Though Ree and Katniss traverse vastly different worlds - regional gothic and dystopian fiction - their stories converge at the crossroads of sibling protection. Both protagonists are thrown into situations where family love becomes the driving force behind their actions. Their resilience becomes a universal language, illustrating that the determination to shield family transcends societal boundaries. Ree and Katniss, though separated by genres, Ree and Katniss resonate deeply with readers, embodying an unwavering spirit that emerges when love becomes a guiding light in the darkest times.
For example, Woodrell provides us with background about Ree’s situation and how she serves as a maternal and paternal figure for her mother and siblings at only sixteen years old. The reader is shown her underlying motivation as the narrator explains, "Ree's grand hope was that these boys would not be dead to wonder by age twelve, dulled to life, empty to kindness, boiling with mean" (Woodrell 8). This shows a profoundly caring and responsible mindset, not only worried about the boys’ safety and comfort now but also about the security of their future. In the freezing cold, she chops wood so they do not freeze, cooks and provides whatever food she can, and ensures that her two little brothers are ready for school - responsibilities usually reserved for older adults. She was forced to grow up and, as a result, displayed a heightened level of maturity.
This character differs from Collins’ as Katniss does have a mother figure and contributes to the family by showing her love for her little sister and hunting for the family. When her sister is called to participate in a deathly competition, she volunteers herself. While these two instances of Ree providing care for her family and Katniss volunteering for her sister are different, they both depict that these two characters are incredibly mature and show how traditional familial roles can adapt to transcend hardships.
I find this blog post interesting because I also made this connection while reading Daniel Woodrell’s "Winter’s Bone". Not only are both Katniss Everdeen and Ree Dolly sixteen years old, but both take up parental roles in the absence of a mother and father. The parallels are distinct in that the plot of Collins’ and Woodrell’s novels revolves around the adult decisions the young protagonists are forced to make as the breadwinner of the family.
ReplyDeleteThere are characteristics between Katniss and Ree that are nearly exact such as the fact that both of their fathers are deceased and they play the role of the guardian in their family because of their mothers’ mental illness. Additionally, the plot of the novels the protagonists come from begins because a position of governmental power threatens to take away something important to their family. For Katniss, her younger sister and for Ree, their home.
Another similarity that can be noted is how both character’s actions are owed to the fact that they want their younger siblings to escape the cycle of life as their ancestors. Katniss Everdeen enters the Hunger Games because she wants to pave a safer life for her sister. Ree Dolly wants to prepare her brothers to escape the Dolly lifestyle. Both girls abide by the laws of their world in order to help their loved ones escape it by claiming certain attributes that ensure their survival.
As soon as I obtained a solid grasp of Ree's background in "Winter's Bone" by Daniel Woodrell, I immediately made the connection between her and Katniss Everdeen. They relate to the fact that their fathers are out of their lives, and as a result, their mothers are upset and not mentally present. This leaves Ree and Katniss to take care of their younger siblings and be a role model for them. I thoroughly agree with the second paragraph, specifically, how Ree and Katniss resonate with readers because of their interesting life experiences. Additionally, both Ree and Katniss indeed want their younger siblings to escape the life they currently live in. Although readers of "The Hunger Games" know the result of Katniss' younger sister, it is up to the readers to determine what they think happens to Ree's siblings. Both girls do the best they can to make the most of the cards they were dealt in the game of life.
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