Gender Representation in The Hunger Games

By Jade Leacock

The Hunger Games

• The Hunger Games is a trilogy adventure and action novel written by Suzanne Collins. The novel embarks on the story of Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark, who are both unfortunately thrown into the 74th Annul Hunger Games event in which they are ordered to fight to the death alongside 23 other competitors all from different districts.

Heroism

• The Hunger Games unlike most action filled movies portrays a female as being the heroine. Within the film Katniss is portrayed as being courageous, masculine and a leader. Stereotypically males are thought to have more control, in such situations but the movie allows Katniss to displays more “male” traits – She tends to not show emotion for the fear of looking too weak, hunts just as if she were a man and has to seek survival in killing others. In contrast to that Peeta is portrayed as being the more emotionally open and romantic one.

• This allows us to paint of picture of Katniss and use her characteristics as living proof that despite the fact that she may be a female by sex, her desire, will to survive, hunting skills and personality towards to situation all lead to a more masculine side rather then feminine.

Peeta Mellark

• Within the movie Peeta is portrayed as being more fragile towards the situation. He only kills one person within the whole hunger games, he is more openly emotional by displaying his love for Katniss whilst knowing the whole country is watching, rarely hunts Katniss does majority of that and is better with his words and language. Unlike most males he dislikes violence and we as viewers see Peeta at his most frail moments looking weak and powerless. Viewers would perceive Gale as being the more manly character within the Hunger Games.

Gender Analysis

• The Hunger Games has shown how stereotypically the world we live in is. We are lead to believe that males must act in a certain way towards certain situations and vice versa for females; but The Hunger Games clearly displays that the different characteristics we associate with are available to everyone and anyone. Peeta’s character takes on the more womanly role as he plays more of the damsel in distress rather then the prominent male leader;

Katniss on the other hand is perceived as being a warrior. Her strong female presence can easily be compared to her as being an alpha male Lion. The Hunger Games is living proof that gender doesn’t and shouldn’t be stereotyped and categorized towards a certain sex, any and everyone can be a a hero whether that be a male or female we are all equal and able to do what others can do to.

Bibliography

• http://extdips1415.blogspot.co.uk• http://rhrealitycheck.org/article/2013/12/12/the-hunger-games-gender-role-revolution/