Skip to main content

Hunger Games and heroism

My friend Sarah went to see The Hunger Games with her daughter on opening night, but how about any of you? Who’s seen the movie? Read the books?

I admit I only read the books when I heard all the hype about it, and I really like the first book. The social commentary was so fascinating. But I’m in the middle of Catching Fire and must admit I’m not as enthralled. I’ll probably get slammed for saying this, but I don’t really see what’s so heroic about Gale that she loves him so much. He actually seems a bit selfish much of the time.

As girls, we shouldn’t just fall in love with any guy who seems halfway interested. Even if he’s madly in love with you, look at his heart. Is he heroic? Does he show the kinds of qualities God would admire? And I’m not talking piety. That’s totally different from heroism.

He should put God first and you second. He shouldn’t be a doormat, instead he should help you do the right thing even if it’s painful for him and for you. I think that’s heroism.

There are some guys who are confident rebels who are also heroic. But there are also lots of rebels who are selfish.

There are saints who are heroic, but there are also some saints who are not heroic. They can be full of themselves, or care more about what people think that what God thinks, or they can be downright selfish.

So far, in the little I’ve seen of Gale on the page, he’s just not heroic to me. He’s a rebel, which can be attractive, but he’s a bit selfish. Maybe because one of the first things I see him doing in the book is talking to Katniss about running off together, leaving their families behind. I understand WHY he wants to do this. Yes, his life is hard, and it’s tough for him to see Katniss and Peeta together, but he never told her he loved her, and it wasn’t his name picked at the Reaping, was it? He doesn't know anything about what Katniss and Peeta had to do to endure.

So do you agree or disagree with me?

Comments

Iola said…
I've just downloaded the Hunger Games Trilogy, but haven't started reading it yet.

My husband says a hero is a guy who gets married to one woman and stays faithful, providing for his family. I agree. After all, the ongoing small acts of love and service are harder because there is no glory in them. That's harder than the one-off grand gesture.
Camy Tang said…
That's a good description! I think I'm passionate about helping single women figure out who are good guys to date because when I was single, I kept thinking the guys I met were so nice when actually some of them were very selfish. You're right in that a woman dating a man should look at his smaller acts of love as indications of what being married to him would be like.
Carissa said…
To me a true hero is someone who Puts God first then you. On a side note I also think a hero is some one who is willing to take the risk and be willing to die for you or other loved ones, and for his Faith.

I also didn't like Gale either, to me he wasn't the hero. Peeta was more of a hero than Gale was, Peeta was willing to die to protect Katniss.
Camy Tang said…
Yes, I'm still reading Catching Fire and Peeta is willing to die for Katniss. Isn't that what Jesus said? "Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends." John 15:13.
Angela said…
I totally agree with you Camy!!

Popular Posts

I got my cover!

Captain’s Log, Supplemental Blog book giveaway: To enter, go to the blog links below and post a comment there. Eyes of Elisha by Brandilyn Collins Tangerine by Marilynn Griffith I GOT MY COVER!!!! What do you guys think?

I sold to Steeple Hill!

Captain's Log, Supplemental Remember that romantic suspense proposal I blogged about earlier? Well, it just sold to Steeple Hill’s Love Inspired Suspense line! I am so jazzed! I am beyond jazzed! The story’s working title is Sinister Spa The story's title is Deadly Intent and here’s a blurb (but it’s probably not what will appear on the back of the book): Massage therapist Naomi Grant could use a massage herself. With her father at home recovering from a stroke, Naomi is put in charge of the family’s elite day spa in Sonoma county. The new responsibilities sit awkwardly on her shoulders, and things only get worse when handsome Dr. Devon Knightley breezes into the spa, demanding to see one of the female clients. And the woman is found dead in Naomi’s massage room. Suddenly, Naomi is a suspect and her family’s spa is shut down. How could God let this awful thing happen? Devon only needed to see his ex-wife about a family necklace she still hadn’t returned, but when she dies and...

Toilet seat cover

Captain’s Log, Supplemental Update August 2008: I wrote up the pattern for this with "improvements"! Here's the link to my No Cold Bums toilet seat cover ! Okay, remember a few days ago I was complaining about the cold toilet seat in my bathroom? Well, I decided to knit a seat cover. Not a lid cover, but a seat cover. I went online and couldn’t find anything for the seat, just one pattern for the lid by Feminitz.com . However, I took her pattern for the inside edge of the lid cover and modified it to make a seat cover. Here it is! It’s really ugly stitch-wise because originally I made it too small and had to extend it a couple inches on each side. I figured I’d be the one staring at it, so who cared if the extension wasn’t perfectly invisible? I used acrylic yarn since, well, that’s what I had, and also because it’s easy to wash. I’ll probably have to wash this cover every week or so, but it’s easy to take off—I made ties which you can see near the back of the seat. And...

No Cold Bums toilet seat cover

Captain's Log, Stardate 08.22.2008 I actually wrote out my pattern! I was getting a lot of hits on my infamous toilet seat cover , and I wanted to make a new one with “improvements,” so I paid attention and wrote things down as I made the new one. This was originally based off the Potty Mouth toilet cover , but I altered it to fit over the seat instead of the lid. Yarn: any worsted weight yarn, about 120 yards (this is a really tight number, I used exactly 118 yards. My suggestion is to make sure you have about 130 yards.) I suggest using acrylic yarn because you’re going to be washing this often. Needle: I used US 8, but you can use whatever needle size is recommended by the yarn you’re using. Gauge: Not that important. Mine was 4 sts/1 inch in garter stitch. 6 buttons (I used some leftover shell buttons I had in my stash) tapestry needle Crochet hook (optional) Cover: Using a provisional cast on, cast on 12 stitches. Work in garter st until liner measures...

Brainstorm - character occupation

Captain's Log, Stardate 03.23.2009 Hey guys, I could use some help. In my current manuscript, The Year of the Dog , which is a humorous contemporary romance, I have a minor character, Eddie. He’s my heroine’s ex-boyfriend, and they’re on good terms with each other. He’s a bit irresponsible, but not so much so that he’s a complete loser. He’s got a very easy going attitude, he forgets to pay his bills sometimes, he’s friendly and charming. He’s adventurous and fun to be around, but he’s a little forgetful sometimes, and he tends to spend a little outside his income. I need an occupation for him. What would a charming, easy going, slightly irresponsible guy do for a living? He’s not too irresponsible, because otherwise readers will wonder what in the world my heroine saw in him to date him in the first place. She was attracted to his charm, his easy going attitude (her family’s uptight, and he was a nice contrast), and his adventurousness. But his forgetfulness and irresponsibility ...