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Post by Songbird on Jul 28, 2011 7:17:54 GMT -5
I just picture the Grim Reaper standing next to Effie when it happens...It's just creepy. What do you guys think of Peeta so far?
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Post by Hermes on Jul 28, 2011 10:30:00 GMT -5
In what way would the story resemble this mith? Is it because she is thrown in the arena like Theseus entered the labyrinth? I don't follow. It's the way people are sent as 'tributes' - in the Theseus story, young people are sent as a tribute from Athens and other cities subject to the Cretans, to be eaten by the Minotaur. (Actually, Mary Renault's version in The King Must Die is even closer - there the tributes are sent to take part in the dangerous sport of bull-leaping.)
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Post by Dante on Jul 28, 2011 10:48:17 GMT -5
I'm not sure quite where we are with regards to Peeta, but I see him as a strange combination of sly and dim-witted. Although hunter and baker are both pretty interesting occupations if we take them as metaphors, it now occurs to me; Katniss and Peeta are pretty much opposites if you look at it from that perspective.
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Post by csc on Jul 28, 2011 11:04:50 GMT -5
Okay firstly this discussion is about the book, not movie so you could have posted the link to imdb instead of the entire cast list. Oh, sorry. I thought it was out of line, but I wanted to share it with you. It won't happen again, promise. In what way would the story resemble this mith? Is it because she is thrown in the arena like Theseus entered the labyrinth? I don't follow. It's the way people are sent as 'tributes' - in the Theseus story, young people are sent as a tribute from Athens and other cities subject to the Cretans, to be eaten by the Minotaur. (Actually, Mary Renault's version in The King Must Die is even closer - there the tributes are sent to take part in the dangerous sport of bull-leaping.) Oh, of course. I was too focused in comparing Katniss to Theseus to get it . As the book goes on, I changed my mind about Peeta several times but in this beggining, I wasn't too sure. I wouldn't have any suspicions about him if Katniss hadn't brought those up. He looks kind to me but I'm unsure.
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Post by Songbird on Jul 28, 2011 18:18:27 GMT -5
Again, please don't share your opinions about the book passed chapter 3 if you have read ahead.
I like that Dante, I never thought of them as complete opposites. I really, really like Prim and her goat. Katniss's mom kinda weirds me out a little. Like there's something off about her.
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Post by csc on Jul 29, 2011 7:56:16 GMT -5
Sorry again, but I don't think I said any spoilers. Even in the first three chapters I change my mind about him. First, I think he is really kind, for giving her bread, but then Katniss begins to act all suspicious and I change my mind.
I also like Prim and her goat. Poor Primrose. Out of thousands, she was the one that was picked. I like Katniss a lot too. She seems very reserved and I like that she isn't your typical likable perfect character.
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Post by Songbird on Jul 29, 2011 8:17:08 GMT -5
If you had no choice and had to make this games system, what would you do for the reaping? Like do you think that their current entry system is fair? Or should young children like Prim be exempt?
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Post by Hermes on Jul 29, 2011 15:17:24 GMT -5
Even in the first three chapters I change my mind about him. First, I think he is really kind, for giving her bread, but then Katniss begins to act all suspicious and I change my mind. I don't think it's anything about Peeta that makes her suspicious, though; it's just that she would be suspicious of anyone in his place, because of the structure of the games.
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Post by csc on Jul 29, 2011 15:34:29 GMT -5
Yes, that's what I mean. If you had no choice and had to make this games system, what would you do for the reaping? Like do you think that their current entry system is fair? Or should young children like Prim be exempt? I think the system is fair, but I disagree with the tesserae thing. I think that no-one should have to need tesserae; everyone should have enough food. But, leaving the tesserae aside, the system is pretty fair. Prim is reaaally unlucky, she didný even take tesserae, there was only one piece of paper with her name, amongst thousands. Maybe only the strongest of the District should be chosen, I don't know.
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Post by Lady Whatever on Jul 29, 2011 15:53:38 GMT -5
I read up to chapter three. I'm very intrigued by the setup of this society. It reminds me a lot of Margaret Atwood's Oryx and Crake with the uppercrust sector of society (The Capitol) being completely separated from the lower classes (Called "pleebs" in O&C) there's also a similar type of game, only with prisoners instead of children, in the sequel, The Year of the Flood. A few things that stood out to me so far were: + The complete absence of agriculture. Bread making is mentioned, but gathering seems to be the primary mode of finding greens and fruits in District 12, and there's no mention so far of a farmer as an occupation. This makes the use of the reaping metaphor interesting. + The mother showcasing the symptoms of depression. That's exactly what it seemed like to me, but it's not called that. They say there are no affordable doctors in this future, either, so what can be said about the state of treating mental illnesses? + Calling the authorities "Peacekeepers" and their role in the society of District 12. They do keep a type of peace, but only in the sense that they keep things quiet, but they allow the black market to exist, and don't seem to take too active of a role in enforcing any laws, except on Reaping Day, when they go through people's houses to make sure all are in attendance. They're more of a silent threat, but I get the feeling that is not the true extent of their role in either District 12 or this society in general.
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Post by Christmas Chief on Jul 30, 2011 9:15:26 GMT -5
The Peacekeepers tend to remind one of 1984 (by which I believe THG was also influenced) in that they do the opposite of what we perceive their names might imply.
As for the Reaping, I think part of the point in starving District 12 is so they do enter for tesserae. From the Capitol's perspective, children like Prim don't make for a very good game, so the older children will naturally have more entries. In that way, the system is fair; volunteers are still accepted. In another way, it's not fair at all, as the Capitol is exempt from participation in the Games - although I suppose that's another issue all together.
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Post by Songbird on Jul 31, 2011 11:04:29 GMT -5
What does everyone think of Haymitch so far? Do you think he plays the role of comic relief?
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Post by Lady Whatever on Jul 31, 2011 12:15:12 GMT -5
I'm suspecting that Haymitch saw something extremely traumatic during his stint in the Games that he's suppressing through alcoholism, out of fear of remembering it, and worse, having to talk about it. There's some comedic elements to his behaviour, but anyone who's ever lived with an alcoholic can probably attest to how incredibly depressing and dark that humorous behaviour can be.
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Post by csc on Jul 31, 2011 15:23:30 GMT -5
What does everyone think of Haymitch so far? Do you think he plays the role of comic relief? I think so, but at this point of the book I woindered if there was something more to the character, like Nominatissima said, that he was hiding with his alcoholism.
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Post by Christmas Chief on Jul 31, 2011 20:11:44 GMT -5
Even victorious, Haymitch is a depressed alcoholic with no close friends we know of. I think that says something interesting about the Games themselves, and I wondered after reading his character what effect victory had on other winners - true effect, that is, not the performance put on for the Capitol's benefit. But as far as comic relief goes? I feel Haymitch is about as close as we get.
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