Blog Post #9

I am currently reading, "Catching Fire", by Suzanne Collins. Katniss, the main character's ordinary world is very different than our world today. She lives in district 12, a district of both poverty and luxe. The district is surrounded by woods, and inside is your typical town. Houses, shops and Victor's Village, where the previous victors of the games live if are successful. Money is very scarce, so many families rely on the woods for hunting or the little money families get from their jobs. There is a town square, where the reapings take place, festivals etc. In the district, there is a thriving coal mine, where most of the young men work. The purpose of her ordinary world is pretty much to stay alive, and help her family stay alive. She hunts every morning (even though it's illegal) and trades with shopkeepers and the mayor for goods they need to live.


Q) What pressures exist for the character in her ordinary world?
A) The pressures are very simple. Hope you don't get picked for the reaping, find food, make money and stay alive.


Q) Who creates conflict or peace here?
A) President Snow creates conflict (even though he is from the capitol). He initiates the reapings, and pays surprise visits to the district to make sure no one is breaking the law. There is no particular person who creates peace, except maybe inner peace with yourself.


Q) Which elements create the most or least comfort?
A) There really is no comfortable elements for district 12 people, except if you have won the games. Victors village provides peace, comfort, riches and anything else. The least comfort would probably be the enviornment itself. You live in a shabby, old house, no money and no food. The thought of tomorrow is probably not a comforting thought, as your life is put on the line at any moment.


Q) Why is the character excited or reluctant to leave this world behind?
A) I believe Katniss is reluctant to leave the world behind. She doesn't want to leave her family and friends again, because she knows she is most likely to never return. Also, she knows what horrors the area brings, so she doesn't want to have to go through that again.

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Dec. 12th, 2011

This image is of Katniss hunting in the woods in district 12. There is nothing really available for the motion picture at the moment, but I thought this caught the essence of staying alive.

"In district 12, looking old is somewhat of an achievement since so many people die early. You see an elder person, you want to congradulate them on their longvity, ask the secret of survival. A plump person is envied because they aren't scraping by the the majority of us." Katniss Everdeen, Catching Fire, page 267