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The Hunger Games: Catching Fire

Suzanne Collins

This is the sequel to the novel ‘’The Hunger Games’’. The story took place in a nation known as Panem, established in North America after the destruction of the continent's civilization by an unknown apocalyptic event. The Capitol, a highly advanced metropolis, exercised political control over the rest of the nation. The nation consisted of the wealthy Capitol and twelve surrounding, poorer districts united under the Capitol's control. District 12, where the story began, was located in the coal-rich region that was formerly known as Appalachia.

The Hunger Games was an annual event in which one boy and one girl aged 12–18 from each of the twelve districts surrounding the Capitol were selected by lottery to compete in a televised battle to the death. All tributes must fight to the death until only one individual remained. By the games, the ruler entertained the people in the Capitol on one hand. On the other hand, he intimidated the people of 12 districts, making them threatened and obedient to the leader.  People in the Capitol lived a luxurious life. In contrast, people in 12 districts couldn’t eat to the full.  The rich were in furs, while the poor were in rages. Once the tribute who won the game, was received lifetime goods and materials to live without worrying back and belly as rewards, so as to show Capitol’s generosity.

In the 1^st book, Katniss, who volunteered for the 74th annual Hunger Games in place of her younger sister, Primrose, pretended to fall in love frantically with Peeta Mellark, the male tribute chosen from the district 12, to gain more favor with the audience whereas Peeta was out of the loop. The audience in the Capitol were moved and agitated when both of them were going to eat poisonous berries to commit suicide. In hence, the gamemaker announced that both would be the victors of the 74^th Hunger Games.  

In the 2^nd book, president Snow tried so hard to kill Katniss in view of the winning of 2 victors is the Capitol’s shame. Katniss created a win-win situation. It ignited the fire of the hope for all districts. All of them were under a long-term awful autocracy and driven beyond the limits of forbearance. Not until Katniss succeeded did they dare to burst into anger. President Snow was afraid that she would be the trigger of the rebellion across the districts, though she didn’t mean to do so. She was willing to do everything to show the people that she was grateful and obedient to him, to save her family’s life. Little did she expect that the winning of the Games was like catching fire, turning herself into the symbol of rebellion. Consequently, President Snow announced a special Hunger Games, the third Quarter Quell, where all tributes would be selected from previous victors, so as to get rid of her.         

The main of the 1^st book was focus on the excitement and the challenges in the Games. The dark and the ugly side of people’s mind was revealed without covering. After all, the tributes fought for survival. However, in the 2^nd book, all kinds of emotions were deeply depicted. Not only the tributes but also the people across the districts rose their anger, hatred, love and unity. People in the Capitol viewed the kill as the diversion while the others regarded it as the dreadful nightmare. People in the Capitol urged to spit so as to taste much more delicacies rather than stop eating. Nevertheless, the poor would never know whether they could keep themselves fed after they open their eyes in another morning.

It is pretty inspiring. In the reality, the gap between rich and poor is badly expanding. In the age of advances in technology and free democracy; however, the chance will never be on minority groups’ side. Never to expect for those who are holding powers, owning everything and sitting right on the top of the pyramid to share what they are enjoying. As a result, the greed erodes the peace creating by the equality. Exploitation begins, and the people blind by the greed can’t see the truth. Therefore, the people with the backlog of resentment rise in rebellion. The fight explodes. Not the same as the novel, we are fortunate to own the rights which are protected by the constitution, so we can protest against the unfairness in legal ways and guard our rights. Instead, what the people in the story can do is to risk their lives, revolting through their blood and tears.

As a student, watching unfair social affairs pile up one after another, I feel nothing to help. Though we have laws as protection, people with ugly thoughts are hiding behind laws. Though we elect legislators to voice for the society, they finally collude with businessmen.  The tax inflates year by year, and the price of houses is high enough to take us aback. Not stepping into the society, I take shelter under the identity as a student, and stagger in vision of the unknown.   

Perhaps, it is God’s arrangement for us to take the challenges.

People in the story strive to survive, and to change their fate. We should make efforts and get over hardship for ourselves, and embrace the sun the day after tomorrow. After all, we have no choice but to face the cruel fact, so just do the right things and don’t be hesitate.