The Hunger Games

I read all three books of Suzanne Collins' The Hunger Games Trilogy in the span of a week because I couldn't put them down. (That's saying a lot for me because I'm a slow reader.) There's so much to discuss about the series, but I can't tackle them all here. Maybe I'll get around to it in my other blog.

So in the books you follow Katniss Everdeen, the sharp-shooting, braid-wearing girl-on-fire from District 12. She volunteers to replace her sister at the reaping, which is when people get picked for the annual Hunger Games, a fight-to-the-death fully-televised reality game show for all of Panem to see. If you've read Shirley Jackson's The Lottery, the reaping's something like that. If you've read William Golding's The Lord of the Flies, the HG's something like that, too--except that it's set in some dystopian world, and the kids are really forced to kill each other by some sadistic, fearful, power-hungry grown-ups. 

Stills from the Hunger Games movie (2012)
 

If you've read the Twilight series, then--no matter how different Katniss and Bella Swan are--you know that the two female leads have at least one thing in common: they both are comfortable with the idea of sharing a bed with a guy (just literally sharing), and both talk about it like it's an ordinary occurrence anywhere. If anything, this comes across to me as more media mileage for The Twilight Myth.

To her credit, Collins doesn't make her characters say one thing and do another. The lying together in bed is explained as a way for Katniss and fellow tribute Peeta Mellark to cope with the nightmares that come with being in the Hunger Games. I mean, how can you not be disturbed when you've been forced to kill all the other kids just so you could survive, right?

Right.

So what's the lesson here? 
Perhaps there's nothing surprising about Katniss and Peeta finding comfort in each other's arms during the night. Actually, there's a scientific explanation for it.

Ever heard of oxytocin? Oxytocin is a hormone that your body releases when you're particularly close to someone. Moms and babies have it when they're breastfeeding--it propagates a sense of trust between the two.

The same thing happens when it comes to other people: a Katniss and a Peeta can say they sleep together to forget their nightmares. They can justify all they want about nothing happening and it being harmless and all, but it doesn't change the fact that by sharing a night together, they've taught their bodies to trust--who knows--someone they weren't supposed to in the first place.

This means...
When it comes to finding true love, a little distance is necessary. But the real reason is more than not wanting to muddle your own judgement. If you really love someone, you do not want him to muddle his judgement.

Respect, selfless love, and caring for the other's welfare... all these things come into play in real-life relationships. And contrary to what popular authors would have us believe, the best way to give them is to take a step back.


"So near is falsehood to truth that a wise man would do well not to trust himself on the narrow edge."-Marcus Tullius Cicero

That's what friends are for

It's a fact of life that friends influence one another. But most of the time, people assume it's bad influence! Why not spread what's good? Here, some questions regarding friendship and your role as an advocate of pure love:

What do I do if a friend wears a blouse with a plunging neckline or super short shorts?

As a woman, you understand how the lines of appropriate dressing can be blurred in the name of fashion. So instead of giving your friend rules like "Only wear shirts with sleeves and a neckline two fingers below the collarbone or higher," or "Only wear skirts up to the knees or longer," which, honestly, do seem to leave too little room for personal opinions, share with her some fashion magazine pictures that show women in stylish and modest clothes. Or go shopping together! With perseverance, your friendship and fashion advice can help her see that there is true freedom in choosing to dress with dignity. Plus, you both come out more stylish for it!

How can I help an unmarried friend who tells me she is pregnant?

She needs you more than ever, so don't abandon her! Listen to her, ask her how she is, and pray for her. Help her to want to make only the good choices from now on. People can be cruel to women in this situation; they gossip about her, call her names, and some even suggest abortion! As her friend, you should love her more. Don't lie to her, though: don't tell her what she did was right! But do help her see that there is always hope, even in the worst cases, and that you're gonna be there to help her make the best of the situation and get back up again. And perhaps, someday, when she's ready, she can make a good confession, which never fails to make one feel deeply happy! 

As an ordinary girl, what can I do to promote pure love?

Live it. In the way you act, in the way you dress, and in the way you speak, you're already promoting a certain stand on how a lady should behave. I'm not saying you should put on a show every minute; if purity of heart is something you deeply care about, then it will naturally flow from you! Keep on studying, strengthening and growing in your faith--that is the foundation of pure love. And keep praying for wisdom, courage, the right words, and cheerfulness--those are your fuel and ammunition. 

Then, infect all of your friends.   

"Blessed is the influence of one true, loving human soul on another."-George Eliot