Saturday, August 21, 2010

the hunger games-greek mythology

So now there are barely ANY days left until the release of Mockingjay, the third book in the Hunger Games series (the best book in the world, I recommend it (: )

But for all of you who HAVE read the book here is a little research that I did, there was an article about 'the pearl theory' which can be read here
http://panemprofessor.com/?p=12

read it, it's VERY interesting

but anywway, I decided to do a little research on my own and you can read it here
http://www.mockingjay.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=7778 (which is the exact same post that I did on mockingjay.net)

But I'm writing it here to :)
enjoy

so there has been all this talk about the pearl theory and more stuff which i find really interesting
but I decided to do my own research...and found some really cool stuff

first of all the names Madge (meaning pearl) and Rue (meaning herb of grace) and Gale (meaning calm and tranquil) Effie (meaning melodios talk) are ALL derived from greek meanings!

The greeks believed that the pearl means love and purity (Peeta and Katniss=love, maybe Gale and madge? Peea once described Katniss as being pure in CF)

and i found this odd quote on a greek mythology website: [description of Paradise] and is attended by beautiful maidens resembling hidden pearls hidden pearls! like what madges name means

and another quote talking about how pearl is represented by unity: Pearls are universal and by nature tend to bring people of all nations together. It is a single entity that personifies beauty, unity, peace and oneness. It has an important place in all the religions of the world. Ancient mythology treats pearl as a union of fire and water, the result of lightening penetrating the oyster. It represents fertility, birth and rebirth and symbolises innocence, purity, perfection, humility and retiring nature

if its talking about rebirth, like when North America was destroyed and Panem was born...I also find this similar to the story of Aphrodite, she rose from the sea (or from the foam of the sea) Aphrodite also had a very strong link to pearls, as she was the goddess of the sea, AND she is often depicted sitting in or on a giant clam

Also, in Aphrodites stories it talks about how she and Paris eloped (this works for either Katniss or madge), and how she saved her mortal son from being killed in war, but Aphrodite was immortal and received only a slash on her wrist (like when Katniss saved Gale's life in the whipping) and when she rescues Paris, she tries to persuade Helen to follow Paris and fall in love with him (Katniss will sacrifice Gale and 'give' him to madge so that he is safe)

and I found this other quote (maybe signalling that it will have to be al the tributes or all the kids who overthrow the capitol) (maybe katniss being Aphrodie? this signals the time when she pretended to be pregnant because that would have maybe saved their and their loved ones lives?)
In any case, Aphrodite's primary function was to preside over reproduction, since this was essential for the survival of the community.

But Aphrodite was depicted as immortal, but she would hurt herslef to save her loved ones. Maybe Katniss will not die but will have gotten into danger plenty of times to save her loved ones

Also the story of Socrates: Socrates was often called the gadly by Plato (a gadfly stings a horse and brings it into action) exactly like Katniss when she arose that spark that set off various rebellions, and look at this quote I found on Socrates: Socrates' paradoxical wisdom made the prominent Athenians he publicly questioned look foolish, turning them against him and leading to accusations of wrongdoing. EXACTLY like Katniss's stunt with the berries, she made the capitol look foolish!!!

another one: Socrates purposefully gave a defiant defense to the jury because "he believed he would be better off dead". once again what Katniss belives of herself in CF

but Socrates was given TWO options, to flee Athens (like Katniss was planning to do in District 12) or to be executed...Socrates chose execution, he poisoned himself with a cup of hemlock (similar to the name nightlock) his last words were directed to Crito instructing him to pay back a debt that he owned to Asclepios, this is like Katniss not liking to be in debt to anyone

So SC was very focused on Greek Mythology, I mean look at all this stuff! maybe some of this will be able to tell us the ending of MJ?

the book comes out on Tuesday !!! I can't wait :)

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