The novel Hunger
Games , by Suzanne Collins , should be a challenged book because it has
unnecessary killing, uses obscene characteristics that go against moral values
but it teaches young adults the value of human life.
The peacekeepers form the
capital do not really treat the members of any of the Districts with respect,
but especially the members of District 12. Since they are the lowest District,
everything comes to them last, and they are known as the “worst.” Katniss
suddenly remembers seeing Peea for the first time in the rain. Loud voices were
screaming, and she bent over on her knees and fell to the ground. She thought to herself. “Let them call the
peacekeepers and take us to the community home. Or better yet, let me die right
here in the rain” (Collins 30). The people of the capitol and the peacekeepers,
are supposed to be the people who watch over the districts, and keep trouble
away form them, but instead it is the complete opposite. When ever the
“peacekeepers” are present, people always die, because they are doing something
the right way. Katniss thinks that it would be better if they just let her “die
in the rain,” then to have to live another day in the terrible District. This
isn’t because of the people there, but it is the way that the capitol makes
them do jobs, and also the way that they make them live. Katniss is angry,
because she believes that they are better people then the capitol treats them.
Katniss says that she would rather “die” then live in a “community home.” A
peacekeeper is someone who keeps the people in line, so that the people in the
districts do not start an uprising against their government. The peacekeepers
are supposed to be the people that help out the Districts, and keep trouble
away, but instead whenever they are around, they create more conflict then
there was in the beginning. Normally people who are starving, or don’t have
home, or are living in a state where they can not provide for themselves,
people will help them out, but that is not the case. The people in the capitol
are higher then everyone else as a symbol to show that they are clearly better
then the people starving in the Districts. The people of the capitol don’t
realize what is going on in the “outside” world, or the world around them, and
they want nothing to do with it. Katniss tries her best to support her family,
because they barely make enough profit to feed their family. It is forbidden to
steal in District 12, so therefore, she must find food on her own. But Katniss
can not find food for her family, because the peacekeepers forbid them to leave
the gates that create the District boundaries. If Katniss got caught hunting in
the woods, her punishment would either to be beaten, or could go as far as
death. When ever the peacekeepers, or people of the capitol come, they have to
make sure everything is nice and ready, but really underneath it terror and
fear that something will happen to their families and surrounding friends This goes against our moral values, because
humans are supposed to value life, and value the things that are present in their
lives, but Katniss says that it would be better left to die, then to live
another moment in the so called “great” world of hers.
I do not think that this should be challenged at all. The violence is intense but that kind of thing comes with an action book. This is a big problem that we have; challenging books with any bit of violence in them. If we lose all of these books we will never see what violence is like. We will then be involuntarily supporting it by trying to get rid of it. This book in no way promotes violence, shown by the struggle of Katniss with herself over the violence see commits and paints the peacekeepers who cause struggle as bad.
ReplyDeleteI agree and think that this book should be challenged. Even though the violence is great, the message The Hunger Games gives about the value of life is greater. The violence may be quite vivid, but the sacredness of life is shown by Katniss sacrificing herself when her sister's name is called. I think that the violence makes this book a challengeable book but if no violence occurred, then the book should be a must read for high schoolers.
ReplyDeleteI agree that The Hunger Games should be a challenged book. Some of the killing that occurs in the book is brutal and unnecessary causing the book the have the potential to be challenged. I however think that that is the only reason it should be challenged because i believe that the obscene characteristics in the book have to go with violence. This book teaches of family love, sacrifice, and hope which is why it should be read.
ReplyDeleteI disagree, I think that The Hunger Games should be a must read book. The story does glorify violence and poverty but it sends across an important message of the value of life. I agree that some of the violence in the book is unnecessary but the excitement that the killing gives may be what makes the book so thrilling. However, the important life lesson of standing up for what you believe in outweighs the immoral actions in The Hunger Games.
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