Hunger games Survival of the fittest PDF

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The survival of the fittest is a concept that has been known to exist for many years, be it within human society or in the theory of evolution. Survival of the fittest, initially introduced as an ecological concept, presents the idea of desirable genes com...

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The survival of the fittest is a concept that has been known to exist for many years, be it within human society or in the theory of evolution. Survival of the fittest, initially introduced as an ecological concept, presents the idea of desirable genes competing out the undesirable genes to become permanent in humans over generations. Whereas in human society, this concept is relevant in regards to humans with higher social/monetary status outcompeting those without. Suzanne Collins' novel The Hunger Games introduces us to the world of annual games in which people are forced to compete against one another to survive. The players are separated from their family and friends and forced to fend for themselves in a foreign environment. The deriving force behind the games is gory and forces players to survive through murder. The games are full of aggressive players who are all attempting to remain alive by murdering the other twenty tributes (contesters). This is something that Panem, a dystopic nation built on the ruins of what was once North America, is terrified of. They are governed by Capitol's dictator government officials, which effectively run and regulate the other twelve districts. People in Capitol seem unconcerned about the other districts, which are constantly threatened with starvation since they live in a luxurious lifestyle of advanced technology and riches. Katniss Everdeen is introduced at the beginning of the book as a member of the poorest district (District 12), forced to scavenge and hunt for her family's survival. The Hunger Games revolves around the theme of survival. The game is designed to work against the tributes as they are intentionally diverted into situations of conflict with each other to please the spectators. There are additional terrors each player must be prepared for, apart from the conflict-seeking fellow players. A need for a decent shelter, a way to get food and water, and a strong mental attitude to plan one’s survival is quickly seen as a strength in the game. When, Katniss Everdeen, the main character, is shown as a strong survivor in the book from the beginning. Katniss Everdeen survives and fights for three things: herself, her family, and others. Katniss battles for herself since she has survived the Hunger Games with many perils and encounters. Katniss fights for her family by sacrificing herself to save her sister when she is chosen at the Reaping; Katniss, first, puts her own life at risk by volunteering to compete in the Hunger Games, knowing what repercussions she will have to face. She also fights for others by attempting to defend other characters like Rue, and

Peeta Mellark, her district partner and love interest. Her selflessness combined with her drive to survive makes Katniss a big competition for the rest of the players. Her excellent bow hunting skills, which she had been using to feed her family, also create an advantage for her in the competition. Shannon Smith in her article ‘Feuling the Spectacle: Audience as a Gamemaker’, suggests that Katniss uses an empathetic narrative to please the spectators and sponsors. She also argues that this is the key to Katniss’ survival and the viewers are the reason for her ultimate win (Smith, 158 ). This seems untrue because Katniss’ empathy isn’t a fabricated trait, as seen by readers from her initial sacrifice to save her sister from becoming a tribute. One can see that in grave times of need, she puts her own survival at risk multiple times to save her fellow competitors. This trait, which comes naturally to Katniss, pleases the spectators and works in her favour unknowingly rather than being planned.

Katniss quickly adapts to the environment she is presented with, another quality of a great survivor. Adaptation to a change in one’s situation can help eliminate many stresses and unexpected situations. Katniss’s character proves to adapt quickly to the dynamic environment she is put in. A shelter is arguably one of the most significant survival necessities. She learns that without a shelter, she can risk being soaked in rain or snow and succumbing to the moisture. She is shown to build a shelter that would keep her warm and dry, as well as mobile. She builds two kinds of shelter; one was high in a tree to protect her from the indigenous and keep her off the moist ground. She understands that sitting directly on the cold or snow-covered ground will drastically increase the rate of heat loss. She wears her jacket below her and her towel above her in the tree to shield herself from the elements on both sides. She builds a second shelter, a makeshift debris hut out of a redwood tree base, which provides a stable back and added climate protection. For camouflage and climate control, she adds a blanket to the board and several ribs to her debris hut and foliage. This quick and wise thinking by her, diffuses at least some of her exasperating thoughts and creates a bit of comfort for her in this foreign environment she is being subjected to. Hope and self-belief are other qualities that make a great survivor. Throughout the book, the odds seem to be stacked against Katniss, especially during the Games. She's in a

battleground filled with bloodthirsty teenagers, traps, and Game Makers who support and endorse violence. "A desert, a marsh, a frigid wasteland," (Collins, 17) she muses before entering the arena. Katniss is telling us what she is afraid of and what she believes the upcoming events would entail. Of course, surviving in a desert will be more difficult than surviving in an arena with plenty of food and water. However, since Katniss is familiar with the woods, the arena turns out to be a forest, which gives her hope. She has spent most of her life in trees, so she is more at ease in the arena, giving her an advantage over the other tributes. Her strive to stay alive and belief in her capabilities set her apart from the others. She is not focused on who she should attack, rather carries a sense of belief in herself and in her capabilities. She continues to compete and stays focused on supporting herself, playing a more defensive game rather than offensive.

Survival is a key concept in The Hunger Games and the readers are quick to judge the integrity of Katniss’ character very early on in the book. From her self-sacrificing and caring nature to her fearless and smart attitude throughout the competition, to her rebelliousness against the Capitol, Katniss possesses many survivor qualities. A sense of sacrifice seen in Katniss early on, without knowing what she was getting into, makes her a friendly character. Her journey throughout the book is based on quick thinking and adaptability. This engages the readers and the spectators and forces them to contemplate her next moves. The drive to protect herself from harm, while also protecting her loved ones, makes her a survivor fit enough to defeat her competitors....