TBOSAS Chapters 13-20

Before we dive further into the actual chapters, I wanted to share one of my biggest take aways from Collins choosing to give us Snow’s anti-hero backstory. And it’s not how she masterfully wove the prequel and main series together. 👏🏼

It’s actually how much I think we all are little bit like Snow, in that we make all our life decisions based on the voices of influence around us. And unfortunately the voices that reinforce our preconceived notions about how the world should work so that we can remain comfortable and slowly drift into complacency.

Like Lucy Gray mentions in the movie trailer, I too believe that there is a natural goodness to us that tends to get drowned out by our own evil desires and those that surround us in this world. But I also believe it’s our responsibility to get rid of the evil that is not natural to us.

I think what breaks my heart the most when reading this book is seeing Snow time after time brushing off the statements that genuinely challenge him to think more critically about himself and the people of Panem. He had so much potential to become a truly great leader for Panem, but limited himself. Through the self-deception of thinking he was better than everyone because he was from an established family in the Capitol, he allowed himself to become Dr. Gaul’s puppet which led to a disastrous and fruitless future for both him and Panem. I know he’s not real, and more of a stock character than I’d care to admit, but there’s a valuable lesson to learn here and more importantly to start applying immediately. The choice is up to you to hear it, see it and take the corresponding actions.

Moving along to the chapters themselves. 😅 In addition to my comments, I also decided to reflect on some of the official book club questions from Instagram. So here we go!

Chapters 13-20

Something that’s really stood out to me from reading the entirety of the events that unfold in the 10th Hunger Games both inside and out of the arena itself, is how much the people of Panem like to pass the blame off on someone or something else for the bad choices they make. And realizing how much I want to do the same thing. It’s not easy to take personal responsibility for all the wrongs I make, in fact many times it’s downright terrifying. But I’ve found that owning up to them on the road of repentance has truly helped me begin to see the true beauty in this world. One that’s worth fighting to protect and recapture at any cost to myself.

Below is an excerpt of a conversation from Ballad:

“But surely, you’re not comparing our children to theirs?” asked Lucky. “One look tells you ours are a superior breed.”
“One look tells you ours have had more food, nicer clothing, and better dental care,” said Dean Highbottom. “Assuming anything more, a physical, mental, or especially a moral superiority, would be a mistake. That sort of hubris almost finished us off in the war.”

It’s when Highbottom says this that he became my favorite character in this book, and reminds me so much Snape and Haymitch. They are like the misunderstood sages in these stories, revealing the 10,000 foot perspective we all desperately need. And then when Snow says this upon reflection,

“That they were essentially the equals of those in the Capitol, only worse off materially.”

It’s like, “Yes! That’s exactly it!” Our material status, backgrounds, lifestyle choices don’t make us any more or less human. We won’t always agree on everything, but that shouldn’t make us feel superior than our neighbor and/or belittle them. We all feel the pain of our unique life burdens. Instead of despising and adding to the load of our “enemies,” maybe we should lend a tangible helping hand to them. Not waiting for a new law to pass, or for the distant politician to fulfill those campaign promises, or wasting countless hours venting in our little echo chamber on social media. As the saying goes, actions speak louder than words.

“Used? Coriolanus had not thought of being a mentor as anything but an honor. A way to serve the Capitol and perhaps gain a little glory. But she had a point. If the cause wasn’t honorable, how could it be an honor to participate in it? He felt confused, then manipulated, then undefended. As if he were more a tribute than a mentor.”

This quote gave me pause, because it made start examining what, if any, truly honorable things do I participate in. And upon further reflection, am I allowing myself to be used as a pawn in someone else’s twisted game? 🧐

“The Hunger Games themselves had the twisted brilliance of pitting district child against district child, so the Capitol kept its hands clean of actual violence.”

Why this quote? Because no matter how much they try to justify or rationalize it, the Capitol’s hands are not clean. Not at all. Anyone else see the parallels to our American society? 🙋🏻‍♀️ No? (Well, I’ll point out some next week.)

“It means we’re all in the arena together, Lucky.”

Gosh, another great quote by Dean Highbottom. It stood out to me because it reinforces an important concept: what we spend our time and money on makes us a part of it. A concept that is personally humbling and reflective.

“Be careful who you trust.”

Always a great piece of advice.

And now onto a selections of Instagram questions:

I chose “Deep in the Meadow” because that actually is the first song on the soundtrack portion of my Hunger Games playlist. 😅 It’s a sick remix of it too! I love it! 😍

I think Sejanus went in to prove a point, and same thing with Dr. Gaul. Sejanus was hoping he would ultimately die in the arena to prove to Dr. Gaul and his father that no one is safe, in another attempt to show how atrocious the Games are. But like Snow points out, his death in the area won’t accomplish that. It won’t even air. All it does is the opposite, and that Sejanus would be more effective if he lived and changed the political climate after completing University, now that the Plinths are a new influential fixture in the Capitol.

Dr. Gaul, on the other hand, was trying to show Snow what she believes all human beings are like at their core. That without laws and those more capable than the rest to enforce them, savage chaos would ensue. This is why she loves war and the Hunger Games. They prove to her that human nature needs to “submit” to a social contract in order for there to be peace. Snow, upon later reflection of this conversation for his homework assignment, says the following:

“Without the control to enforce the contract, chaos reigned. The power that controlled needed to be greater than the people — otherwise, they would challenge it. The only entity capable of this was the Capitol.”

Thus, you can see how Snow’s self perception and Dr. Gaul’s seed began to take root and grow inside of Snow, shaping him into the infamous President he would soon become.

Now, as a side note, I do agree that our State authorities rightfully hold the power to punish those who do bad in order to preserve the safety of its citizens. But I also think we as citizens should all be striving to do the good comes naturally to us. Not just to be rewarded, but to keep our consciences clear. I mean, what bother am I to the State if I am doing good and thus governing myself?

Do I think nations are sometimes led by corrupted individuals? Yes, but that’s also not an excuse for me lead an equally corrupt and lawless life. With all my doing, I should be perpetuating the goodness that resides within me by the grace of God that goes beyond the confines of legal statutes. It’s only then that I can maintain a pure conscience before God and man, regardless of any demise I may meet in my pursuit of it in this life.

Honestly, never. Her winning takes everyone, including him, by surprise. You could make an argument that the possibility of her being a real contender changed for him after the second mentor-tribute meeting when she calls him out on the floor for not taking her seriously. But he never truly believes she’ll actually get out of the arena alive on her own merit. It’s just wishful thinking ultimately for his benefit not hers.

Anyway, that concludes this week’s thoughts. Next week will be a bit of doozy, as I will be wrapping up my thoughts and theories on Ballad, answering some more Instagram questions, and then finally doing a separate post where I will answer the 13 questions provided by the Barnes and Noble special edition.

Have a good week and enjoy the show!