"But I told Rue I'd be there. For the both of us. And somehow that seems even more important than the vow I gave Prim." Katniss Everdeen, Hunger Games, pg. 242.
The Hunger Games (2008) trilogy is a series written by bestselling author Suzanne Collins, set in a post-apocalyptic future. The series is one of the most popular Young Adult dystopian books of the decade. An unusual feature of the novel is the fact that the main protagonist, Katniss Everdeen, is not a typical heroine, indeed, on many occasions she more readily fits the mould of an anti-heroine. As a result, Collins uses several literary devices in order to generate reader sympathy for Katniss.
One of the ways that she achieves this is by showing Katniss' interactions with other characters, such as Peeta, Gale, Prim and Cina. However, it is her relationship with minor character Rue that the following blog will examine.
Katniss is not a very sociable character, perhaps due to her being forced to grow up quickly. After her father's death, and her mother's subsequent withdrawal, Katniss became head of the family in order to make sure that they all, and in particular her younger sister Prim, survived. Katniss's raison d'etre is to protect her sister who she loves. Her determination to see Prim survive, coupled with the hurt that she has already experienced in her life, makes Katniss a survivor. It is through Katniss's relationship with her sister that the readers see her softer, more vulnerable side.
In most of her other relationships we see her being cautious and suspicious. Furthermore, Katniss is very independent and has a self-sufficient attitude that can be daunting but also admirable. If someone makes a mistake, one that endangers Prim or herself, Katniss becomes extremely defensive and does not forgive easily. She refused to forgive her mother for sliding into depression after her father died.
An additional character that Katniss does not trust is fellow tribute, Peeta Mellark. Katniss is instantly suspicious of Peeta, and even when, toward the end of the book, she shows him compassion it is in part of a tactic to increase her chances of winning the Hunger Games.
It is not only people who Katniss seems to take a dislike to, she even hate's Prim's cat.
"He hates me," she says, "or at least dislikes me. Even though it was years ago, I think he still remembers how I tried to drown him in a bucket when Prim brought him home." (Collins, Suzanne, 2008, the Hunger Games, United States, Scholastic Inc, pg. 4).
To most this would seem a shocking thing to do to a defenceless animal, but to Katniss it is only to enhance her family's chance of survival.
Haymitch, Katniss' mentor for the Hunger Games, summarises Katniss in one sentence:
"When you open your mouth, you come across more as sullen and hostile," (Collins, Suzanne, 2008, pg. 141).
It is when she is around Prim that all of Katniss' defences are lowered. Katniss' fierce protectiveness for Prim is what prompts her to protect her sister from the brutality of the Hunger Games and the only way she can do that is by taking her place as tribute. In this we see Katniss acting entirely selflessly. She has nothing to gain from taking Prim's place, although we suspect that Katniss would lose the will to live if Prim were to die.
However, in placing Katniss away from her sister, Collins loses the key character responsible for creating reader sympathy for her protagonist. Therefore, Collins needed to introduce another character who would continue this role. Collins duplicates the relationship Katniss shares with Prim and introduces it in the form of Rue, who is of similar age to Katniss' little sister.
When Rue and Katniss first properly interact, Katniss immediately treats Rue as she does Prim. Just as with Prim, the first thing Katniss wants to do is feed Rue as, being from District 11 and the oldest of six, Rue doesn't get much food.
"Oh, I've never had a whole leg to myself before," (Collins, 2008, pg. 244).While she is with Rue, Katniss shows her nurturing side, it is interesting to see laughter between Rue and Katniss give their situation. They have been thrown into an arena and forced to overcome horrific challenges and fight against each other, however, within minutes of interacting they are laughing together. Collins uses this deliberately to demonstrate their instant bond. We see Rue helping Katniss:
"Rue presses a gloppy green wad of chewed leaves and spit on my knee," (Collins, 2008, pg.243).Through this we see that Katniss is not only vulnerable but is allowing herself to be helped, this is a new experience for the readers who are used to seeing a very proud, independent and self-sufficient Katniss Everdeen.
Katniss similarly heals Rue with ointment that she has received from sponsors in the Capitol.
"I set aside my weapons and anoint her arm with the burn medicine," (Collins, 2008, pg. 243).Again, we see a very caring and tender side of Katniss' personality with the setting aside of weapons is symbolic of Katniss' lowering her defences.
Collins presents Rue in such a way that readers are bound to like her and feel protective of her. She is small, young and unlikely to survive. Furthermore, she is seen to be 'good' in saving Katniss from the other tributes, and in her descriptions of her home life. She is also brave, uncomplaining and always positive. We as readers are therefore invested in her and her survival, every time Katniss is kind towards Rue, our approval is earned.
In the short amount of time that the girls' are together, Collins reveals a lot about Rue and everything we are told is likeable. We become aware that this girl has singled out Katniss since the very beginning:
"I think we've got a shadow," (Collins, 2008, pg. 120).The fact that Rue, who is a greatly liked character, sees something in Katniss that is attractive, in turn, makes Katniss more attractive to the readers. What is more, the fact that Katniss seems generally interested in Rue determines her humanity.
Rue brings out a side of Katniss that we do not usually see; Katniss is not one to give compliments easily, but within the first hour of being in the young tribute's company, Katniss compliments Rue several times:
"That must be how you can fly around the trees like you've got wings," (Collins, 2008, pg. 242-243).This is a very different Katniss from how she has been seen since being separated from Prim. Her directness, sarcasm and snappiness, which make it so difficult for her to make friends, disappears when she is with Rue, and in this we can see that Collins has used Rue as a foil for Katniss. She is used to shine a light on Katniss's good qualities which are otherwise so often hidden.
Collins writes effectively in the first person, allowing readers to be exposed to Katniss' thoughts. This means that from the very beginning of the books many readers develop a dislike for Katniss because most of her thoughts are sour:
"He's right though. The whole rotten lot of them is despicable," (Collins, 2008, pg. 80).Writing in the first person means that on the occasions we are presented with Katniss's inner thoughts, and so it is of interest that Katniss herself confirms the similarity between Rue and Prim:
"She's a survivor, and I trust her, and why not admit it? She reminds me of Prim," (Collins, 2008, pg. 244).Up until this point, Katniss' thoughts have been suspicious and angry. Angry at the Capitol for making them fight each other, angry at Peeta for siding with the career tributes, even though he had only done it to keep her alive; however, in Rue's presence Katniss admits to how lonely she feels:
"I realize, for the first time, how very lonely I've been since entering the arena," (Collins, 2008, pg. 252).This is an excellent narrative device to generate reader sympathy for Katniss.
And so an alliance forms between Katniss and Rue, and we as readers are able to reflect upon that fact, despite the truth being that Katniss is one of the least to gain and Rue is the one who is more likely to benefit.
As a reader, we are able to generate compassion and likeness for Katniss, as we know she is teaming up with Rue so that she can protect and look after her, just as she does her sister Prim.
Rue draws out the maternal, nurturing instincts inside of Katniss and also the generous side of her personality. Not only does Katniss insist on sharing her food with Rue, she also ensures that they share the same sleeping bag during the nights.
When we are sleeping, we are at our most vulnerable and to share the same sleeping bag with someone else is a physical act of closeness that takes the reader by surprise, as it appears so out of character for Katniss. Rue's presence allows us to review previously formed opinions of Katniss and view her more in a positive light.
However, there is a sense of tragedy to the alliance between the two girls' as it is not something that can last. It has to end with one of their deaths, and the unspeakable that hangs between them is that there is a chance that they will be forced to kill each other in the end.
During the story we see that Rue is used to bring out Katniss' softer and more emotional side. Through Rue, Collin's develops Katniss' character and deepens it. One thing that Rue does is to remind Katniss of the worth of music - something which Katniss has ranked somewhere between:
"Hair ribbons and rainbows in the terms of usefulness," (Collins, 2008, pg. 255).In this we see how much Katniss has altered since her father's death and we grieve her loss of girlhood. She had to grow up drastically and close a door on anything that, in her mind, was superfluous. Her entire focus since her father's death has been to survive.
Rue teaches Katniss that there is so much more to life than living just to survive, by helping her to open up to other possibilities outside of her practical and non-sentimental world, Rue is also able to teach Katniss the true meaning behind the Mockingjay pin that she wears; the Mockingjay is the symbol of freedom.
Katniss has not only been trapped by the Capitol, but she is also trapped inside an internal prison and Rue has come along to help set Katniss free, all the whole effectively teaching Katniss that even when she is being deprived she can still have liberty.
Rue has in fact had harder experiences than Katniss. Rue is not allowed to eat the food that she helps harvest from her District:
"Oh, no, we're not allowed to eat the crops," (Collins, 2008, pg. 245).However, despite the harsh regime of her district, Rue has experienced more freedom than Katniss because she trust more easily and finds it easy to take joy in the smallest of things such as flowers, birds and music.
With the parallel drawn between Rue and Prim, Collins cleverly reminds us of the sacrifices and love that Katniss has made for her sister. We are reminded that Katniss is only in the arena so that Prim would not die. Because Rue is superimposed over Prim, we accept the deep bond between Katniss and Rue, and therefore understand the deep grief Katniss experiences when Rue is murdered.
In Rue's death we see Katniss act out of character for she sings to Rue which is something she has not done since her father died.
"I haven't sung much since he died. Except for when Prim is very sick. Then I sing her the same songs that she liked as a baby," (Collins, 2008, pg. 283).For only the second time in the whole book, Katniss deserts her practical and unemotional role, the very role that has been so vital to her survival, and shows us her humanity, something that Rue has shone a light on. Katniss collects blossoms from the wood and uses them as an act of mourning:
"I decorate her body in flowers, covering the ugly wound, wreathing her face and weaving her hair with bright colours," (Collins, 2008, pg. 286-287).This is also to show the Capitol that they cannot take Rue's purity even if she has been forced to fight for her survival. In her death as in her life, Rue has been used by Collins to create compassion and sympathy for Katniss.
As can be seen, Katniss Everdeen is not a typical heroine, lacking as she does many attractive qualities. Whilst Katniss is stubborn, brave, strong, hardworking and determined, this only makes us as readers understand that she has had a hard life, however, it does not help us bond with her. The role of Rue is to help lower the walls that Katniss uses to keep other people out so that we as readers are able to see the hidden depths of her inner personality.
In the short episode that takes place between Katniss and Rue, readers see Katniss develop as a character and are more willing to view her in a sympathetic light. Rue inspires forgiveness towards Katniss which endures throughout the remainder of the book. In this, Collins has taken a minor character and used her to leave a lasting legacy.
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