In the book, Mockingjay, by Suzanne Collins, we are looking through the main character Katniss's eyes. We are looking through the eyes of a rebel. The perpective we are missing is the Captiol's side, for example President Snow.
Looking through the eyes of rebellion, we would think the other side, in this case The Capitol, are cruel and is seeking way too much power. Katniss describes them as people who just wants what's good for themselves, and not their citizens. And she says they kill people when ever they don't get what they want. I think Collins left out the perspective of The Capitol, because I think she wants us on "her side" which is the rebels when we read this book because that is what she thinks is right. I looked deeper, and I believe she uses Katniss as a gateway, into her mind. I think she uses Katniss to represent her in a way because if she wanted to say that power is a good thing and that freedom isn't a given, then Collins would have probably told this story through President Snow's eyes or someone from District 2. But instead, she wanted to say that you need freedom, so she used a voice from someone from the rebels, the side that is fighting for their freedom!
I think the reason sometimes we think someone is a "good" person, is because of the way the author describes him/her. If Collins wrote this book in the voice of a person supporting The Capitol, we would probably think the Capitol did the right thing for fighting against the rebels, and doing things like bombing District 8. Maybe The Capitol actually had a reason to take control of the Districts. Maybe, since the earth was so ruined, that Snow wanted to keep everything in order, so our species won't die out completely (become extinct!) Also, in every book, whenever you kind of have to choose sides, they author makes things seem really bad on the other side, so it is very clear which side the author wants you to take. I think that if you see things from both sides, then you might not think someone is considered "bad", or even "good!" If she wrote this book through President Snow's eyes, she will probably say something like this to make Katniss seem like the "bad" character, "Katniss is just trying to fight for freedom because she wants to keep the citizens away from annoying her about The Hunger Games! She probably just doesn't want to compete again so she wants to fight and get attention!"
I think the author makes you take the rebels' side so you will understand her message that, power is not good and can turn people into savages. The way Snow kills people with his power. I also think, keeping a voice away from us in a story, makes us just completely think, oh yeah that side is definetly the enemies! Also, I think Collins didn't want us to know about what power can do. It can do really bad things like hang people instantly if you feel like it. And keeping that information away will prevent us from turning into savages!
Keeping us from the other sides' perspective makes us understand her message in the book better. Which is why I say, DOWN WITH THE CAPITOL!!!
Thursday, October 27, 2011
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
Blog Post #4: Mockingjay- Setting
***SPOILER ALERT*** in the middle of the post
In the book Mockingjay, by Suzanne Collins, there are several settings. One is Panem in general, it is taken place millions years after now. Panem, is kind of a...destroyed phase of the earth. There is only North America left in the time period, known then as Panem, and it is separated into 12 districts. There was once a 13th district, but it has denied power the Capitol (the capitol of Panem is actually called "The Capitol") and has went into war with them, and vanished off the face of the earth. But has actually started their own independent district underground! And now, district 12 has been destroyed by the Capitol, and the people of district 12 have now gone to live in district 13 underground. This is one of those settings in the book, district 13. But there are many other settings that come up in the book too! Like for example, district 12 (they go back to visit a few times) and the woods that Katniss and Gale go to hunt in.
My main focus in this post is the setting of district 13. I chose this plot because it is very unique. I mean, how many times do you ever read about a setting that is underground in a destroyed planet in a book?!? This plot is very significant to the plot because without it, Katniss and her family would probably not be rebelling against the Capitol, but actually on the Capitol's side! District 13 was made to rebel against the Capitol, which is actually going into action now because there is about to be a war in the book! Also, 13 is a very strict place to live in too! Everyday the citizens of district 13 have to put their arm in a arm scanner thing, and scan their schedules onto their arms! They have to report to a place in 13 every part of the day and do "chores", they do things like, help the kitchen with the meals, report to special meetings, and so on. But they do get to eat, but they have special times when they can have their meals and they have to eat everything they are given, even if they don't want to. There can even be punishments if you give your food to others because the food gives you all the energy you need for the day.
Katniss will probably not be the Mockingjay (the symbol of rebellion) if she didn't live in district 13. It is VERY strict with rules, and Katniss likes to deny them all. If these rules didn't make her go crazy and sort of force herself into breaking them, the president of district 13, Coin, wouldn't see her as a Mockingjay most of the time (even if she did break all the rules in the Hunger Games.)
Collins makes this setting of 13 really stand out just by, having this as her setting! Her setting she uses are very unique, which is what you need for a Sci-Fi book. But she uses her description so beautifully that you can almost imagine yourself in that place at this very moment. For example, "My first impulse is to cover my nose to block out the stench of soiled linen, putrefying flesh, and vomit, all ripening in the heat of the warehouse. They've propped open skylights that crisscross the high metal roof, but any air that's managing to get in can't make a dent in the fog below. The thin shafts of sunlight provide the only illumination, and as my eyes adjust, I can make out row upon row of wounded, in cots, on pallets, on the floor, because there are so many to claim the space." (pg 88) This is a quote of when Katniss goes and visits a hospital in district 8 right after the bombing by the Capitol, she goes there to make a video for a propaganda video encouraging the rebellion. In this quote, you can feel the hotness of the room surronded by all those people, you can imagine the people moaning of pain on the floor, and you can smell the wounded flesh right then and there. Collins uses her description to show you (not tell you) the scene, she's introducing you to this place. She wants the reader to see and feel this place, and her description does that.
Without this specific setting, this story would probably be totally different. If Katniss moved to district, for example, district 2, she would be on the Capitol's side because district 2 is a kiss up to the Capitol. She would be a whole different person because of the brainwashing they would do to her. They would courpt her and turn her into a minion like everyone in district 2 is. They actually like watching people die every year in the Hunger Games! You can tell the people of that district is very...different because the kids in that district volunteer to perform in the Games! While others pray every year not to be chosen. Which is why this setting, is very important.
In the book Mockingjay, by Suzanne Collins, there are several settings. One is Panem in general, it is taken place millions years after now. Panem, is kind of a...destroyed phase of the earth. There is only North America left in the time period, known then as Panem, and it is separated into 12 districts. There was once a 13th district, but it has denied power the Capitol (the capitol of Panem is actually called "The Capitol") and has went into war with them, and vanished off the face of the earth. But has actually started their own independent district underground! And now, district 12 has been destroyed by the Capitol, and the people of district 12 have now gone to live in district 13 underground. This is one of those settings in the book, district 13. But there are many other settings that come up in the book too! Like for example, district 12 (they go back to visit a few times) and the woods that Katniss and Gale go to hunt in.
My main focus in this post is the setting of district 13. I chose this plot because it is very unique. I mean, how many times do you ever read about a setting that is underground in a destroyed planet in a book?!? This plot is very significant to the plot because without it, Katniss and her family would probably not be rebelling against the Capitol, but actually on the Capitol's side! District 13 was made to rebel against the Capitol, which is actually going into action now because there is about to be a war in the book! Also, 13 is a very strict place to live in too! Everyday the citizens of district 13 have to put their arm in a arm scanner thing, and scan their schedules onto their arms! They have to report to a place in 13 every part of the day and do "chores", they do things like, help the kitchen with the meals, report to special meetings, and so on. But they do get to eat, but they have special times when they can have their meals and they have to eat everything they are given, even if they don't want to. There can even be punishments if you give your food to others because the food gives you all the energy you need for the day.
Katniss will probably not be the Mockingjay (the symbol of rebellion) if she didn't live in district 13. It is VERY strict with rules, and Katniss likes to deny them all. If these rules didn't make her go crazy and sort of force herself into breaking them, the president of district 13, Coin, wouldn't see her as a Mockingjay most of the time (even if she did break all the rules in the Hunger Games.)
Collins makes this setting of 13 really stand out just by, having this as her setting! Her setting she uses are very unique, which is what you need for a Sci-Fi book. But she uses her description so beautifully that you can almost imagine yourself in that place at this very moment. For example, "My first impulse is to cover my nose to block out the stench of soiled linen, putrefying flesh, and vomit, all ripening in the heat of the warehouse. They've propped open skylights that crisscross the high metal roof, but any air that's managing to get in can't make a dent in the fog below. The thin shafts of sunlight provide the only illumination, and as my eyes adjust, I can make out row upon row of wounded, in cots, on pallets, on the floor, because there are so many to claim the space." (pg 88) This is a quote of when Katniss goes and visits a hospital in district 8 right after the bombing by the Capitol, she goes there to make a video for a propaganda video encouraging the rebellion. In this quote, you can feel the hotness of the room surronded by all those people, you can imagine the people moaning of pain on the floor, and you can smell the wounded flesh right then and there. Collins uses her description to show you (not tell you) the scene, she's introducing you to this place. She wants the reader to see and feel this place, and her description does that.
Without this specific setting, this story would probably be totally different. If Katniss moved to district, for example, district 2, she would be on the Capitol's side because district 2 is a kiss up to the Capitol. She would be a whole different person because of the brainwashing they would do to her. They would courpt her and turn her into a minion like everyone in district 2 is. They actually like watching people die every year in the Hunger Games! You can tell the people of that district is very...different because the kids in that district volunteer to perform in the Games! While others pray every year not to be chosen. Which is why this setting, is very important.
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Blog Post #3: Mockingjay- Theme
***SPOILER ALERT***
The theme of war and government cruelty is shown in the book by The Hunger Games! The Hunger Games represent war, because they are basically lifted into an arena, then being forced to kill each other off for no reason at all! And why do they want people to kill each other anyways? It's not good! And I think Collins wants to empathize that war is bad, also through Peeta. The way that he is captured from President Snow after the Quarter Quell makes a message about what war can lead to and how things never get good from it. Also, when Peeta was telling Coin, the President of District 13, that he wanted a cease-fire and just call the war off, Katniss didn't know if he meant it or not! Maybe he was forced to say that just so he can save Katniss. Maybe Snow told him to save that if he wanted to stay alive, so they can catch Snow off guard. And because he was defending Katniss during the meeting about what happened during the Quarter Quell, it gives us another clue that he got forced into saying it to save Katniss.
I think that Collins is trying to make us feel happy for what we have, and for us to know that war isn't good. Cause when you fight fire with fire, you just get a bigger fire. It doesn't solve anything. I think she wants us to be happy that our lives aren't like this, and that we should be happy that we don't have to watch people get killed in an arena every year, or worse, be in that arena! And that is why she has a lot of innocent people (or not) get killed even after the games!
I think she wants us to know that you never know, this can happen someday and you just have to live everyday likes its the last day you will, before it all blows away into dust.
Thursday, October 6, 2011
Blog Post # 2 Bridge to Terabithia: Leslie and Jess's friendship (Writing Entry)
Jess and Leslie's relationship at first doesn't really go to well. They didn't really start out as friends. Jess social normed her at first, he used to not like her because she wasn't a "typical girl" he followed everyone else. He didn't want to be seen around her because no one liked her.
Jess learns a lot about Leslie though. The turning point is when Jess realizes that he doesn't care about what everyone else thought, he became friends with her because he was inspired by her. He realized that when Leslie beat all the boys in the race, and got teased, but she could hold her head high! Then he could be friends with her and push everyone else's thoughts out of the way.
After that turning point, both their lives were dramatically changed. Leslie is a mentor to Jess, she kind of takes him on a journey, and teaches him to just be a kid and not be concerned with what others think of him. And also that a little imagination, (Terabithia) can mean a lot! And as for Jess helping out Leslie, she just has someone to share all her imagination, adventures, and wisdom with!
I guess I never had a friendship like this. I always learned this kinda stuff on my own. I never had someone that I really love to share all the excitement with. But I guess I don't really want a friendship like this though because I want to be more independent and don't have to rely on others, and also, if something tragic happened, I would be crushed for months. Jess was so devastated when Leslie died because she taught him a lot, but if he did everything on his own, he wouldn't be so crushed.
Jess learns a lot about Leslie though. The turning point is when Jess realizes that he doesn't care about what everyone else thought, he became friends with her because he was inspired by her. He realized that when Leslie beat all the boys in the race, and got teased, but she could hold her head high! Then he could be friends with her and push everyone else's thoughts out of the way.
After that turning point, both their lives were dramatically changed. Leslie is a mentor to Jess, she kind of takes him on a journey, and teaches him to just be a kid and not be concerned with what others think of him. And also that a little imagination, (Terabithia) can mean a lot! And as for Jess helping out Leslie, she just has someone to share all her imagination, adventures, and wisdom with!
I guess I never had a friendship like this. I always learned this kinda stuff on my own. I never had someone that I really love to share all the excitement with. But I guess I don't really want a friendship like this though because I want to be more independent and don't have to rely on others, and also, if something tragic happened, I would be crushed for months. Jess was so devastated when Leslie died because she taught him a lot, but if he did everything on his own, he wouldn't be so crushed.
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