Symbolic Anthropology seen in The Hunger Games (still including Catching Fire, sorry again!)

Using the same series as mentioned in my previous blog, I would now like to note the ways in which Symbolic Anthropology apply to The Hunger Games and Catching Fire as seen in the various symbols introduced in the first part of the series that develop into instrumental symbols in the second part of the series, which are best defined by Victor Turner as "symbols that can be consciously wielded in ritual to achieve particular ends" (584). 

When Katniss first volunteered as tribute as means to save her sister from participating in the Hunger Games, she began to establish herself as a symbol for the people of the Captiol and the surrounding Districts. From that very moment the population started to view her as someone who was extremely pure at heart and yet brave enough to offer herself in place of her younger sister in the games where there can only be one victor.

Her designer for the games established her fashion statement as the “Girl on Fire,” as means to symbolize her strength due to the fire he saw within her when he offered herself as tribute for her sister. Having articles of clothing that have flames coming from them became a ritual and a symbol for her. During her first interview before the 74^th Hunger Games she twirls on the stage in her dress when asked to by the interviewer and flames leap from her dress.

While in the games, tributes often team together until the very last minute as means of survival. Peeta and Katniss become separated and form different alliances. Katniss meets a young tribute from District 11, named Rue, who trusted Katniss because of the gold mockingjay pen she wore - a symbol of how something the Capitol created to be destructive and tormenting during the games (jabberjays) can produce something beautiful when they mate with a mockingbird - , takes care of Katniss when she was injured by wasps, and the two form their own alliance. As means of communicating between each other when separated, Rue would whistle a 4 note symbolic tune from her District that the mockingjays would repeat so Katniss could hear that Rue was okay. When Rue is killed, Katniss surrounds her body with flowers, and proceeds to look up to the cameras that she knows are watching her, displaying the gesture symbolic to her own District when a loved one has died, as means of acknowledging District 11. In performing this action, Katniss displays to the viewing audience that the tributes are more than pieces to this game. In doing so she further creates the view of herself as a symbol for the people.

In the second part of the series, although she intends to go along with plans from President Snow as means to protect her family, she has begun to notice that the ritual rebellions that are occurring have a great deal to do with how she is viewed as a symbol for the people. Her District's hand gesture that she displayed before has now become an instrumental symbol throughout all of the Districts, as has the 4 notes tune that Rue's would whistle that was symbolic within her District. The people still perform these rituals despite the fatal outcomes they will now received with its use due its now created deeper meaning. When Peeta draws Rue at the skills display in front of the Gamemakers it is in means of displaying the symbol that Katniss now instills in the population.

Her designer for the games established her fashion statement as the “Girl on Fire,” as means to symbolize her strength due to the fire he saw within her when he offered herself as tribute for her sister. Having articles of clothing that have flames coming from them became a ritual and a symbol for her. During her first interview before the 74^th Hunger Games she twirls on the stage in her dress when asked to by the interviewer and flames leap from her dress. In the second part of the series, Catching Fire, she asked to do the same ritual of showing off her dress in the wedding dress that President Snow forces her to wear. When she began to twirl and the flames started at the bottom of the dress it began to increase towards the top of the dress, displaying another attire underneath – that of a mockingjay. Her mockingjay pen has now become a symbol amongst not only for her as a person of hope and something beautifully created in spite of the ugliness around them, or for the symbol of Rue’s 4 note tune, but now it also became the symbol for the people and for their revolt. President Snow realized the significance of this symbol, and that is part of the reason the designer is killed.

The symbols that are introduced in the first part of the series and later develop into instrumental symbols play a significant role in the rituals seen in the series, including the rituals of rebellion. The two rituals used primarily by Katniss and Rue and those within their Districts, thus greatly support Tuner's belief that "people are largely unaware of the true symbolic meaning of their rituals" (273) for they had no idea how symbolic those rituals would become for the nation in long run. 

Good luck with your finals everyone! And may the odds ever be in your favor.