Katniss Reaping

One important event in the novel “The Hunger Games” by Suzanna Collins is the reaping. The reasons that this was an important event were that it was a key event in the story, it was a key moment in the relationship between Peeta and Katniss and is helped me to understand some of the important ideas in the novel such as sacrifice and power and control.
The reaping in my opinion is one of the most significant and important events in this story. The reaping is where the whole plot of the story begins. Every District has a reaping to commence the Hunger Games, where two tributes are chosen. At the District 12 reaping Katniss’s sister Prim is chosen before Katniss steps in and volunteers herself as tribute. This is the first time that Katniss and
Peeta truly meet each other and is one of the key moments in their relationship. The reaping is one of the most terrifying event in many people’s lives, it may be the day that they lose their son/daughter or have to enter the games themselves. Yet, for other people such as those from Districts 1 and 2 it is a time to show off their skills and bring honour and glory to their district. “My fingers stretch out, seeking Prim’s warmth but finding only the rough canvas cover of the mattress. She must have had bad dreams and climbed in with our mother. Of course, she did. This is the day of the reaping.” In my opinion they reaping is a very good way to start the story’s plot as it includes many different aspects that are relevant further on in the story.
The reaping is the only the second time that Katniss had any real contact with Peeta. The first being when Katniss was starving and lying outside Peeta’s family’s bakery. Katniss hears Peeta being yelled at from inside that bakery and being told to go outside and throw the bread he had burnt to the pigs. As Peeta walks outside he sees Katniss and throws the bread to her instead. Peeta knew that he could have been in deep trouble for what he did, but he did it because of his feelings towards Katniss. During the reaping Katniss has a flash back to this moment when she sees Peeta walking up towards the stage. “To this day, I can never shake the connection between this boy, Peeta Mellark, and the bread that gave me hope, and the dandelion that reminded me that I was not doomed. And more than once, I have turned in the school hallway and caught his eyes trained on me, only to quickly flit away”. Having a relationship in a novel makes it more interesting as it adds an extra twist to the story especially when they may have to end up killing each other. This is shown in the novel as Peeta and Katniss attract far more attention than the other tributes because they have been titled as “the star crossed lovers”
The reaping helped me to understand two important ideas in this novel.
These ideas were: sacrifice and power and control. The first idea which was probably the most dominant one is sacrifice. Katniss makes a huge sacrifice when she volunteers to take Prims place as tribute. If Katniss had not taken Prim’s place as tribute she would have most definitely been killed quickly as she had none of the skills that Katniss possessed and was half the size of most of the other tributes. “"Prim!" The strangled cry comes 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 way immediately allowing me a straight path to the stage. I reach her just as she is about to mount the steps. With one sweep of my arm, I push her behind me."I volunteer!" I gasp. "I volunteer as tribute!".” People make sacrifices everyday for the ones they love. Something as simple as going out of your way to help someone who is in need can be considered a small sacrifice on your
part.
The second theme/idea present at the reaping is the idea of power and control.
The control that both the Capitol and the peacemakers have over the other 12 districts is unbelievable. That they can make each district sacrifice two of their own each year to fight to the death in an arena for the entertainment of their people is horrendous. “Taking the kids from our districts, forcing them to kill one another while we watch – this is the Capitol’s way of reminding us how totally we are at their mercy. How little chance we would stand of surviving another rebellion. Whatever words they use, the real message is clear. “Look how we take your children and sacrifice them and there’s nothing you can do. If you lift a finger, we will destroy every last one of you. Just as we did in District Thirteen””. In my opinion the Capitol runs the Hunger Games not just to entertain their people but also to show off to the Districts just how powerful and controlling they are. As this story is set in the futuristic North America it is a very realistic setting having one state in complete and utter power and the other states having to obey their every
command.
In conclusion to this essay the key event that was important to me at or near the beginning of the text was the reaping because it was one of the key events in the story, was a key moment in the relationship between Peeta and Katniss and it helped me to understand some of the important ideas in the text specifically sacrifice and power and control.