Sydney’s Comments (group member since Sep 11, 2011)

Sydney’s comments from the 2012 - Ms. Richardson L.A. group.

In Suzanne Collin's novel, The Hunger Games, the bubbly and optimistic character of Effie Trinket, fully embraces the female archetypical role. It's not just the fact that she's a girl that allows her to fulfill the archetype, but her ability to be a keeper of morality, even if it makes her seem out of place in the seeing that she's been portrayed. Her ability to uphold moral codes by following the social and moral rules and laws are all a part of keeper of morality, which the female archetype embodies. Collins depicts the character of Effie Trinket with such a strong awareness of what is socially and morally unacceptable that it is hard to ignore all of the numerous examples that can be easily identified throughout the novel.

Two of the numerous examples of Effie Trinket's role as a keeper of morality are that she alters her style and speech to follow the rules and laws of Panem. Effie Trinket always has a bright and stylish wardrobe to follow the customs of the Capitol, like when she wore her "spring green suit" to the reaping day in District 12. Despite the fact that the reaping is a morbid event, because it was a law of the Capitol for finer dress to be worn, Trinket wears the brighter color as a symbol of her willingness to do as she's told and uphold the morality of the event. Her sometimes-contradictory outfits match her carefully monitored way of talking about the Capitol and the other Districts of Panem.

Her cautious following of the social guidelines, like how she brushes off the idea of Katniss, the female tribute of District 12 and the main character of The Hunger Games, knowing an Avox to protect herself and those around her from being punished by the Capitol is one of the many ways she obeys the rules about what is acceptable and unacceptable in the social ladder of Panem.

One of the many attributes of the villain archetype is the way they will use any means to achieve their personal desires, and have generally vengeful motives. Having the goal of personal ascension, be it for money, status, power, or just recognition, is usually a role fulfilled by the villain. Another role, the role of being unable to let go of things and seek revenge by inflicting pain, emotional and or physical, is also fulfilled by the villain. These archetypical attributes are not only seen in the designated "villain" of the novel though, as the author Suzanne Collins so artfully displays in the Hunger Games with the character Katniss Everdeen.

Katniss Everdeen embraces the villain archetype multiple times throughout the novel, defying her more commonly regarded archetype as the hero. The way that she relishes the thought of taking revenge for Rue's death leads her more into the realm of the villain, showing the way that she holds grudges and wishes to avenge them as the general archetype would imply for a darker character. More than once she also mentions the way that she needs to win and even drugs Peeta to achieve her personal desire of retrieving the supply backpack. Even though her motives aren't completely sinister, she does them deliberately against the warnings and wishes of those around her, making her motives slightly selfish and more for her own personal gain than what what would make everyone else happy. The previously stated characteristics are all a part of the villain archetype and make Katniss less of a hero than many would be led to believe.

The Scarlet Ibis is a rare, misunderstood, foreign, and short-lived treasure, these qualities make it the perfect symbol for Doodle, because of the way he displays similar qualities throughout the story. Doodle is a constant provider of disappointment for the protagonist, his older brother, who can't accept the fact that Doodle is different from everyone else. Instead of trying to see all of the amazing aspects of Doodle, the protagonist pushes him to become something that he can't to cover up the skills that he lacks, this blind behavior only draws attention to the negative aspects of Doodle. With his brother only focusing on everything that he wasn't instead everything that he already was, Doodle was misunderstood and never had a chance to prove his true potential. The Scarlet Ibis was introduced into the story through an unattractive screeching noise, making the protagonist and the rest of his family believe that the creature wasn't beautiful before they'd even had a chance to properly see it. By only focusing on the quality of the noise, the Scarlet Ibis was also misunderstood and unable to prove it's true beauty. Doodle was born unnaturally as well, which left him fragile and alienated by those around him, because of this, he was unable to blend in with his peers. He was always seen as different, almost foreign to everyone that misinterpreted his insightful way of viewing the world around him. The exotic Ibis was similarly out of place, it's beauty and bold appearance strange to the family that lacked exposure. Unlike Doodle, they were captivated by it's foreign beauty and fragile existence, the heir of fast approaching death making it's brilliance all the more painfully clear. It was a short-lived moment of glory, for soon after receiving acknowledgment, death ceased the weary bird and took all the significance it had been able to gain in their eyes. Doodle, also a rare treasure, was equally wronged, his uniqueness never fully understood by those closest to him. Even until the last moment of his tortured life, the protagonist was never able to fully realize how much Doodle meant to him, what an important part of his existence Doodle had become. Only after death also took his weary body did the protagonist see all of the qualities that made Doodle great, that made him so irreplaceable. Even in death the Scarlet Ibis and Doodle shared an undeniable sense of splendor that made them so subtly intertwined.