When you first meet a person, you want to know more about them. What are they like? Are they nice? Do they have hopes or goals? This is how I feel now that I started reading Slaughterhouse Five by Kurt Vonnegut. In Slaughterhouse Five, I think that the narrator and Billy Pilgrim will become very interesting character because of their history and the way they are acting.
The narrator seems to be interested in his past. He fought in WWII and is writing a book about it. He is writing about a character named Billy Pilgrim and his story on Dresden. Dresden was a site in Germany that was bombed in 1945. While in Dresden, the narrator made a friend called Bernard O’Hare. He went to visit Bernard after the war to found out what he knew. The narrator seems to be a nice person. When he was visiting Bernard, his wife seemed to be mad with the narrator. She was mad that he was writing a book about war, which she thought promoted war. She also thought that this book could lead to a movie that promoted war. He then promised her “If I ever do finish it, though, I give you my word of honor: there won’t be a part for Frank Sinatra or John Wayne.” The narrator seems to be interested about what happened during WWII.
Billy Pilgrim seems to be demented. He is the father of Robert and Barbra. He was a rich man, working in optometry. He was drafted and sent to fight in WWII. After the events of the war, he got into and airplane accident, being the only survivor. He had a scar on his forehead, showing he had brain damage. After this accident, Billy began to speak of aliens. He said he was kidnapped by the Tralfamadorians in 1944. He said that they had kept him for years and had the technology to make it seem like it was only a few seconds. He described theses creatures as two foot green men. To also show his demented mind at work, at one point, he remembers his room, filled with various weapons and torture devices. Billy seems to be a senile man.
I think that theses two characters will go through changes in the book. Billy seems like he will stay senile, due to the effects of war on him. The narrator seems different. He went to war, but doesn’t know what could have possibly happened. The narrator also talked about writing more books, which could lead him to see the war from a different perspective.
I think that the characters are very complex. They have complex personalities. One is pursuing his goal while the other is a senile man. As the story progresses, I think that theses two characters will change. As of now, they are showing interesting traits.
Thursday, January 19, 2012
Thursday, January 12, 2012
The Relationship between Katniss and Peeta
In life we develop relationships with many people. The relationship can be a solid friendship or a relationship built on hatred. In The Hunger Games Series by Suzanne Collins, two characters’ relationship stand out. The relationship is between the main character Katniss, and Peeta. These two characters have been through a lot together and that has morphed their relationship. Their relationship was built on their harsh experiences.
Their relationship starts to form in The Hunger Games. The first time they met is when they were young. Katniss’ family was poor and she had to rummage for food. She then comes upon some scraps of food in the trash. When she tries to get it, she is chased away by Peeta’s mom. Peeta sees Katniss and feels bad for her. He decides to burn bread and pretend it was an accident. When he does this, he is beat and told to throw the bread away. Instead, he gives the bread the Katniss. From this point, Katniss feels that she owes him for helping her out in a time when she was suffering. During the Hunger Games, Katniss and Peeta pretended to be in love to win the audience. They worked together in the Games when the rules were changed. The change was that two people could win the Games. After outlasting everyone in the Games, the rules were changed again. The rule only allowed one win. This forced Katniss to potentially kill Peeta, or Peeta to kill Katniss. But Katniss had another idea. She and Peeta threaten to commit suicide so ther was no winner. The Games end with both of them alive. During the Games, Katniss pretended to be in love with Peeta. For Peeta, he genuinely fell in love with Katniss. This was the start of their relationship.
Their relationship developed in Catching Fire. After winning the Hunger Games, Peeta and Katniss went on tour to visit the districts. During their trip, Katniss often had nightmares. After hearing Katniss yell, Peeta came to comfort her. This went on for much of the trip. When this was done, it was time for the 75th Hunger Games. As a special event to celebrate 75 years of the Games, former winners were pitted against each other. Katniss and Peeta had to participate in the Games again. During the Games, they still played as lovers. But now, they were married lovers. Not only were they married, Katniss was pregnant. This was to cause an uprising. Because of their suicide attempt, they caused a rebellion. Katniss being pregnant and them being married was a way to get them support and to give something to rebel about. During the Games, Peeta and Katniss worked together and with the help from their new allies. During the end of the Games, a hovercraft came and took some of the competitors. These competitors were taken to District 13, a district that was thought to be destroyed. District 13 had become the center of the rebellion. They took Katniss, but not Peeta. They were being separated. This separation caused a problem in the future. Their relationship developed to a friendship, and a weapon for the rebellion.
In Mockingjay, their relationship is almost destroyed. After being rescued from the Games, Katniss becomes the face of the rebellion. Katniss was part of propaganda and supported the rebellion. For Peeta, he was taken prisoner. While in prison, he was drugged to the point where his memories were morphed. He remembered Katniss as being an evil person. For example, when someone tried to defended Katniss from what Peeta said he responded, “Because she’s lying! She’s a liar! You can’t believe anything she says! She’s some kind of mutt the Capitol created to use against the rest of us”. He participated in interviews where he talked about stopping the war between the Capitol and the rebellion. When Peeta was rescued from his prison, he was in a demented state. When Katniss tried to talk to Peeta, Peeta started choking her. He was changed, and these changes lead him to despise Katniss. But Katniss did not give up. She tried to help him get back to his former state. After much therapy, the original Peeta was retrieved. While helping, she realized how much she cared for Peeta. The book ends by Peeta asking if Katniss loved him. She replied, yes. There friendship evolved to a romantic relationship.
Over the course of the series, their relationship grew strong. After enduring a harsh journey they came out as better than they went in. This shows that there bonds were strong. There experiences did not break their bonds, but strength them.
Their relationship starts to form in The Hunger Games. The first time they met is when they were young. Katniss’ family was poor and she had to rummage for food. She then comes upon some scraps of food in the trash. When she tries to get it, she is chased away by Peeta’s mom. Peeta sees Katniss and feels bad for her. He decides to burn bread and pretend it was an accident. When he does this, he is beat and told to throw the bread away. Instead, he gives the bread the Katniss. From this point, Katniss feels that she owes him for helping her out in a time when she was suffering. During the Hunger Games, Katniss and Peeta pretended to be in love to win the audience. They worked together in the Games when the rules were changed. The change was that two people could win the Games. After outlasting everyone in the Games, the rules were changed again. The rule only allowed one win. This forced Katniss to potentially kill Peeta, or Peeta to kill Katniss. But Katniss had another idea. She and Peeta threaten to commit suicide so ther was no winner. The Games end with both of them alive. During the Games, Katniss pretended to be in love with Peeta. For Peeta, he genuinely fell in love with Katniss. This was the start of their relationship.
Their relationship developed in Catching Fire. After winning the Hunger Games, Peeta and Katniss went on tour to visit the districts. During their trip, Katniss often had nightmares. After hearing Katniss yell, Peeta came to comfort her. This went on for much of the trip. When this was done, it was time for the 75th Hunger Games. As a special event to celebrate 75 years of the Games, former winners were pitted against each other. Katniss and Peeta had to participate in the Games again. During the Games, they still played as lovers. But now, they were married lovers. Not only were they married, Katniss was pregnant. This was to cause an uprising. Because of their suicide attempt, they caused a rebellion. Katniss being pregnant and them being married was a way to get them support and to give something to rebel about. During the Games, Peeta and Katniss worked together and with the help from their new allies. During the end of the Games, a hovercraft came and took some of the competitors. These competitors were taken to District 13, a district that was thought to be destroyed. District 13 had become the center of the rebellion. They took Katniss, but not Peeta. They were being separated. This separation caused a problem in the future. Their relationship developed to a friendship, and a weapon for the rebellion.
In Mockingjay, their relationship is almost destroyed. After being rescued from the Games, Katniss becomes the face of the rebellion. Katniss was part of propaganda and supported the rebellion. For Peeta, he was taken prisoner. While in prison, he was drugged to the point where his memories were morphed. He remembered Katniss as being an evil person. For example, when someone tried to defended Katniss from what Peeta said he responded, “Because she’s lying! She’s a liar! You can’t believe anything she says! She’s some kind of mutt the Capitol created to use against the rest of us”. He participated in interviews where he talked about stopping the war between the Capitol and the rebellion. When Peeta was rescued from his prison, he was in a demented state. When Katniss tried to talk to Peeta, Peeta started choking her. He was changed, and these changes lead him to despise Katniss. But Katniss did not give up. She tried to help him get back to his former state. After much therapy, the original Peeta was retrieved. While helping, she realized how much she cared for Peeta. The book ends by Peeta asking if Katniss loved him. She replied, yes. There friendship evolved to a romantic relationship.
Over the course of the series, their relationship grew strong. After enduring a harsh journey they came out as better than they went in. This shows that there bonds were strong. There experiences did not break their bonds, but strength them.
Thursday, January 5, 2012
Manipulation in Mockingjay
Humans are not perfect; we use nasty tricks to get what we want. Tricks like blackmail and threatening are used to accomplish our goals. One trick that we use is manipulation. Manipulating is a way to manage and influence a person to your benefit. In my book Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins, manipulation is a way that a rebellion force and a corrupt government control their followers. Both use different methods of manipulation, but they still use manipulation to control and influence their followers.
The Capitol uses sick and wanton acts of manipulation to control their citizens. The Hunger Games was an event that had teenagers fight to the death. During a special event of the Games during Catching Fire, the second book of the series, former victors were pitted. One thing that was said was very interesting. The reason for the special event was to show the citizens that even their strongest is not strong enough. The Hunger Games were already a way to manipulate the citizens by showing them that they have no control, but now, the Games were used to show that the citizens and the developing rebellion is no match for the Capitol. Also, the Capitol took a main character named Peeta, an ally of Katniss, the main character. They poisoned him so that the poison would alter his memory. The Capitol changed memories of him and Katniss having a good time to memories that depicted Katniss as evil. They had him speak against the rebellion and Katniss. People listened because of his natural born power for speaking. The Capitol used cruel ways to manipulate people to stay powerful.
Not only did the Capitol use manipulation to get their ways, but the rebellion used manipulation as well. Scenes of destruction and interviews were used as propaganda. The rebellion hacked into the Capitol’s broadcasting system and aired clips of propaganda. The clips exploited the Capitol’s malicious acts. The rebellion also manipulated certain people. A quote in the book showed how President Coin, the leader of the rebellion, used Katniss. Boggs, a member of the rebellion said,
“Here’s as much as I know. The president doesn’t like you. She never did. It was Peeta she wanted rescued from the arena, but no one else agreed. It mad matters worse when you forced her to give other victors immunity. But even that could be overlooked in the view of how well you performed.”
This shows the manipulation of the rebellion. The president didn’t like Katniss, but she manipulated her by making her think she did. She did what Katniss asked for to make Katniss think she liked her. Coin was just using Katniss as a puppet to promote the rebellion. The rebellion used manipulation to their needs as well.
Both sides of the war used manipulation to influence people, but used different methods. The Capitol used the Hunger Games to make the districts feel weak and pitiful. The rebellion used their propaganda to show the world the cruelty of the Capitol. The rebellion aired scenes of destruction caused by the Capitol. They showed interviews of people and their experience with the Capitol. The Capitol used sadistic methods to manipulate its citizens. They showed teenagers brutally kill and slaughter each other for entertainment. It showed the power of the Capitol. They both manipulated certain people as well. The Capitol poisoned Peeta and changed his memories. The rebellion used mind games to manipulate Katniss. Both sides used manipulation as a way to control people.
Manipulation is a resourceful trick shown in this book if done correctly. Both sides of the war use manipulation well and allow them to have an advantage. The rebellion has amassed a group of followers by using its propagandas and the Capitol used The Hunger Games as a way to strike fear into its citizens.
The Capitol uses sick and wanton acts of manipulation to control their citizens. The Hunger Games was an event that had teenagers fight to the death. During a special event of the Games during Catching Fire, the second book of the series, former victors were pitted. One thing that was said was very interesting. The reason for the special event was to show the citizens that even their strongest is not strong enough. The Hunger Games were already a way to manipulate the citizens by showing them that they have no control, but now, the Games were used to show that the citizens and the developing rebellion is no match for the Capitol. Also, the Capitol took a main character named Peeta, an ally of Katniss, the main character. They poisoned him so that the poison would alter his memory. The Capitol changed memories of him and Katniss having a good time to memories that depicted Katniss as evil. They had him speak against the rebellion and Katniss. People listened because of his natural born power for speaking. The Capitol used cruel ways to manipulate people to stay powerful.
Not only did the Capitol use manipulation to get their ways, but the rebellion used manipulation as well. Scenes of destruction and interviews were used as propaganda. The rebellion hacked into the Capitol’s broadcasting system and aired clips of propaganda. The clips exploited the Capitol’s malicious acts. The rebellion also manipulated certain people. A quote in the book showed how President Coin, the leader of the rebellion, used Katniss. Boggs, a member of the rebellion said,
“Here’s as much as I know. The president doesn’t like you. She never did. It was Peeta she wanted rescued from the arena, but no one else agreed. It mad matters worse when you forced her to give other victors immunity. But even that could be overlooked in the view of how well you performed.”
This shows the manipulation of the rebellion. The president didn’t like Katniss, but she manipulated her by making her think she did. She did what Katniss asked for to make Katniss think she liked her. Coin was just using Katniss as a puppet to promote the rebellion. The rebellion used manipulation to their needs as well.
Both sides of the war used manipulation to influence people, but used different methods. The Capitol used the Hunger Games to make the districts feel weak and pitiful. The rebellion used their propaganda to show the world the cruelty of the Capitol. The rebellion aired scenes of destruction caused by the Capitol. They showed interviews of people and their experience with the Capitol. The Capitol used sadistic methods to manipulate its citizens. They showed teenagers brutally kill and slaughter each other for entertainment. It showed the power of the Capitol. They both manipulated certain people as well. The Capitol poisoned Peeta and changed his memories. The rebellion used mind games to manipulate Katniss. Both sides used manipulation as a way to control people.
Manipulation is a resourceful trick shown in this book if done correctly. Both sides of the war use manipulation well and allow them to have an advantage. The rebellion has amassed a group of followers by using its propagandas and the Capitol used The Hunger Games as a way to strike fear into its citizens.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)