Mahseredjian1

Mayda Mahseredjian
Proffessor Lawson
English 113B
8 May 2015
1161
Project Text Essay
Violence can be defined in many different forms in todays world, such as physical and or
verbal violence and can be used on anyone no matter what age they may be. Children are mainly
targeted for violence because they are vulnerable and weak. For example, children in third world
countries are forced into becoming soldiers and young girls are forced to pleasure the male
soldiers. Majority are forced upon such cruelty without any other option and some commit
suicide to finally be free. Even though we take this issue seriously, producers, film makers, and
authors continue to create stories with children performing violent scenes. By doing we tend to
fall into the trap of assuming that none of it is real. On September 14 of 2008, Suzanne Collins
published a book titled The Hunger Games. This book is a series of three novels which include
action based scenarios by the main characters (who are young children) who face deadly battles
trying to overcome the Capitol. Four years later, the film, The Hunger Games, was released. It
became popular world-wide and many more books were printed, but why the sudden popularity?
The hunger games is a games set up for 24 tributes to fight for their lives and only one
winner is allowed. It was created in order to show the Districts of Panem that the Capitol will
always be in control. There are twelve districts and each district contributes to the Capitol by
constructing different supplies. Before the games occur, the reaping must take place. The reaping
is when people from the Capitol visit each district and select two tributes from ages twelve to

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eighteen to participate in the games; one boy and one girl. The young children have no say or
control during the reaping. Doesnt this sound like a familiar situation? In Africa, children are
forced to kill others and become a soldiers without knowing what is actually happening. Usually
its the children who are extremely poor who become targets. Children soldiers are also drugged
in order to kill without any trouble. A 13 year old solider states his horrific experience and how
he had no trouble killing people when he was drugged. They gave me pills that made me crazy.
When the craziness got in my head, I beat people on their heads and hurt them until they bled.
When the craziness got out of my head I felt guilty. If I remembered the person, I went to them
and apologized. In The Hunger Games: Mockingjay, Peeta is captured by the capitol and
tortured by tracker jackers and is convinced to kill Katniss; relatively similar to what happened
to this young soldier when he was captured. In The Hunger Games Katniss mentions how the
poor children are usually the ones selected to participate in the games because of the tesserae.
Tesserae is worth a years supply of grain and oil but every time a name is applied for a tesserae
the childs extra name is added to the reaping.
Throughout The Hunger Games novel, Katniss reminds us that the Capitol does not own
her or any other tribute in the game that they will not win. A great example would be when one
of the tributes shot an arrow through Rue, and how Katniss grieved over the innocent child.
Because Rue was youngest tribute and because she was so innocent, Katniss decorates flowers
slowly, one stem at a time. Covering the ugly wound. Wreathing her face. Weaving her hair
with bright colors(Collins, 237), Katniss then raises three fingers to the sky and walks away. At
this moment we know that Katniss Everdeen is not with the Capitol, but with the people of the
Districts watching; they have gained her respect. In third world countries, children are not cared
for if one is killed. Just like the Hunger Games, once one is under the name tribute, they are

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considered a part of the game. Once they are dead, they are picked up by a hovercraft and that is
the last of it. Very similar as to what happens in war with children soldiers.
Many children escape from these military camps, but most are not lucky enough to
continue living the life they had. Experiencing drug abuse, alcohol abuse, and training to kill is
not something one can forget, especially if one has no support left. Thats why these innocent
children suffer from mental illness. In the Hunger Games, a character named Annie, Finnick
Odairs girlfriend, was a winner of the games and she had lost her mind because of her
experience. Another example would be Katniss; she too suffers from PTSD. Recently, a young
boy talks about his troubles after escaping. At age 7 this young boy was abducted by Lords
Liberation Army, but escaped at age 14. Once reunited with his family, he wasnt the same as he
hoped he would be. Just like Katniss, this boy suffered from PTSD. He couldn't sleep at night,
and during the day, he'd run around the village screaming. He was fighting back thoughts of
suicide.
As crazy as this sounds the Hunger Games had its advantage for young teenagers. Yes
violent actions were throughout the full story, but the young generation can gain a positive note
on it. They can learn to never let anyone control themselves, as well as protecting your loved
ones. Looking back at realizing how brave Katniss was, I thought how I would not be able to
volunteer for my sibling the way she did. I also thought about how every single person watching
this film, or reading it, has a different perspective. One might take it the wrong way and realize
violence is the answer and another might relate to this situation and find it easier to cope with the
world. Steve Mintz, a history professor, states how it will continue to positively affect its
younger audiences well into adulthood when atrocities come to mean something else entirely.
War is hell, but if youll recall, so is growing up.

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We dont live in a perfect world, otherwise something wouldnt sound right. We also tend
to witness issues but push it aside. After reading the books and watching the films, Ive realized
to always look at the deeper meaning behind each story. Maybe Suzanne Collins was trying to
throw hints at us, we live in a perfect world now but how about in the future? Its not surprising
how majority of us dont realize the issue because society has brainwashed us into thinking every
film or fiction novel is not real. Children worldwide, even in America, suffer from depression,
forced violence, and poverty. There are hundreds of campaigns today who gather money and
help educate this children and provide any type of support. A child is a child still growing and
developing into this crazy world we live in, of course its hard when you fall and you have no
one to catch you.