morerainthanarainforest

[morerainthanarainforest]

I think that having young haymitch as a much more extroverted protagonist compared to katniss sotr was such a good choice because we get a much better read on the general social dynamics of the tributes overall

- particularity since we know that haymitch can be very charming from the og trilogy, he's very good with networking when he wants to be - as demonstrated by the literal miracles he pulls as katniss and peetas mentors both times.

[morerainthanarainforest]

the best part of sunrise on the reaping is that suzanne collins is truly reinforcing that every year the capitol is specifically rewriting the events of each game to erase the humanity and spirit of the tributes. In each of the games she has written she has made a point to show significant actions of protest stemming from empathy and a solidarity coming from the tributes from the 10th to the 75th games. In the second quarter quell - haymitchs games- we see even from the arrival of the tributes the rise of the newcomers - essentially an alliance between many of the tributes as a response to the careers. even though haymitch tries to go through his games as a loner - he finds making connections with the other tributes inevitable - particularly the younger ones. and so he tries in his way to protect and care for them best he can given the circumstances. He comforts loulou even as she is thrust into their team as essentially a earpiece for the capitol, he wanted wellie to win knowing he will die in the achievement of that goal, and leaves flowers with her body at her passing. even with all of this, the aired version that the capitol ajd the district watched depicts a very different version of both haymitch and the events of the game - an arrogant, nonchalant troublemakers fending only for himself. and to be clear, haymitch is far from the only tribute in his games that puts the other tributes ahead of themselves - one of the earliest being Wyatt trying to save lou lou in the bloodbath.

this sort of selflessness and humanity is not what viewers of the hunger games sees. We see from the start of the book from the refilming of the reaping that the capital is nearly always in direct control of the narrative. like current reality tv the games are edited and spliced together to detriment of all participating. The capitol needs to see the tributes falling into a bloodlust born of survival instincts in order to uphold the idea that the people of the districts are inherently less than due to the perceived loss of humanity that ensues in the games - and the capitol needs the people of the districts to feel the oppressive horror of the games as a lasting punishment. To me, the persistent representation of tributes compassion and humanity despite the forces demanding the opposite as shown through the participants lived events versus the 'live' version reenforces the idea that throughout every game there was much more compassion and empathy than what a superficial glimpse into the games may lead us to believe - and it is just erased from the narrative by the oppressive powers that constructs and distribute the media around it, and it is certainly a stark reminder that this sort of media play is NOT just regulated to fiction, and is so subtle that you don't even realize until your moral have all been shaped by a message you dont even know youre listening to