Examples Of Archetypes In The Hunger Games By Gary Ross

In the twisting and gut-wrenching plot of The Hunger Games, directed by Gary Ross, twenty-four children are put to the death in a free-for-all death match. The ultimate goal is to be the last one standing. These games are seen as entertainment by the Capitol, which forces uprisings as the games continue. Each different district that participates is a different society, and within each society, there are many different characters that develop to make each civilization what it is. Throughout the plot, archetypes are littered everywhere. With the help of archetypes, the character roles can be expanded and show a much wider spectrum of personalities. Katniss Everdeen, the rather strong-willed girl on fire, quickly becomes a symbol of hope through

After the loss of her father in a coal mine explosion, she has to single-handedly care for her mother and sister. Through the hardships she faces, she transforms to a rebellious and hard-willed girl, that uses those qualities to fight the Capitol. Her qualities allow for her to become that symbol of hope because she is adamant about standing for what is just, and nothing will deter her from her chosen path. After many struggled against the Capitol and failed, Katniss shines like a beacon of light that attracts followers to reach the final destination. The determination and stubbornness shown by Katniss can be directly paralleled to Jack from William Golding’s Lord of the Flies, and his uniquely individual thoughts. He is not fazed by what others think, and continues to support what he understands to be correct. He eventually splits away from the rest of the group because his ideas vary distinctly from the others (Golding). The amplitude to which Katniss’s reasoning and ideology extends is astounding, but it allows for her to individualize herself and shine through as a diamond in the rough, assisting in her charisma as a

President Snow, the mastermind behind the games and their purpose, becomes baffled when he learns of the rebellious nature of Katniss. He realizes that the goal of Katniss is to stop the games and “win” against the Capitol, but it is not through a mindless war. Katniss never wants war because she knows that the peacekeepers can easily cease an uprising. Her role is to expose the Capitol and the lavish lifestyles of its inhabitants, and make the people of the districts realize that the Capitol only holds the games as entertainment and revenge for their disobedience to the Capitol, which would then give the people a reason to fight for (The Hunger Games). Katniss eventually illustrates that humanity is not always searching for the benefit of others. Many times, self-pleasure is of far greater importance than care for the lives of humans is. The Capitol depicts the result of the last uprising through each passing year of the game, but Katniss attempts to portray the significance of standing together, and facing the Capitol as one united district. This can only be done by proving to the people that the Capitol is wrong for searching for entertainment in even the cruelest