Young Adult Fiction.: Star-Crossed Lovers

Tuesday, April 14, 2020

Star-Crossed Lovers

The Capitol's decision to focus on the two star-crossed lovers from District 12 who have been thrown into the Games together displays the extreme disconnect that they have from the reality that people from the districts experience. They want only a show — the fact that so many children must die is merely an afterthought, and the Games are cause for celebration throughout the Capitol.

Peeta and Katniss’s love story makes the 74^th Hunger Games so much more exciting for the Capitol — rather than only watching children kill one another, they have a hint of drama and romance to follow along with as well. When it is announced that two tributes from the same district can win, Katniss understands immediately the importance of this for the viewers and her chances at survival, saying, "In fact, I know if I was watching I'd loathe any tribute who didn't immediately ally with their district partner. Besides, it just makes sense to protect each other. And in my case — being one of the star-crossed lovers from District 12 — it’s an absolute requirement if I want any more help from sympathetic sponsors" (247). Katniss understands what the Capitol and the people of the districts want, which is drama and a thrilling love story about survival during an event that is supposed to kill 23 out of the 24 who participate. However, while Katniss thinks that this means that the Capitol wants her and Peeta’s love to conquer all, at the end of the Games they are in for a nasty surprise. When only Peeta and Katniss are left standing, it is announced that actually, sorry, only one person can actually win, so one of them has to kill the other (342). The Capitol wanted the ultimate drama and the ultimate ending to the Games — one lover forced to kill the other.

This especially shows that the Capitol does not understand the depth of the Hunger Games. They watch in anticipation every year to see who will come out victorious, not pausing to think at the fact that 23 children have to die for their entertainment every year. And then they decide that they want to watch Katniss and Peeta, whom they’ve been rooting for all along, kill each other so that only one can win. Who in their right mind would actually want to watch two lovers kill each other? The Capitol has an extreme disconnect from the reality lived in the Districts, and they don’t care who has to die for their entertainment.

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