Hunger Games Themes

“One half of knowing what you want is knowing what you must give up before you get it,” Sidney Howard once said. This famous quote relates to the Hunger Games in many different ways. One of the major themes of the Hunger Games by Susan Collins is that noble scarifies must be made for the survival of family and friends. The bottom line is that the protagonist sacrifices herself/himself in order to save others. The first example is how Katniss got money for Prim’s goat named lady. The second example is hoe Katniss sacrificed herself to the bag that held something they needed desperately to save Peeta. The last example is how Katniss volunteered as tribute for Prim. The real story how Katniss got enough money for Prim’s goat displays Katniss sacrificing herself to get something for Prim’s birthday. “It was a Friday evening, the day before Prim’s birthday in late May. As soon as school ended, Katniss and Gale hit the woods, because Katniss wanted to get enough to trade a present for Prim. They were disappointed when they headed back because they didn’t catch anything. Katniss and gale were resting for a moment by a stream when they saw him. A deer.”(pg.269) they caught the deer and walked back to District 12 that Katniss lives in, and traded the deer with Goat man. These few state easily state that katniss made a sacrifice just to get prim a present. The second example is how Katniss went to the feast that had a bag that held something they needed desperately. In there case Peeta needed medicine to heal his leg. “No he says. You’re not risking your life for me. Who said I was? I said.”(pg.274). Later they get in an argument and the she says,” All right, I am going and you can stop me!” this shows a sacrifice for loved ones in the novel. The last example it when katniss volunteers for Prim as tribute. “Prim! Strangled cry come out of my throat and my muscles begin to move again. Prim! I don’t need to shove through the crowd. The other kids make