actress Jennifer Lawerence plays the role to perfection. He goes into
explaining the many traits the character and actress have to display the feminist side in a
positive manner. Joshua states, She cared and hunted for her family from a young age,
she is tough, she is a skilled trader, and has trouble expressing her thoughts and emotions.
To foil these traits, she is also the perfect woman: she is never foul mouthed, she is
protective of the weak, and she has a feminine presentation(Oleksak). He also makes a
comparison to other films with heroic leading ladies, focusing on Kill Bill and Uma
Thurmans role where she is driven to kill by revenge and hate. Katniss never wanted to
kill for any reason other than staying alive and getting back to her family and friends.
Joshua ends his article and opinions of believing Katniss is a true positive influence and
role model for mainstream media.
Osborn, Lauren -. "Katniss Everdeen: Feminist Icon." Vagina. The Zine, 9 June 2012. Web. 18
July 2014.
Lauren Osborn the author of the article Katniss Everdeen: Feminist Icon along with the
editor of this articles source which is named, Vagina the zine. This zine has quarterly
publications giving women the voice to share their creative work with the public. Lauren
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explains how too many books and films short sell female characters where as for Katniss,
as a fiercely independent, loyal, and capable young woman - stands as a symbol of
feminism in modern literature (Osborn). She also goes on to compare Katniss to other
characters such as Bella from Twilight, and the similar love triangle, then to Joan of Arc
with a comparison of true catalysts for political upheaval. Lauren continually states how
Katniss is no scarred woman, Katniss instead carries on to fight and love together, to
have thoughts and feeling, rising above a cold hate we have seen some characters turn to.
Quraishi, Tarina. "The Gender-Neutral Games." The Crimson. The Harvard Crimson, 26
Mar. 2012. Web. 16 July 2014.
The Gender-Neutral Games was written by Tarina Quraishi a Harvard English major
on the Editorial Board of the Harvard Crimson newspaper. She loves creative writing and
administrates a fiction blog as well as an online journalism portfolio. Tarina writes from a
womans view expressing how the protagonist Katniss Everden in The Hunger Games
displays empowerment, having the role as a skilled hunter. Tarnia explains, a strong
feminist role model: independent, skilled, fierce, rose from Katniss for all young girls to
view (Quraishi). Fire, within the film, as Tarnia defines is becoming for the character
in a feminist role. The fire represents attractiveness and as being powerful while
cohesively destroying all that may lay in its path. The article strongly states that the film
avoids restrictive gender, she writes, Within Collins literary world, Katniss is
characterized neither as feminine nor as feminist; she is merely a complex, humanized
character. Perhaps this is the real victory of the Games (Quraishi). In concluding a belief
that gender roles may have been dominant but equally neutral.
Stark, Rachel. "Why Katniss Is a Feminist Character (And It's Not Because She Wields a Bow
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and Beats Boys Up)." Tor.com. Tor.com, 21 Mar. 2012. Web. 20 July 2014.
Rachel Stark the author of Why Katniss Is a Feminist Character is a freelance writer
and editorial assistant working for many publishers. This Tor blogger goes into details
within the article of the feisty main character, Katniss. Rachel writes of her love for
Katniss character and for her difference in roles versus Bella Swans role in Twilight.
How Katniss has a much stronger role as a heroine, more than just having to choose
between two love interests. In the article Rachel states her beliefs of why Katniss is a
feminist character with the quote, Its her ability to find strength in other women and
to support them in return that makes the girl on fire a feminist (Stark).



Watch These Videos Of Feminist Katniss Everdeen:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lh8hxwc0GdE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lh8hxwc0GdE


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How to Dress Like Katniss Everdeen:





Katniss Everdeens Ever After cocktail recipe
Ingredients:
4 ounces jalapeno-infused Camarena Silver Tequila*
3 ounces fresh-squeezed blood orange juice
1 ounce fresh lime juice
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2 ounces orange liqueur
Directions:
In a cocktail shaker, combine jalapeno-infused Camarena Silver Tequila, blood orange juice,
lime juice and orange liqueur.
Fill with ice, shake and strain into a rocks glass over ice.
Garnish with a blood orange peel.
*Directions for Jalapeno-Infused Camarena Silver Tequila
Slice up a fresh jalapeno pepper and allow it to steep in one cup of Camarena Silver Tequila for
two hours.
Taste to check the heat level, and continue to steep if a stronger infusion is desired.
Once the infusion process is complete, remove the slices by pouring the mixture through a mesh
strainer.