Rebellion og nationalisme i 'The Hunger Games'

Amongst young adults, the dystopian fiction has become a popular genre. Typical in most Dystopian Fiction literature the protagonist becomes a rebel throughout the story. However, for most people its very common and a natural part of their teenage years, when they choose to rebel against their parents. For some people, this rebellion happens because of a life-changing event. This is exactly what happens to the protagonist Katniss in the novel “The Hunger Games” when her friend dies.

“The Hunger Games” carries many themes. Especially chapter 18. The overall theme, however, is rebellion and nationalism (nationalism for their districts). In the book Katniss, befriends a 12-year-old girl, named rue, from District 11. Rue dies because of a spear, which had been thrown into her stomach by a Career. After the sudden loss and sorrow Katniss feels, she wants to take down the Capitol once in for all and show that she will no longer be accepting their game. “Rue’s death has forced me to confront my own fury against the cruelty, the injustice they inflict upon us” (page 286, II- 6-7). In this quote, Katniss admits to herself that she has had enough, she’s been angry at the Capitol and their way of treating the people of Panem and in particular the lower-class districts. Before Rue’s death she had suppressed her thoughts and emotions. She changed after Rue’s death. “Gale’s voice in my head. His ravings against the Capitol no longer pointless, no longer to be ignored” (page 286, II. 4-5) Earlier on, Katniss did not really agree or interact when Gale used to express himself about the Capitol. Katniss didn’t believe in change, and she didn’t believe that she could make a difference. When Rue dies, she realizes that now is her last chance to have an impact. She decides that now is her time to avenge the fallen tributes and especially rue. She doesn’t care that all of Panem is watching. This is when her rebellion period starts. Her first rebellion action happens after the cannon fires and Rue dies. Normally when a tribute dies, the remaining tributes have to leave the specific area where the body lies, for the hovercraft to pick up the body. Katniss decides to pick up flowers and decorate Rue’s body. Before she says goodbye, she looks back and holds her three middle fingers to her lips and point them into the air. This is an old gesture from District 12, which occasionally can be seen at funerals. It means goodbye to some of your dearest. This is a passive-aggressive opportunity for Katniss to show the Capitol that she will not be owned by them.