We’ve all heard about the disappearing parent syndrome. We know why parents are not always there in YA lit, and yes, it is difficult to include family members in coming-of-age stories, but truthfully, I’m not here to discuss *why* YA books often exclude relatives. I’m here to discuss what makes certain portrayals of families more compelling than others.Have you ever read a YA book where the parents are fallen heroes, absentee enablers, or manipulative villains? Perhaps you recognize that trope from the mother who cries every night because of the (dead) spouse who left (mysteriously) all those years ago, or even from the father who (suddenly) appears on the scene, a megalomaniac who can’t wait to recruit his powerful children. And what of the sixteen-year-old girl who *has* to protect her younger sister?
Sounds familiar? Well, it’s the motivation behind the inciting incident in The Hunger Games. And I’m here to tell you why that kind of familial interaction rarely ever works for me.
How does family affect each character? Hermione is the bookish girl because of her (familial) situation in the magical world. Ron is the insecure sidekick because of his position in a long legion of sons. Bill is the wisest and most experienced of the Weasley kids because he’s the oldest. Charlie is the reckless, adventuring type because he doesn’t have the same responsibilities as the second oldest. Percy is the arrogant, stuck-up prefect because being third in line, he needs to be the best at something. Fred and George are the jokesters of the family because after the wise, successful banker, the brave, adventurous dragon-tamer, and the perfect prefect, how else do you distinguish yourself? Ginny is the tomboyish, rarely weepy fighter because of her status as the only girl in a large male-oriented family. These characters–their familial situations are intertwined in their personalities, so much so that you don’t ask whether they are real. And when Harry and co. make their sacrifices at the end of nearly every book, you’ve had enough time to care about their fates and feel the very power of that sacrifice. Rue felt more real to me as a character than Prim did, and Rue is only supposed to be a representation, a reminder of Prim in the games (“But if this is Prim’s, I mean, Rue’s… request” (234)). If Rue imitates Prim so well, how I am to believe that Prim is real? Who is Prim, and why does sacrificing yourself for her even matter?
I don’t really care whether family is included in YA lit. What I care about is the quality and dynamism of the interactions between relatives if they are included. And if you’re going to include family, I’d much rather it be of the Harry Potter kind than that in the Hunger Games.
PS: This was previously a guest post for Asti at A Bookish Heart. Many thanks to her for letting me repost it here.
I don’t really care whether family is included in YA lit. What I care about is the quality and dynamism of the interactions between relatives if they are included. And if you’re going to include family, I’d much rather it be of the Harry Potter kind than that in the Hunger Games.
PS: This was previously a guest post for Asti at A Bookish Heart. Many thanks to her for letting me repost it here.
I think Collins was constrained by the nature of the story she was trying to tell. Since Katniss' action kicks off the whole story, it has to come early. And because she's separated from her sister, their relationship and the development of Prim's character obviously can't happen "on-screen" ("on-page"?), hence the connection with Rue instead.
ReplyDeleteYou make some good points, but I'd be more interested to see how you think Collins could have done it differently.
Hi. Well, I'm not the writer of the story, so speculating on how Collins could have done it differently seems a tad arrogant to me; even as I criticize the different family portrayals, I could never think to achieve the mastery of Collins or Rowling's series. I do agree that Collins was constrained by the story, that the self-sacrifice propels the rest of the series, and that Rue was used as a means of reminding us of Prim. However, Rue does not equal Prim, so developing Rue to develop Prim does not work either.
ReplyDeleteI suppose I'd mostly say that we might not need Prim. If Katniss had been called, what would have happened? Rue still represents the innocent future and Katniss would still struggle to keep her humanity. *shrug* I'm the minority on this series and a lot of people seem to really identify with Katniss's beginning decision.
I remember reading your comment about this on Asti's post, and I'm so glad you've expanded upon it here on your blog! I definitely agree with you, especially in regards to THG. It's weird because I felt the same way you did about Prim, and about the sacrifice Katniss makes on her behalf, but I could never really pinpoint WHY. Like, I knew it was a plot device, and I knew I was *supposed* to feel awed by Katniss, etc. (like everyone else was, it seems), but I just wasn't feeling it and it made me wonder why I was so heartless. :P
ReplyDeleteSo, thank you for explaining it all so clearly! I love your contrasting paragraph, too, about how WELL it's done in the Harry Potter series. I'm so glad I discovered your blog. :)
"I suppose I'd mostly say that we might not need Prim. If Katniss had been called, what would have happened?"
ReplyDeleteI think that's the right question. Collins didn't have enough time to set up the relationship with Prim the way it need to be done, so she probably would have been better off leaving the "volunteer" aspect out entirely. I didn't really buy the set up either, but then again, I wasn't really impressed with the book in general. Good post, thanks for sharing.
I hadn't really considered it from that perspective, but now that you lay it out like that, I agree completely! Rue felt more real to me too.
ReplyDeleteI had my issues with the Harry Potter books, mainly because of all the manipulation (and because Harry was just infuriating in his inability to just leave well enough alone when Dumbledore tells him not to do something), but the characters were fully believable, if somewhat exaggerated. (But that's par for the course for YA books.)
Great post, I wish there were more like it!
It's very true--the way family is portrayed (and arguably, most relationships, in my opinion) in THG is one of its slightest elements. I think both the mother and Prim were primarily there to serve as plot devices rather than being fully fleshed out characters, and I absolutely agree that Rue was much more interesting than Prim. (I assume you've read all three? Because I was seriously cheesed off at Prim's fate in Mockingjay. It felt very manipulative to me.)
ReplyDeleteWell-balanced portrayals of families are hard to find in YA. I think my favorite ones are Madeleine L'Engle's Austin family, Clara's family (or at least her relationship with her mother) in the Unearthly trilogy, and...I'm sure there must be at least a handful of others, but it's sad that I can't think of them right now. But they're elusive and rare.
Wendy @ The Midnight Garden
Oh, how much do I love the family that is the Weasleys! I do get your point and for what it's worth, I was more compelled by Rue than Prim. I felt bad for what happened at the end of the trilogy (if you're familiary with it). I guess the only person to really explain what Primrose is meant to symbolise for readers, for Katniss, for THG society is Suzanne herself. We can always guess, but we'll never know the truth unless it comes from her. However, I do think that it's important for readers to resonate with characters and if they don't stand out or don't have a really special meaning to a character, sacrifices like this don't really make sense. I guess we can say that Katniss isn't really a selfish person so perhaps she was being selfless in a way knowing that she had a better chance than a kid who'd probably die as soon as the horn was blown on the battlefield. Plus, there is the reason that she was family. I'd do anything to protect my sister and she isn't anything special like that either. Just a typical teenager. However, we have a great relationship on most days, but I guess Collins didn't really showcase Katniss and Prim's relationship that well throughout the series. There were glimpses, but not enough for us to understand it completely. By the end of the trilogy, I became invested in their relationship and their views on the society, the contests etc and their feelings towards each other. OK, you know about that sleep tweet yeah? I'm going to go and get some :) I hope you have a great day, my love!
ReplyDeleteYour point about family shaping the personalities of the characters is interesting and I don't think we see enough of that in a realistic way. Except in the damaged characters type books where the parents are usually to blame.
ReplyDeleteAs far as Katniss and her sacrifice goes, I guess I just thought it was more about her sacrificing herself for her younger sister, who she loved whether or not Prim was unique or even worth it. So even though we don't know much about Prim, Katniss has known Prim since she was born and probably always took care of her, etc. But it is interesting to think about why the author chose Katniss to step in for her sister. Would the story have been different, or would we have felt differently about Katniss if it was her that was chosen instead? No sacrifice? Possibly. It definitely made her tough character likable from the get go. ~Pam
Hmm. . . I've never really thought about The Hunger Games like that, but I have always found the familial dynamic in that book. . . interesting, even though I love it. On one hand, I agree that Prim is more of a symbol than a real character, and that Rue has a much deeper characterization. However, I'm not sure that really changes my reaction to Katniss volunteering for her. It does seem more manipulative when you think about it, but for me, at least, I don't think it's necessary to understand Prim for Katniss' volunteering to work. It's not so much Katniss is volunteering for Prim--meaning, it's not so much Prim's character that makes me react to Katniss' action--but the fact she's volunteering for her sister. If we hadn't seen Prim at all by that point, I still think my personal action would be the same just seeing Katniss react out of love to save a family member.
ReplyDeleteI love reading your thoughts on this! I like seeing how family dynamics shape the character and the emotions the reader has for the book throughout. You're right. Prim is a lot like of a symbol and there is manipulation going on, but that's what really sucked me in (okay, other things did too...ahem, Peeta). I haven't read Harry Potter (don't hit me!) though. But like you said, it is a bit of a manipulation, but since I am one of the readers who connected with Katniss because of the fact (I have a little sister who is JUST like Prim, it's kinda scary how much), I don't really mind. I think it was a smart move on Collins' part :) But I loved seeing your take on this!
ReplyDeleteStrangely enough, I had no issues with the family situation in THG. I thought it was pretty clear that Katniss had taken on the parent role early on, and at that point I didn't care about how "fleshed out" Prim's character was. She's Katniss's baby. It wouldn't have mattered to me if Prim had been literally an infant and had no characterizations other than "she cries, poops and eats" - what functional, caring mother WOULDN'T risk death to save her child? It doesn't matter that their mom was sorta still there because Collins made it clear that she was incredibly damaged, and thereby non-functional, since she fell into such a depression after their father died that nothing mattered - even her children's survival.
ReplyDeleteKatniss took over the motherly position by feeding all three of them, making money and shopping in the black market (and thereby taking all of the risk for doing so), making connections in the town that parents usually do, lecturing both Prim and the mom about behaving, doing what's right, etc when she had to go to the arena. It felt a lot more like Katniss was the mother telling the older sister (her mom) to take care of the little one (Prim) until she got back, to make sure she's washed and fed etc. Things you would usually tell a babysitter or big sister to do. The mother seemed to be characterized much more as a co-dependent wife than a functional mother figure, although she tried to act like one as much as she could. I thought she was portrayed well as someone with dependency issues that was incapable of making that connection with any children of reaping age, which was then emphasized more when we learned about her losing her childhood friends to the arena. It's like the mother couldn't feel any attachment for children in the reaping age range because if you think about it, the books say that she was good to Prim (who was not of reaping age before THG), and to Katniss before she was of age as well. Once Katniss comes home and is no longer eligible for reaping in the usual circumstances, the mother forms a bond and we see her act more motherly towards Katniss. It is also a logical assumption to think that Prim wouldn't be drawn again since she was already drawn once and didn't have to put in additional entries now that they are well fed, so the mother can make more of a connection. She is even more motherly in Mockingjay once there is no chance of a reaping.
I thought that the action was set up well, even if very subtly. The volunteering was necessary to show how far Katniss was willing to go to protect her own family since she later gets pushed into situations where she has to connect with more people and agree to fight for them as well in her role as the Mockingjay. I liked it. In my opinion, both Rue and Prim were necessary - Prim as her family that she would do anything to protect and Rue as a stranger that she learns to love in the same way - almost as a mother would by caring for her, feeding her, protecting her and then burying her in the flowers. She has to expand in the arena to be able to expand outside of it and fully embrace her own symbolism in the rebellion.
ReplyDeleteDisney movies tend to run the same song and dance routine as well. Need a heroine to be more likeable? She needs to be raised by only her father. Guys tends to be orphans or lose their dad. It gets old and a little worn down.
ReplyDeleteGreat topic, Christina! I never cared much for Prim in the Hunger Games either and that erm, incident in Mockingjay didn't really affect me that emotionally. I also liked Rue much more because she seemed like a deeper character. I have read some books with family situations I did love though. I think I prefer a regular family over a family with issues just because all of that has been done so often before.
ReplyDeleteI loved rue. Her and peeta are the only characters I care( d) about in book one. My reading experience was not that great with THG I gave it a three. I feel ashamed that I have yet to read HP but I have seen the movies. * bites his fingernails nervously* thnx for the discussion post
ReplyDeleteThat could have been showed with just Rue, I think. Getting pushed into situations where she has to connect with more people? Definitely how that happens in the games. I agree that Prim helps expand on the thematic explorations of the book and does emphasize the mother role, but I think there are other ways of finding the symbolism you're pointing to in the books. Thanks for sharing your thoughts :).
ReplyDeleteI agree. Prim/Katniss relationship needed some development. Whether or not she ought to have left out the volunteer aspect is certainly up for debate. You and I may not have liked it, but it looks like there are some others who really fell for that situation :).
ReplyDeleteYes. Hahaha, Harry Potter is full of manipulation too, and I have issues with the books even if I list them as having awesome familial dynamics here. I'm a little surprised by your comment on YA characters being believable but exaggerated. I have seen quite a few that felt very realistic and not exaggerated in the slightest, but maybe not as much in the blockbuster titles like these.
ReplyDeleteHaha, er, I actually didn't expand on the post o.o. but I'm glad it seemed like I did? And now I owe you double the thanks for commenting on it twice :D. We'll both be heartless about Katniss and Prim together! Lol. Honestly, I also had issues with Katniss's narration. Too dry for me to feel much for her in general.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Kelley! I'm ashamed that I haven't been visiting your blog as much as of late and showing my appreciation for your fantastic posts :( but I hope to in a week or two! I owe you at least two or three comments.
Agreed - most of the relationships could have gotten more work. I wonder if that's a function of dystopias. There's so much paranoia about the government and finding out the situation that sometimes character relationships are pushed only as plot devices. Yes. I have read all three. Prim's fate just reassured me that she was a plot device and quite frankly, seemed like blatant emotional manipulation, even more so than the whole volunteering situation.
ReplyDeleteAhhhh, Madeleine L'Engle. Yet another author whose work I need to read. So many recs from you - you put me to shame! I need to read more o.O. Family situations are elusive and rare, though I'd argue that as long as there is a well developed parental-like or sibling-like relationship, that'd be fine. But even those, the mentor relationships - they too seem to fall to the wayside.
The Weasleys are awesome. Yes, i have read the rest of the trilogy. Well, Suzanne Collins can tell us what she meant to do, but the rest of us can take meaning as we please from the books :).
ReplyDelete"However, I do think that it's important for readers to resonate with characters and if they don't stand out or don't have a really special meaning to a character, sacrifices like this don't really make sense." Yes. Not that they don't make sense, but if we don't understand the importance or feel the emotional underpinnings of a relationship, then the sacrifice is just the title. What you said about your sister - yes, that's true. I love my brothers too, I'm not saying that sibling sacrifice isn't worth it, just that her sacrifice was something done in name rather than with feeling. I don't know if that clarified anything. It makes me feel a tad weird when people point out that they'd sacrifice themselves for their siblings because then I feel like that's implying I wouldn't or that I'm heartless or something just because of my views on THG hahahaha.
I hope you got some great sleep :D.
YES. THIS: "Except in the damaged characters type books where the parents are usually to blame." There are a few novels that have some appreciation for parents and siblings, but they are few and rare. That is one of the things I really liked about Divergent, actually. Because in some sense, it revolves around the Prior family.
ReplyDeleteI know that it's mostly symbolic. I mean, I have three older brothers and I love them too and understand the volunteer impulse for younger sister thing. I mostly just think that the sacrifice is done in name in the book and without the feeling, without that gut impact that makes you sob for a book. No one ever talks about sobbing when Katniss volunteers because they haven't had the chance to really care, and that relationship wasn't as developed o.O. Anyway, off-topic lol - yes. I do wonder what the series would have been like without Prim. Rue does act as an effective symbol too, and she made me like Katniss... so I think honestly that it would've worked, though Collins might have had to come up with something else for the later books.
I get that. I get that the sacrifice is symbolic and that I'm supposed to feel for Katniss because she's volunteering for her sister, that it's out of love for her sister. I'm mostly objecting to the fact that it's a sacrifice done in name and without that feeling in the writing. No one talks about sobbing/crying/etc. when Katniss volunteers because it's an act, it's an admirable act, and it's the plot device that pushes the series forward. You think that she's an awesome, selfless character - look what she's done for her sister. But it's not the same as feeling ripped to shreds because a character has died in the final battle. I was going to give a specific example there, but I didn't know if you'd read the books so I'll just be vague about it. *shrug*
ReplyDeleteThanks, roro, for stopping by. I hope you get to read HP sometime soon.
ReplyDeleteInteresting. I don't generally like Disney movies because they often fall into the same sexist lines as fairy tales do, but you bring up a good point. I immediately thought of the Little Mermaid, the recent one.. Brave? And Belle. I think that's a theme in fairy tales, actually - the hideous stepmother / mother / grandmother figure who's out to kill the poor innocent MC - so I see what you mean. (The guys part - my mind is just blanking now on Disney male MCs o.O.)
ReplyDelete"I think I prefer a regular family over a family with issues just because all of that has been done so often before." Yes. Yes. This reminds me of what Veronica Roth said about not including a love triangle in Divergent. Sometimes it's honestly just more compelling to look at the issues that a regular couple / family will face, because how many of us have those extremes?
ReplyDelete"I have read some books with family situations I did love though." - Have any recommendations? :D
Hahaha, you like Peeta? That's awesome. He and Rue were probably my favorite characters of the series.
ReplyDeletegassssssssssp. you haven't read HP? How come?
oh, it's DEFINITELY a smart move on Collins's part. I mean, I'm the outsider here. Most people love that immediate sacrifice. You've said yourself that you got sucked in partly because of that. And it works well symbolically and thematically for the series so... *shrug* It worked for her even if I wanted something else.
Hmmmm. I can see the portrayal of Katniss as a mother - and I think that a lot of YA is trying to do that now too with MCs - but I'm not sure that I'd say her motherly role showed in the beginning. It shows in the movie, sure, when they emphasize Katniss being the one who holds Prim, etc. etc. But in the book, Prim crawls over the their mom's bed to sleep when she has nightmares. The mom is kind of defunct, but I don't think Katniss has replaced her by the time of sacrifice. A lot of what you point - lecturing Prim and her mom - is after the self-sacrifice. Later, as you say, she lectures them about doing what's right, etc. so yes, by then the mother dynamic does flip.
ReplyDeleteEither way, though, yes, her motivations for the self-sacrifice are clear. Anyone can understand that it's FOR her sister, that it's FOR family and love and all that jazz that Katniss volunteers. To me it's not really about what Katniss is - mother or older sister. It's just that the sacrifice is done in NAME rather than in feeling for us because we haven't gotten to connect with the characters.
Your reaping connection I can also see and it makes sense thematically. I mean, when your kids have a chance of being picked to go off and die, yeah, you probably might have that defense mechanism of separating yourself from harm. But I don't think the reaping thing and Katniss's mother has much to do with the self-sacrifice, except to point out that Katniss volunteered before her mom did.
LOL! Maybe it just *seemed* like you expanded on it, because I couldn't imagine a comment being as long as this blog post?! Hahaha, well, in any case, at least that means I got something new out of it by reading it a second time, eh? :)
ReplyDeleteAnd no worries -- I totally understand. I'm not sure how I've found the time to leave any comments lately myself!
"the father who (suddenly) appears on the scene" THAT happens SO often. Sweet Evil! Unearthly! And those are just two from the top of my head.
ReplyDelete" don’t see anything that makes her feel real" me neither. I never really cared for Prim (or Rue) to tell the truth. she "only works for me in a sort of symbolic way" *nods* I liked Katniss (and Peeta) but never really FELT for them or any of the other characters (except maybe Finnick)
But maybe I'm just heartless (I never really felt for the Weasley clan) But yes, the sacrifices in HP made much more sense to me as well.