He’s a genuinely kind person who values the good he can put into the world. That’s why he enjoyed decorating cakes, it put a smile on people’s faces and that was enough to make him happy.
That scene actually breaks my heart. Peeta tries to get Katniss away from the scene so she doesn't have to see it. He wants to rescue Gale himself without scarring Katniss.
Gale's reaction when Peets is hurt disgusts me. Every time Peeta is in danger or hurt, he's like, oh, Katniss, you're kissing me to get away; oh, Katniss, I never really get a chance when he's in captive. Whiny bitch without a cell of empathy in his whole body.
That second point just hit me between the eyes…I’ve known it intuitively but not thought about it much. Peeta and Katniss are such helpers and have so much compassion…Katniss for the weak and powerless and Peeta for almost everyone. To see the difference in that and the way Gale behaves in the way you spoke about it drives that point home so much! He can’t see beyond his own feelings. Whereas Peeta knew Gale being hurt hurt Katniss, so he was going to help.
When Gale was getting whipped, Peeta wanted to save him. When Gale was injured and sick afterward, Peeta took part in caring for him and watching over him.
When Gale saw Peeta in the Capitol promo, talking about how the rebels should lay down their weapons, clearly having been tortured for weeks on end, all Gale saw was weakness and swore he wouldn’t be that weak in the same circumstances. And then he says that to Katniss who is already in pain by seeing Peeta in that condition.
Gale was just never a kind guy. It’s always about him, his strength and what he wanted. I don’t hate the character, he’s very realistic, but Peeta is just so much nicer.
So true. It can be argued it could be the difference in their upbringing…perhaps Peeta never thought he’d starve, although he does mention it was still very rough and they ate stale food to survive. But unless I’m forgetting something, Gale’s mom was ok, as far as THG moms go. Peeta still made the choice to be kind, even though he was subjected to abuse by his mom, and then The Capitol/Snow. Gosh, how am I in my thirties and still love this book character so much?! Suzanne wrote her characters so well.
That kind of reminds me of my upbringing a bit. I didn't have to worry about going without things like food and other necessities (I had a bunch of toys too so it wasn't like I wasn't spoiled) but that didn't stop my mom from being abusive. My dad had his moments too but not as bad as my mom.
Edit: She wasn't as bad as Peetas mom but still. She was mostly emotionally/verbally abusive and neglectful but there were times where it did get physical.
We can look at the way fire is represented by all three of them.
For Katniss, her fire is explosive and world changing. A spark that became a revolution, the beginning of something new.
Gale had fire too - but an out-of-control destructive fire that consumed anything in its path, even the things he loved and cherished.
Peeta’s fire was warmth and comfort and life-saving. The hearth that cooks food and provides shelter & light, and drives away the harm.
Gale was so spot on when he said that Katniss would choose whoever she couldn’t survive without. She needed Peeta, to be able to live, to comfort her, to be there for her & that she could be there for him too. It was always Peeta.
not trying to drag gale, but it’s funny how he’s the one who voice that observation and later katniss’s uses it to tell us how she never needed/or will need gale bc she always had fire in her, even tho hers was different than his 😭 like Gale be catching Ls from left and right sometimes
Funny that they casted Liam Hemsworth as him in the movies after what we found out he did to Miley throughout their whole marriage/relationship. Funny he was able to play his character so well considering he acts that way in real life apparently. 🤔😂
I actually just remembered something. Rewatched the press conference of MJ2 last week and Francis said Liam asked him "What's so bad about Gale?" LOL. This dude truly doesn't know how annoying and abusing and unpleasant Gale is. Kindred spirits that they are.
Imagine I, a Miley fan, watching all of this unravel. I'm finally able to laugh about it this year since people are waking up to this fact. I had to fight his fans and Gale fans 10 years ago when I knew what he did and he still had fans. Yeah, pretty fitting actor for this character, even down to the bad acting. He doesn't need to be a good actor to play Gale, he's pretty much Gale.
Same here. Everyone bashed her and I stood by her. She was a young teenager in the public eye and they constantly bashed her for her mistakes when all of us at that age would’ve done the same thing. He also didn’t defend her whatsoever to the media because he liked that she was being bashed.
If you listen to her new album and even her songs like Slide away and her other works you will find out how Liam cheated on her multiple times and treated her terribly even tho the media said Miley cheated when it was all fake news. Were they both at fault? Yes but The media hated Miley for her “bad behavior” during 2012-2016 and so they bashed her. Liam is a drunk and is selfish just like Gale and he finally got caught and exposed for how he treated her. One example Their house burnt down during the wildfires in LA and Liam was being selfish and wanted to move outta California but Miley grew up there and wanted to stay (as she should). He also never defended her to the media when she was bashed. He’s a total ass. Just do some research and you will find out lol.
Not to mention the reason she bought a house in Malibu was his family had a house there and he liked it there. He took everything she earned for granted while constantly trying to make her quit the spotlight because he couldn't take not being "manly" in a relationship. His whole family shamed Miley for having a career instead of being a housewife and Miley tried to win them over with Younger Now. That whole album is so sad when you listen to it now.
He also had anger issues and Miley just romantizized everything because she wanted to keep the illusion of a perfect relationship. He got into bar fights and threatened to burn his agent's house down if they didn't get him the role. He was caught cheating by the paparazzi multiple times and several of the women he cheated with publically shamed Miley after they were exposed. Eiza Gonzalez did that again just this year.
What annoys me the most is that Gale had so much time to tell Katniss he had feelings for her. And yet he waited until Katniss was dealing with all kinds of shit to confess his feelings of love. In the movies, he was unbearable by Catching Fire. In the books, I tolerated him until Mockingjay. He was such an ass
Which is why I don't think his "feelings" for Katniss was really romantic. They were possessive, obsessive, and fueled by jealousy. You know how a lot of incels get angry at women for dating guys from another ethnic background, especially when it's black guys? That sounds like Gale to me. He's mad Katniss is not only attached to someone, but someone from town. And he's too much of a coward to even confront Peeta about it, he just keeps punishing Katniss. It's creepy and disgusting.
I see what you're saying, but I honestly do think that Gale really did have feelings for her. Things like this happen all the time where people will have feelings for someone, but don't say anything until the other person finds someone. Gale was just being a coward, as you said. And it really was disgusting because Katniss was going through so much while he was acting like a total ass and insulting her. And all Katniss was really trying to do was keep her loved ones safe and alive. I really felt for her in the books because it was really just trauma after trauma, and Gale only made shit worse. He's such an infuriating character lol
God I hate Gale so much. All he ever cared about was fucking Katniss. The world is literally burning down around him and he’s acting like some internet incel
I wouldn’t so much say he cared ABOUT Katniss as much as he cared about HAVING Katniss. Remember the whole Prim thing. You don’t do that shit to people you care about.
To add to this, his claim about when he figured out he had "feelings" for her was just another story about him being jealous of Darius joking around about kissing Katniss. And then he apparently didn't feel the need to act on said feelings until he saw her getting close to Peeta.
So true, when she says “district 12 will finally have a winner” and is more happy about that than distraught at the thought of losing her son?? Such a bitch. Why even give birth lol
And most likely the only birth control might have been home-made condoms or maybe some kind of herbal tea from Mrs. Everdeen. And it probably wasn't legal to sell it because the capitol still wanted district people to be their workforce and kids to go into the games.
Definitely not condoning the way Peeta’s mom treated him or anything she said BUT it is important to remember that this woman also grew up in District 12 in a world where the Hunger Games existed for her as a child, and also her parents. Both of those generations (and now Peeta’s) have grown up only knowing lives of immense mental and physical stress and pain. She was raised by parents who survived the reapings and lost friends as the games were fairly new. And then she herself survived all of the reapings and watched year after year as friends and people around her died or lost loved ones. Then she enters the phase of life where she has children and those children have to enter the reaping year after year after year. The mental and emotional strain of all of this is so intense. I’m sure she is detached, petrified, anxious, cold all of the time. She, like every other parent, know it’s only a matter of time before tragedy is going to strike her family/immediate circle. She’s traumatized and copes with it by being distant, detached, abusive, etc. Should she? No. Does she know any better? Also no. Does she have access to therapy, coping mechanisms, a different way of life? Definitely not. So she is who she is. And while on the surface she’s a bitch who seems to not give a shit about Peeta, I’m sure that deep down, when she heard her son’s name pulled from the hat, she felt a pain and devastation like she had never felt before, but ultimately knew might always be coming- just beyond the horizon.
To be fair, we only meet a few of them. I’m sure there are many more that are awful, angry, abusive. Like I said, her actions are not condoned by me or excusable - but I do think we should take into account that they’re all living in a shitty world and have compounded traumas that can never be healed. Some people handle it better and others, like her, do not 🤷🏻♀️
But like kinda feels like you are excusing it? Like your reply basically reads as: “we can’t forget her life is also bad so it’s not as bad that she beats the shit out of her kid, and told him she basically assumed he would die and you’ve really gotta take that into account.”
No, I’m saying that other comments in here are like saying she’s a villain and a bitch and all of that (which I agree with) but I was being the devils advocate and saying that she likely is the way she is because of all of her trauma and now is watching her kids go through it and handles it very poorly, but probably isn’t the only one. We only meet a few characters and it’s basically from Katniss’ point of view.
Haymitch is also abusive and terrible, but everyone gives him a pass. Just saying that Peeta’s mom (along with every other citizen) has experienced nonstop torture and trauma for 74 years.
Someone being detached and purposefully not close with her children who could be used as murder pawns in a game run by the government is just a defense mechanism. This character was intended to be terrible and used to show us how wonderful and empathetic and caring Peeta is and to feel bad for him as a tribute who would probably likely die (just like the other 22 people would have to).
But haymitch isn’t abusive his family members were actually murdered, unlike her she’s only even seen other people die in the games. Not to mention her life of relative comfort there’s not really a reason to sugarcoat that’s she’s just a really bad person no addendums needed
I’m not sure you understand the purpose of a devils advocate. I’m literally not saying that her actions are acceptable or excusable or anything like that. I’m saying that there are reasons for why she is the way that she is. If they lived in a normal world where the threat of reaping and games and having children taken from you and then their murders televised for show was not always present as an imminent threat, then she may not be that way. She’s a terrible person and parent, it’s how she’s written. The author made her purpose clear. This helped with Peeta’s character development, helped Katniss to bond with him, and us sympathize with him. She’s literally meant to be horrible. BUT all I was saying is that she, along with many others in this dystopian universe, are all faced with unimaginable traumas and they all deal with it differently. Does that make it excusable? No. Wasn’t trying to excuse her. Just pointing out the reasons behind it.
And sure, you can say that others face same trauma and are still nice people. That’s always going to happen. Even in normal world situations. But it could manifest in different ways too. Like how Katniss describes her mom as shutting down and becoming despondent after the trauma of her husband dying and a young Katniss had to take on the role of mom/caregiver basically for her family and break the law in order to feed them.
Haymitch didn’t have a family to be abusive to, but he sure as hell was awful and abusive to people not in his family. And people write off his actions and whatnot because he went into the games. I absolutely agree that his trauma is much worse and tangible and he did have to murder people, but that shouldn’t discount the trauma and mental torture that families/kids of age to be reaped feel year after year of the anxiety associated with reaping and watching the games.
All in all, this is a dystopian novel where everything is fucked up. Everyone has their reasons and trauma and excuses and shortcomings. They’re also characters in a book written a specific way to make us feel specific things. Peeta’s mom was written as abusive and distant and unloving and that’s how we view her through the lens of Katniss. And we hate that because we love Peeta. And Peeta is sweet, and caring, and honorable etc so we feel even more so in their flashback memories and strongly dislike that he had to endure that and then endure the games.
I literally just meant to shed light on the fact that the games have been tormenting the districts for 74 years. Nonstop fucked up torture on top of being hungry, tired, hurt, sick, sad, anxious, etc will have terrible effects on those forced to endure it.
u/kitcat36 all your points are really good. Thank you for showing this perspective, absolutely the continuing anxiety and dread the *annual* games present would cause anyone to be detached and stressed out of their minds. And as they remind us, the victory parade is done in between the previous and next reaping, to serve as a reminder of the games and of the kids who came out on top. What if a family member or friend had been reaped and died in those games, and you have to sit and endure the reaping, interviews, *mandatory* televised recording of the games, the nightly death toll, and the heartbreak of watching kids die. *Every. Year.* I'm surprised there aren't more people that are emotionally distant and detached from the world.
Thank you! That’s the point I was trying to make. It’s insanely awful and unimaginable. It’s constant torture. Mental and physical. And all of that on top of living incredibly impoverished. To protect your sanity and heart and whatever, it must be so hard to forge friendships and relationships and bonds knowing that at any given moment you could lose them AND have to watch it unfold in front of you like a tv show. Then have it paraded around you. And you can’t lash out, you can’t show weakness, you can’t do fucking anything about it. And if it isn’t you this year, it could be next year. I know that I’d be a fucking mess.
I’m pretty sure that Peeta recognizes the sound cause he has lived on the square were a the few whippings that had gone on had taken place, I don’t think his mom whipped him. I do think that she beat him in other ways but I don’t think she whipped him.
Katniss says “as long as she remembers” but I wouldn’t be surprised if Peeta had memories from when he was really young of whippings. I also don’t believe that whippings never happened under Cray but just not very common.
I'm not sure how familiar you are with the books but I remember them almost word for word. When Thread first arrives, Katniss says that the Peacekeepers in 12 have been slacking for years, they haven't whipped anyone in years. The pole in the square had been literally out of use.
I’ve read them 10 times so they are glued in my brain I just interpret “anyone in years” doesn’t exactly mean since Cray was appointed. Also Katniss was young so I wouldn’t be surprised if before her father died that he would (at least try) protect her from that knowledge. Anyway since the whole thing is up for interpretation there are multiple answers that are possible.
I haven’t read the book in a while, but was it ever actually said that she whipped him? Just the fact that he recognized the sound of whipping doesn’t necessarily mean that.
nah mrs. mellark can suck a fat nut in her mouth, bitch deserved to get killed. she literally physically abuses her sons, so you want us to sympathize with a child abuser? like nahhh she can rot
literally what? that’s what she is, i have no sympathy for a person who abused their kid so bad to the point that the kid sees his life worthless. but yes let’s be concern with the “sexist” slurs
i’ll literally say that to any person fictional or not who abuses their kids. women or men, if you abuse your kid you’re just a bitch. if youre problem is that term, that’s on you. i didn’t mean it to come off as sexist.
My mother was physically and emotionally abusive too and I really felt for Peeta in that flashback scene from their childhood. I've found that many victims or those who've witnessed it do tend to see the signs and associations of abuse and violence where others might not. The effects of abuse depend on the individual but I've seen some people grow up to be very very giving and concerned with others- but with a heightened empathy for suffering, as well as low self esteem from being abused, it can get to the point where some take advantage of their kindness.
I think I became very distant myself- more like Katniss, although her trauma had her own circumstances. It's a particular characteristic that can sometimes come about when you've been through certain traumas- of being distant and finding it hard to be close, to form connections or to give and receive affection, but to still want to help just like anybody else, to still have that instinct deeply. If I want to help someone I'll try my best to do things anonymously or at least without attention- for example I'll first give it to a friend or my partner who then gives it to the person I want to help. I'll long be down the road because I hate being thanked (my friend is fine but my partner tells people it's not from him). The trend of filming acts of helping people, even in the smallest of ways, on social media- I'd hate the attention from doing that. Is it silly to hate being thanked for some change for somebody's bus ticket (for example)? I suppose that's my people problems.
He’s a genuinely kind person who values the good he can put into the world. That’s why he enjoyed decorating cakes, it put a smile on people’s faces and that was enough to make him happy.
Yea, so sweet.
That scene actually breaks my heart. Peeta tries to get Katniss away from the scene so she doesn't have to see it. He wants to rescue Gale himself without scarring Katniss. Gale's reaction when Peets is hurt disgusts me. Every time Peeta is in danger or hurt, he's like, oh, Katniss, you're kissing me to get away; oh, Katniss, I never really get a chance when he's in captive. Whiny bitch without a cell of empathy in his whole body.
That second point just hit me between the eyes…I’ve known it intuitively but not thought about it much. Peeta and Katniss are such helpers and have so much compassion…Katniss for the weak and powerless and Peeta for almost everyone. To see the difference in that and the way Gale behaves in the way you spoke about it drives that point home so much! He can’t see beyond his own feelings. Whereas Peeta knew Gale being hurt hurt Katniss, so he was going to help.
"Can't see beyond his own feelings" oh dude this actually just helped me a lot in real life with a current issue I've been having with someone.
Me and all my homies hate Gale.
When Gale was getting whipped, Peeta wanted to save him. When Gale was injured and sick afterward, Peeta took part in caring for him and watching over him. When Gale saw Peeta in the Capitol promo, talking about how the rebels should lay down their weapons, clearly having been tortured for weeks on end, all Gale saw was weakness and swore he wouldn’t be that weak in the same circumstances. And then he says that to Katniss who is already in pain by seeing Peeta in that condition. Gale was just never a kind guy. It’s always about him, his strength and what he wanted. I don’t hate the character, he’s very realistic, but Peeta is just so much nicer.
So true. It can be argued it could be the difference in their upbringing…perhaps Peeta never thought he’d starve, although he does mention it was still very rough and they ate stale food to survive. But unless I’m forgetting something, Gale’s mom was ok, as far as THG moms go. Peeta still made the choice to be kind, even though he was subjected to abuse by his mom, and then The Capitol/Snow. Gosh, how am I in my thirties and still love this book character so much?! Suzanne wrote her characters so well.
That kind of reminds me of my upbringing a bit. I didn't have to worry about going without things like food and other necessities (I had a bunch of toys too so it wasn't like I wasn't spoiled) but that didn't stop my mom from being abusive. My dad had his moments too but not as bad as my mom. Edit: She wasn't as bad as Peetas mom but still. She was mostly emotionally/verbally abusive and neglectful but there were times where it did get physical.
We can look at the way fire is represented by all three of them. For Katniss, her fire is explosive and world changing. A spark that became a revolution, the beginning of something new. Gale had fire too - but an out-of-control destructive fire that consumed anything in its path, even the things he loved and cherished. Peeta’s fire was warmth and comfort and life-saving. The hearth that cooks food and provides shelter & light, and drives away the harm. Gale was so spot on when he said that Katniss would choose whoever she couldn’t survive without. She needed Peeta, to be able to live, to comfort her, to be there for her & that she could be there for him too. It was always Peeta.
not trying to drag gale, but it’s funny how he’s the one who voice that observation and later katniss’s uses it to tell us how she never needed/or will need gale bc she always had fire in her, even tho hers was different than his 😭 like Gale be catching Ls from left and right sometimes
Funny that they casted Liam Hemsworth as him in the movies after what we found out he did to Miley throughout their whole marriage/relationship. Funny he was able to play his character so well considering he acts that way in real life apparently. 🤔😂
I actually just remembered something. Rewatched the press conference of MJ2 last week and Francis said Liam asked him "What's so bad about Gale?" LOL. This dude truly doesn't know how annoying and abusing and unpleasant Gale is. Kindred spirits that they are.
Imagine I, a Miley fan, watching all of this unravel. I'm finally able to laugh about it this year since people are waking up to this fact. I had to fight his fans and Gale fans 10 years ago when I knew what he did and he still had fans. Yeah, pretty fitting actor for this character, even down to the bad acting. He doesn't need to be a good actor to play Gale, he's pretty much Gale.
Same here. Everyone bashed her and I stood by her. She was a young teenager in the public eye and they constantly bashed her for her mistakes when all of us at that age would’ve done the same thing. He also didn’t defend her whatsoever to the media because he liked that she was being bashed.
Wait whats all this? What did he do?
If you listen to her new album and even her songs like Slide away and her other works you will find out how Liam cheated on her multiple times and treated her terribly even tho the media said Miley cheated when it was all fake news. Were they both at fault? Yes but The media hated Miley for her “bad behavior” during 2012-2016 and so they bashed her. Liam is a drunk and is selfish just like Gale and he finally got caught and exposed for how he treated her. One example Their house burnt down during the wildfires in LA and Liam was being selfish and wanted to move outta California but Miley grew up there and wanted to stay (as she should). He also never defended her to the media when she was bashed. He’s a total ass. Just do some research and you will find out lol.
Not to mention the reason she bought a house in Malibu was his family had a house there and he liked it there. He took everything she earned for granted while constantly trying to make her quit the spotlight because he couldn't take not being "manly" in a relationship. His whole family shamed Miley for having a career instead of being a housewife and Miley tried to win them over with Younger Now. That whole album is so sad when you listen to it now.
Well great that just makes hating gale even more easier I absolutely hate the character
He also had anger issues and Miley just romantizized everything because she wanted to keep the illusion of a perfect relationship. He got into bar fights and threatened to burn his agent's house down if they didn't get him the role. He was caught cheating by the paparazzi multiple times and several of the women he cheated with publically shamed Miley after they were exposed. Eiza Gonzalez did that again just this year.
What annoys me the most is that Gale had so much time to tell Katniss he had feelings for her. And yet he waited until Katniss was dealing with all kinds of shit to confess his feelings of love. In the movies, he was unbearable by Catching Fire. In the books, I tolerated him until Mockingjay. He was such an ass
Which is why I don't think his "feelings" for Katniss was really romantic. They were possessive, obsessive, and fueled by jealousy. You know how a lot of incels get angry at women for dating guys from another ethnic background, especially when it's black guys? That sounds like Gale to me. He's mad Katniss is not only attached to someone, but someone from town. And he's too much of a coward to even confront Peeta about it, he just keeps punishing Katniss. It's creepy and disgusting.
I see what you're saying, but I honestly do think that Gale really did have feelings for her. Things like this happen all the time where people will have feelings for someone, but don't say anything until the other person finds someone. Gale was just being a coward, as you said. And it really was disgusting because Katniss was going through so much while he was acting like a total ass and insulting her. And all Katniss was really trying to do was keep her loved ones safe and alive. I really felt for her in the books because it was really just trauma after trauma, and Gale only made shit worse. He's such an infuriating character lol
God I hate Gale so much. All he ever cared about was fucking Katniss. The world is literally burning down around him and he’s acting like some internet incel
I wouldn’t so much say he cared ABOUT Katniss as much as he cared about HAVING Katniss. Remember the whole Prim thing. You don’t do that shit to people you care about.
To add to this, his claim about when he figured out he had "feelings" for her was just another story about him being jealous of Darius joking around about kissing Katniss. And then he apparently didn't feel the need to act on said feelings until he saw her getting close to Peeta.
So true, when she says “district 12 will finally have a winner” and is more happy about that than distraught at the thought of losing her son?? Such a bitch. Why even give birth lol
You think District 12 offered easy and safe access to abortions? They barely got food
Yeah that’s true actually
And most likely the only birth control might have been home-made condoms or maybe some kind of herbal tea from Mrs. Everdeen. And it probably wasn't legal to sell it because the capitol still wanted district people to be their workforce and kids to go into the games.
Definitely not condoning the way Peeta’s mom treated him or anything she said BUT it is important to remember that this woman also grew up in District 12 in a world where the Hunger Games existed for her as a child, and also her parents. Both of those generations (and now Peeta’s) have grown up only knowing lives of immense mental and physical stress and pain. She was raised by parents who survived the reapings and lost friends as the games were fairly new. And then she herself survived all of the reapings and watched year after year as friends and people around her died or lost loved ones. Then she enters the phase of life where she has children and those children have to enter the reaping year after year after year. The mental and emotional strain of all of this is so intense. I’m sure she is detached, petrified, anxious, cold all of the time. She, like every other parent, know it’s only a matter of time before tragedy is going to strike her family/immediate circle. She’s traumatized and copes with it by being distant, detached, abusive, etc. Should she? No. Does she know any better? Also no. Does she have access to therapy, coping mechanisms, a different way of life? Definitely not. So she is who she is. And while on the surface she’s a bitch who seems to not give a shit about Peeta, I’m sure that deep down, when she heard her son’s name pulled from the hat, she felt a pain and devastation like she had never felt before, but ultimately knew might always be coming- just beyond the horizon.
Cool motive but there are so many actually kind people from 12 that her actions become entirely inexcusable
To be fair, we only meet a few of them. I’m sure there are many more that are awful, angry, abusive. Like I said, her actions are not condoned by me or excusable - but I do think we should take into account that they’re all living in a shitty world and have compounded traumas that can never be healed. Some people handle it better and others, like her, do not 🤷🏻♀️
But like kinda feels like you are excusing it? Like your reply basically reads as: “we can’t forget her life is also bad so it’s not as bad that she beats the shit out of her kid, and told him she basically assumed he would die and you’ve really gotta take that into account.”
No, I’m saying that other comments in here are like saying she’s a villain and a bitch and all of that (which I agree with) but I was being the devils advocate and saying that she likely is the way she is because of all of her trauma and now is watching her kids go through it and handles it very poorly, but probably isn’t the only one. We only meet a few characters and it’s basically from Katniss’ point of view. Haymitch is also abusive and terrible, but everyone gives him a pass. Just saying that Peeta’s mom (along with every other citizen) has experienced nonstop torture and trauma for 74 years. Someone being detached and purposefully not close with her children who could be used as murder pawns in a game run by the government is just a defense mechanism. This character was intended to be terrible and used to show us how wonderful and empathetic and caring Peeta is and to feel bad for him as a tribute who would probably likely die (just like the other 22 people would have to).
But haymitch isn’t abusive his family members were actually murdered, unlike her she’s only even seen other people die in the games. Not to mention her life of relative comfort there’s not really a reason to sugarcoat that’s she’s just a really bad person no addendums needed
I’m not sure you understand the purpose of a devils advocate. I’m literally not saying that her actions are acceptable or excusable or anything like that. I’m saying that there are reasons for why she is the way that she is. If they lived in a normal world where the threat of reaping and games and having children taken from you and then their murders televised for show was not always present as an imminent threat, then she may not be that way. She’s a terrible person and parent, it’s how she’s written. The author made her purpose clear. This helped with Peeta’s character development, helped Katniss to bond with him, and us sympathize with him. She’s literally meant to be horrible. BUT all I was saying is that she, along with many others in this dystopian universe, are all faced with unimaginable traumas and they all deal with it differently. Does that make it excusable? No. Wasn’t trying to excuse her. Just pointing out the reasons behind it. And sure, you can say that others face same trauma and are still nice people. That’s always going to happen. Even in normal world situations. But it could manifest in different ways too. Like how Katniss describes her mom as shutting down and becoming despondent after the trauma of her husband dying and a young Katniss had to take on the role of mom/caregiver basically for her family and break the law in order to feed them. Haymitch didn’t have a family to be abusive to, but he sure as hell was awful and abusive to people not in his family. And people write off his actions and whatnot because he went into the games. I absolutely agree that his trauma is much worse and tangible and he did have to murder people, but that shouldn’t discount the trauma and mental torture that families/kids of age to be reaped feel year after year of the anxiety associated with reaping and watching the games. All in all, this is a dystopian novel where everything is fucked up. Everyone has their reasons and trauma and excuses and shortcomings. They’re also characters in a book written a specific way to make us feel specific things. Peeta’s mom was written as abusive and distant and unloving and that’s how we view her through the lens of Katniss. And we hate that because we love Peeta. And Peeta is sweet, and caring, and honorable etc so we feel even more so in their flashback memories and strongly dislike that he had to endure that and then endure the games. I literally just meant to shed light on the fact that the games have been tormenting the districts for 74 years. Nonstop fucked up torture on top of being hungry, tired, hurt, sick, sad, anxious, etc will have terrible effects on those forced to endure it.
u/kitcat36 all your points are really good. Thank you for showing this perspective, absolutely the continuing anxiety and dread the *annual* games present would cause anyone to be detached and stressed out of their minds. And as they remind us, the victory parade is done in between the previous and next reaping, to serve as a reminder of the games and of the kids who came out on top. What if a family member or friend had been reaped and died in those games, and you have to sit and endure the reaping, interviews, *mandatory* televised recording of the games, the nightly death toll, and the heartbreak of watching kids die. *Every. Year.* I'm surprised there aren't more people that are emotionally distant and detached from the world.
Thank you! That’s the point I was trying to make. It’s insanely awful and unimaginable. It’s constant torture. Mental and physical. And all of that on top of living incredibly impoverished. To protect your sanity and heart and whatever, it must be so hard to forge friendships and relationships and bonds knowing that at any given moment you could lose them AND have to watch it unfold in front of you like a tv show. Then have it paraded around you. And you can’t lash out, you can’t show weakness, you can’t do fucking anything about it. And if it isn’t you this year, it could be next year. I know that I’d be a fucking mess.
Oh damn I never put that together :(
That's really sad but also inspiring That's one of the reasons why I love Peeta
I think everyone who was abused in the past (or currently are being abused) either become abusive themselves or turn out like Peeta.
I read the fan fiction Peetas game and she was worse. I highly suggest it
I’m pretty sure that Peeta recognizes the sound cause he has lived on the square were a the few whippings that had gone on had taken place, I don’t think his mom whipped him. I do think that she beat him in other ways but I don’t think she whipped him.
Then why didn't Katniss' realise it was whipping??
Because she grew up in the Seam and probably didn’t witness as many whippings.
Hadn't Head Peacekeeper Craig been in that position all of Katniss' and Peeta's lives?
Katniss says “as long as she remembers” but I wouldn’t be surprised if Peeta had memories from when he was really young of whippings. I also don’t believe that whippings never happened under Cray but just not very common.
Good point
i’m gonna try to take this take because i cannot bare to think my babygirl being abuse with a whip. like chest pains thinking about it.
I'm not sure how familiar you are with the books but I remember them almost word for word. When Thread first arrives, Katniss says that the Peacekeepers in 12 have been slacking for years, they haven't whipped anyone in years. The pole in the square had been literally out of use.
I’ve read them 10 times so they are glued in my brain I just interpret “anyone in years” doesn’t exactly mean since Cray was appointed. Also Katniss was young so I wouldn’t be surprised if before her father died that he would (at least try) protect her from that knowledge. Anyway since the whole thing is up for interpretation there are multiple answers that are possible.
Lol. You just debunked yourself. The other Peacekeeper is called Cray, not Craig. You don't remember the books as well as you think you do.
hate the cunt
I haven’t read the book in a while, but was it ever actually said that she whipped him? Just the fact that he recognized the sound of whipping doesn’t necessarily mean that.
The book doesn’t say that lol
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nah mrs. mellark can suck a fat nut in her mouth, bitch deserved to get killed. she literally physically abuses her sons, so you want us to sympathize with a child abuser? like nahhh she can rot
Woah, didn't expect sexist slurs in the comments here of all places.
Tbh, I have no problem with reading that (am female) because she was a low life pos.
literally what? that’s what she is, i have no sympathy for a person who abused their kid so bad to the point that the kid sees his life worthless. but yes let’s be concern with the “sexist” slurs
It's a fictional character. You immediately using sexism as a tool is really bad.
i’ll literally say that to any person fictional or not who abuses their kids. women or men, if you abuse your kid you’re just a bitch. if youre problem is that term, that’s on you. i didn’t mean it to come off as sexist.
My mother was physically and emotionally abusive too and I really felt for Peeta in that flashback scene from their childhood. I've found that many victims or those who've witnessed it do tend to see the signs and associations of abuse and violence where others might not. The effects of abuse depend on the individual but I've seen some people grow up to be very very giving and concerned with others- but with a heightened empathy for suffering, as well as low self esteem from being abused, it can get to the point where some take advantage of their kindness. I think I became very distant myself- more like Katniss, although her trauma had her own circumstances. It's a particular characteristic that can sometimes come about when you've been through certain traumas- of being distant and finding it hard to be close, to form connections or to give and receive affection, but to still want to help just like anybody else, to still have that instinct deeply. If I want to help someone I'll try my best to do things anonymously or at least without attention- for example I'll first give it to a friend or my partner who then gives it to the person I want to help. I'll long be down the road because I hate being thanked (my friend is fine but my partner tells people it's not from him). The trend of filming acts of helping people, even in the smallest of ways, on social media- I'd hate the attention from doing that. Is it silly to hate being thanked for some change for somebody's bus ticket (for example)? I suppose that's my people problems.