Should I stay or should I go?

Unless you are living under a rock, you know what the hunger games series is. You may not know the details, but you've definitely have a clue. Basically, the series is set in North America, which is now called Panem. Panem is broken up into 12 districts, and is ruled by The Capitol and an awful man named President Snow. President Snow is described smelling like blood on his breath.(32) The Capitol is cruel and to keep all the citizens of Panem in line they force them all to send one boy and one girl between the ages of twelve and eighteen to participate in the annual Hunger Games, a fight to the death on live TV. The Hunger Games goes on to punish and prove that the Capitol is in power. It all began after a rebellion initiated by District 13, a district that supposively doesn't exist anymore. Each year, for 74 years, the Hunger Games have taken place, forcing 24 children from 12 districts (one boy and girl from each district) between the ages of 12-18 (who are chosen at the annual Reaping ceremonies) to kill each other as punishment for the rebellion initiated by District 13. Peeta Mellark, a baker’s son, is the chosen boy from district 12, and Prim Everdeen, Katniss’s younger sister, is the chosen girl, until Katniss stepped up and volunteered as tribute, in her place. No one knew how both Peeta, and Katniss were going to survive, but they proved everyone wrong, especially the Capitol. Only one tribute is supposed to come out alive from the arena, but Peeta and Katniss were smart and worked together as a team to make it through. After all 22 tributes died from every district, it was up to Katniss and Peeta to decide who gets to go home. They decided that if they both can’t go home to their families, that they’ll both die together in the arena. Katniss grabbed a handful of poisonous berries, and split them between them both. Both were seconds away from taking their lives, until the victory buzz rang. They both had won the Hunger Games. Nothing like this had ever happened before, and President Snow did not like it, not one bit.

I’ll be the first to say, I love Katniss Everdeen. I love her character, and how she carries herself. I love how caring she is towards her family and friends, and how she’ll put them before herself. Even though described in the book she should have gray eyes, and olive skin tone, I really enjoy Jennifer Lawrence portrayal of her. From the beginning I’ve always been rooting on Katniss. She seems like such a good person that you really can’t not like her. She doesn’t give you any reason to do so. To be honest, this series kind of scares me. The situations and obstacles Katniss is forced to go through are terrifying, and if I were in those positions, I probably wouldn’t have lasted. She is so strong and smart, and it great to see this in a female character. I’d like to think that I may be the same. Katniss, since a very young age, has had to be a mature adult , and has had many responsibilities. Her father passed away in a coal mining accident, and she has had to step in and help in the family. Her mother went into a deep depression once her husband passed away, so Katniss had to be a mother figure to Prim. In my own life, I feel like I relate to her in this way. My mother is also a single parent, so I’ve also had to help a lot, and be mature and a very young age. Just this quality alone by Katniss is something that should be emulated. She hunts, shops, and does basically everything for her family…… and is also now a leader of a rebellion. At first, she didn’t want this title. Like anyone, she was afraid. She was afraid of President Snow and The Capitol, and what they would do to her family, and her friends family. She was afraid for her own life too. Katniss even pulled a Hamlet and went back and forth between running away with her loved ones and escaping District 12, or staying to die. Should I go? Should I stay? Should I go? Should I stay? She ultimately decided to stay because she realized what an important figure she is for the rest of Panem. Many other districts are ready for the rebellion, they are tired of how they are being treated but they just need someone to help spark the flame. Katniss and her mocking jay are the symbol for this new coming rebellion. Once Katniss realized District 8 has already began to revolt, she finally learned her place. It is time to take down The Capitol, and for the Districts to rise. The Capitol, the wealthiest part of Panem, where President Snow lives, has been treating the citizens in all the districts except 1-4, awfully. Many are forced to work and live in awful conditions, and have no freedom whatsoever. Many don’t even know when they're next meal will be.That's why it's so important for Katniss to stay lead Panem to a new future.

This is one of the only novels out there that have a female protagonist. Katniss's character totally flips gender roles. Usually the girl is never the hero, and is the one who needs saving. Not Katniss! She doesn't care or try to fit her "role" in society. She does what she wants and needs to do in order to keep her family alive. She doesn't care what others think of her. That's why I love her so much. She's a great role model not only for the citizens in Panem, but also for the readers. Her ambitious and persistent is very admirable, and that's why shes so well liked. She stands for justice and a new beginning. The author Suzanne Collins, wrote Katniss as the hero to change things up. Were so used to seeing males do the fighting and saving, now its finally a woman's turn. During this time in the United States, with the Feminist Movement going on, it's great to see such a strong character as Katniss be so prevalent. Our world is changing and woman are finally getting the recognition we deserve in all factors such as where we work, how much we make, and what we do with our bodies. Katniss just adds a positive contribution to this movement.