Running head: Every revolution begins with a spark 1

Every Revolution Begins with a Spark

Erik Alarcon
RWS 1301

Introduction
For the uninitiated, the story is set in a dystopian future. Panem is a nation (once known
as North America) split into 12 districts and presided over by President Snow leader of an
oppressive fascistic government (The Capital) who following an attempted uprising many years
ago have taken extreme measures to keep their citizens overworked, impoverished, and in no
doubt as to who their masters are. Annually each district must offer up two tributes, one male
and one female, who enter into The Hunger Games, a televised battle to the death held in an
outdoor arena in which only one victor may emerge. Katniss Everdeen, a 16-year-old girl from

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District 12 takes her little sisters place in the Games and is accompanied by fellow male tribute,
Peeta Mellark. The Capitol declared both of them as the winners of the 74th Hunger Games, as
they attempted a double suicide by eating poisonous berries, a plan constructed by Katniss.
Katniss excuse for her plan was that she was madly in love with Peeta, although she is not. This
scheme was seen as a defiance against the Capitol. After Katniss and Peeta won, they embark on
their Victory Tour. This rhetorical analysis will delve into ethos, pathos, and logos along with
genre, constraints, and exigence in a scene from film The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (2013)
adapted from the novel Catching Fire (2009) by Suzanne Collins.
Ethos
Katniss defiance against the Capital has given her an iconic status amongst the districts
and she is seen as a symbol of hope. As she and Peeta are about to begin their Victory Tour
through the districts, President Snow visits her to threaten both her life and her familys and she
is ordered by the Capital to maintain the deception of her relationship with Peeta and appear
content and compliant. However, the other districts viewed her stunt with the poisonous berries
as an act of defiance, not as an act of love. As President Snow says, And if a girl from District
Twelve out of all places can defy the Capitol and walk away unharmed, what is to prevent them
from doing the same? What is to prevent, say, an uprising? (Collins, pg. 21, 2009). District 12 is
an outlying and highly poor district. For this reason, the districts take this opportunity to rise
against the Capitol since a girl from District 12 defied it without any consequence. Katniss
becomes aware of her influence as she and Peeta visit the various districts to give speeches and
offer consolation to the families of the fallen tributes. In the scene, a man in the crowd raises a
three-fingered salute while whistling a four note tune, symbols of the rebellion. He is killed by
guards for this subtle but powerful act of defiance. Those who publicly display these symbols are

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beaten or killed by guards on sight. Although it was never Katniss intention to cause any trouble
with the Capitol, her status and power are not what is most pronounced in this scene.
Pathos
Pathos is mainly used in this scene. Their first stop of the Victory Tour is District 11, the
home of fallen tributes Thresh and Rue. Katniss and Peeta are standing on stage with speeches,
made by an assistant from the Capitol, prepared to give condolences to the families of the fallen
tributes. As Katniss walks onto stage with a smile she sees an image of Rue and Rues grieving
family. Katniss smile goes away as she sees the pain and sorrow in their eyes. Peeta puts away
his speech and speaks directly from the heart, But our lives arent just measured in years. They
are measured in the lives of people we touch around us We know that without Rue and without
Thresh, we would not be here today. (The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, 2013). Peeta shows
his gratitude for them by giving their families one month of their winnings.
One of the fallen tributes is Rue. A small 12 year-old-girl who was allies with Katniss in
the Games. Although Katniss originally did not plan to speak, the sight of Rues grieving family
changes her mind. She explains to Threshs family that she did not know him, but that he had
mercy on her which is a debt that can never be repaid. Katniss then looks to Rues family. In a
tear-jerking and touching speech, heartbroken Katniss says of Rue, She wasnt just an ally, she
was my friend. I see her in the flowers that grow in the meadow by my house, I hear her in a
mockingjay song, I see her in my sister Prim. She was too young, too gentle and I couldnt
save her. Im sorry. (The Hunger Games: Catching Fire. 2013). The pain of Katniss words is
shown through Rues family as tears run down their faces. When Katniss addresses Rues
family, the sad, empty feelings of their loss will quickly refill ones body and soul. This makes
the scene emotional as Rue reminds Katniss of her little sister, Prim. Rue is very similar to Prim
and symbolizes her in the arena. It is the reason why Katniss and she were close allies and
friends. Rues death and Katniss inability to save her is a cruel reminder of the brutality and

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ruthless nature of the Games and the Capitol. However, the scene quickly turns from sadness to
fear in an instant. After Katniss offers her raw emotional apology, the man mentioned above,
gives her a three-fingered salute that the rest of the district follows. As he is dragged onto stage,
Katniss begs the guards to leave him alone while being restrained. The man is bought onto his
knees and is shot in the head by guards, breaking the heart of Katniss and audience members
alike.
Logos
Logos are shown but it fails in the way that was intended. After her threat by President
Snow, Katniss is supposed to convince the districts that she is madly in love with Peeta and that
she never meant to rebel against the Capitol. However, this backfires immediately, as mentioned
above, the first district they visit a man is shot in plain sight due to a symbol of rebellion. While
Peeta and Katniss try to just read the cards in their remaining stops to the other districts, they
come off robotic and not believable as it is obvious they are simply just saying whatever the
Capitol wants them to say. Things are not getting better as the uprisings continue in the districts.
Throughout the Victory Tour in the film, there can be people seen saluting the three-finger salute
and then being taken away from guards and crowds yelling in anger at Katniss. This proves that
logos did not work in the way they wanted. The logos were not in their favor.
Genre
The genre of this scene is more effective than it was as written text as it is from a book.
The emotional connection the actors were able to create from Suzanne Collins simple words is
almost unbelievable. Although anyone who read the book knew it was coming, the mix of the
dialogue with the soundtrack and outstanding acting delivered by Josh Hutcherson and Academy
Award winning Jennifer Lawrence and physically watching a powerful scene from a book bought
to life, is without a doubt something that can best be viewed as a movie scene.
Constraint

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The constraint of the scene is that they will have to present themselves as lovers every
time they are on camera. Shortly after the chaos that happened on District 11s stage, Katniss,
Peeta, and their mentor, Haymitch all go up to an attic. Katniss finally tells them about the
conversation she had with Snow and that he cannot think that she purposely made the speech to
incite an uprising. Naturally, Peeta is upset because he would have never offered to give away
their winnings if he knew about Snows threats. It is an act of defiance against the Capitol and he
unknowingly fuels the rebellion. Obviously, both of their loved ones are in danger if Snow is not
satisfied with their Victory Tour. As Haymitch says, This trip doesnt end when you get back
home. Youll never get off this train. You two are mentors now, that means that every year
theyre going to drag you out and broadcast the details of your romance. Every year, your private
life becomes theirs. (The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, 2013). It is a terrible realization for
Katniss that she will never be able to forget about the Games and move on with her life since she
will always be part of the annual festivities going forward.
Exigence
In a private meeting with President Snow, Katniss suggests that he should kill her for
going against the Capitol. President Snow says, That would only add to the flames. (Collins,
pg. 23, 2009). He explains to her that that would only make matters worse. With up risings
starting, killing Katniss will only make her martyr. She asks what she can do and he explains to
her that the Victory Tour is her only chance to turn things around. Katniss says, Ill convince
everyone in the districts that I wasnt defying the Capitol, that I was crazy with love. (Collins,
pg. 29, 2009). Katniss will take the Victory Tour as an opportunity to try and change things in the
districts.
Conclusion
This scene from The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (2013) was able to display ethos,
pathos and logos. Ethos was displayed as Katniss is a credible character for giving the districts

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hope for a rebellion. Pathos is the strongest in this scene is as Katniss and Peeta give their
condolences to fallen tributes Rue and Thresh. Lastly, logos was the weakest as Katniss and
Peeta had to convince the districts that they are madly in love and never meant to defy the
Capitol, however it did not work as they intended. Katniss caused a spark that could not be
contained.

References
Collins, S. (2009). Catching Fire. New York, New York: Scholastic Press.
The Hunger Games: Catching Fire [Video file]. (2013). USA: Lionsgate. Retrieved September
23, 2016, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qeykD_T0TAU