hunger games analysis

Hunger Games: From a Feminist’s
Prospective
Up until recently, women were never cast to play the strong leading role of the hero, but in recent pop-culture the male dominated movie industry has seen a sudden shift. These days women are being cast in a new light. There are women playing the hero and their male counterparts have found themselves playing the damsel in distress. In the recent blockbuster, Hunger Games, based on a novel by Susan Collins, is about a young girl named “Katniss”. She has volunteered as a “tribute” to represent her district in the “hunger games”. She is accompanied by a boy named “Peta”, together they represent “district 12”. Katniss’ journey through all the trials and tribulations is the movies overall focus. The exposition of the movie properly introduces the film’s leading character. Katniss is in the woods surrounding her district hunting for food. This of course is a refreshing change to what most people have always found to be a man’s job. In this opening scene the audience catches their first glimpse at the young woman’s prowess. As the movie continues one gets the sense that the young woman lives in a place where the life is hard. All around the town the citizens live in squander. In the market place, Katniss is shown bargaining, a trait best exhibited in men, but instead Katniss, the young hunter. Katniss later goes on to her house where she is greeted by her mother and younger sister. Her mother, unaware of the tall social hurdles her daughter is climbing sends her off to get clean and pretty for the choosing of the tributes. Her mother doesn’t believe it’s proper for a young woman to be dirty and be dressed like Katniss. Her mother represents all the mothers throughout history that have continued the stereotypical young lady. Woman like her have kept the feminist ideas from progressing. It is clearly exhibited that she doesn’t show signs of changing her ways either. Though unable to mold Katniss into the ideal young lady, she still has Prim, the younger daughter. After sending Katniss to change out of her dirty pants and into a clean nice dress, she averts her attention towards the younger daughter where she continues to dress her. The most profound scene of the entire movie and the scene that best represents the inner strength that Katniss is the scene where the tributes are being chosen. She has already shown that she holds some characteristics that only boys and men usually have, but she has yet to display bravery in the face of danger. In the past women were never called to action. Women characters in movies always played the wife, the house keeper, the damsel in distress, and the woman that never stood up against oppression. When the names are being drawn from the jar of names the first name called is Peta. A young man, he is average height and build. When first chosen he is timid, not excited as many people would have believed in the past. He is scared. The same scared facial expression displayed on Peta’s face is exhibited in Prim’s face when she is chosen. When Katniss realizes what has just happened she quickly runs after her younger sister, but she is accosted by the police men. The police in this scene represent the ideas and beliefs that have held down women for thousands of years. Though the men overpower her, all their streth could not hold back her words. In an unseen turn of events Katniss volunteers as tribute in place of her younger sister. That very scene encompasses the progress that women have made throughout the years. There is no doubt that an many instances men are far more stronger than women, but strength can only go so far in keeping women in their place. It takes the voice of one woman to change the thoughts of men and women around the world. Katniss has been taking care of her family since her father has left. A job that the son usually takes on, Katniss has been the provider and the protector for her sister and mother. She isn’t going to stop now. She responds when she is called to action. She doesn’t stay back home, because it is known that a person can’t stay home and be the hero. The remainder of the movie continues to show Katniss being oppressed by her male counterparts. Being a woman, she isn’t taken very seriously, but she quickly changes that. Although stronger than the average woman, Katniss uses her wit and training to survive the games. She survives to the end and above all she chooses virtue over victory. On multiple occasions she exhibits humility in the eyes of violence and danger. She along with Peta, win the hunger games. When viewed from a feminist perspective this film goes far beyond progressing the image women in pop-culture. Katniss, the main character is strong and witty. She confronts danger and never backs down. Apart from her strength and prowess, she displays virtue. The leading woman in the movie is the epitome of good. This film will change the view of women forever.