In my opinion, one of the
most fascinating developments in the novel revolves around the reversal of stereotypical gender roles in our society.
In general, people tend to associate emotion-driven behavior and
expressiveness with females, while relating a cold, calculating mentality and the
concealment of emotion with males.
Nonetheless, these traditional ideas of gender behavior flip during Suzanne
Collins’s The Hunger Games, with Katniss ultimately assuming the traditionally
male role and Pita demonstrating aspects of a stereotypical female character throughout
the novel.
One of the most prominent examples
of Katniss’s mentality evidences itself through her initial indifference
towards Peeta’s wellbeing. Despite
recognizing him during the Hunger Games reaping and even contemplating if she
should express her gratitude for their past encounter at the bakery, Katniss
ultimately demonstrates that she maintains a sense of indifference towards him. For example, she internally deems, “There
will be twenty-four of us. Odds are someone else will kill him before I do” (Collins
33). This complete lack of sympathy towards
Peeta reiterates her internal differentiation from the woman stereotype. Later in novel, when Katniss and Peeta form
an alliance, Katniss becomes the voice of reason and decision-making in the
group, once again signaling Collins’s effort to distinguish Katniss from the
typical female character. For example,
when Claudius Templesmith invites the remaining tributes to a feast which will
include an team necessity, Katniss volunteers without hesitation. However, upon recognizing a sense of dissent from
Peeta, Katniss forcibly feeds him a sleeping syrup. Katniss narrates, “I clamp my hand over his
mouth and nose hard, forcing him to swallow instead of spit” (Collins
277). Ultimately this stern, decisive
behavior differs from that of most women.
On the other hand, Peeta, although physically and
mentally robust, relies on emotions to dictate decisions and remains must more
expressive of his opinions that Katniss.
For example, during the interview with Caeser, Peeta reveals his
affection for Katniss, claiming, in regard to Katniss, “‘Well there is this one
girl. I’ve had a crush on her ever since I can remember. But I’m pretty sure she
didn’t know I was alive until the reaping’” (Collins 138). Peeta’s ability to make such an emotional
revelation to an audience of that size contrasts with Katniss’s reluctance to show
her feelings unless advantageous for her.
Furthermore, after the games conclude, Peeta makes it evident to Katniss
that his crush on her has not subsided.
Nonetheless, Peeta ultimately realizes that although he possesses an
authentic sense of affection towards Katniss, she merely acts in a loving
manner during the Hunger Games to win over the crowd. For example, Peeta states, in recognition of
her true emotions, “‘It was all for the Games’” (Collins 372). In conclusion, Peeta’s sense of openness and
his inability to conceal his emotion differs from the stereotypical male role,
a position with Katniss embodies in the novel through her calculating, logical nature.
I completely agree that the gender roles in The Hunger Games are reversed between Katniss and Peeta. Traditionally a woman is seen as very soft and nurturing, however, Katniss seems as though she is hard and emotionless. For example, at the end of the Games, Haymitch warns Katniss that she may be in danger if the Capitol finds out that she isn’t truly in love with Peeta. Katniss goes on to say in an interview that she was going to eat the poisonous berries because she couldn’t bear the thought of losing Peeta, rather than stating it was an act of rebellion against the Capitol. While Katniss isn’t truly in love with him, she was easily able to lie about her feelings in order to get what she really wanted. This shows that she is able to manipulate others into thinking what she wants, including Peeta. Unfortunately, while Katniss’ feelings are platonic, Peeta does have romantic feelings for Katniss and is hurt and feels as though she deceived him. This shows a gender role reversal because it is often portrayed that women fall in love with men during stressful situations like the Games, but in this case it is Peeta who falls in love with Katniss, who in turn breaks his heart.
ReplyDeleteI think a better description of the gender roles between Katniss and Peeta is Katniss's assumption of both male and female gender roles, at least once Peeta is seriously injured. Generally, males in stories are portrayed as the breadwinner and provider while females are depicted as caretakers. Once Peeta can't do anything due to the cut in his leg, Katniss feels obligated to care for him since they are supposed to be selling the story that they are in love. Feeding him broth from Haymitch and trying to cool him down when he has a fever demonstrate this point. At the same time, she takes the responsibility of gathering food and going to retrieve the medicine from the feast. More than a gender role reversal, the relationship between Katniss and Peeta resembles a single parent trying to care for a sick child. Like the parent would have to balance keeping an eye on their child while perhaps trying to work from home, Katniss has to try to keep Peeta from dying from his wounds while keeping herself alive as well. While an argument could be made for a role reversal earlier in the novel (like when Katniss provides for her family while Peeta works in a bakery), Katniss takes on a much larger role in their relationship while Peeta is rendered largely useless while he is hurt.
ReplyDeleteI believe that your point about the gender role switch is prominent in every part of the book. Katniss' demeanor is rough while Peeta has a soft heart, very different from the typical gender archetypes. Katniss has that edge to her personality because she has largely taken care of Prim her entire life, so she didn't have time to make friendships and form meaningful bonds with other people. Her inexperience with relationships and her sharpness are what cause her to create the faux love with Peeta. She expects Peeta to cope up with the relationship but Peeta is thickheaded in that aspect and proceeds to fall in love with her. One aspect of Katniss' lack of true romantic attraction to Peeta has to do with the fact that she has to constantly take care of him during the Hunger Games. It's extremely difficult for someone to fall in love with another when they have to feed them and do other chores for them.
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