Critical theories play a very vital role in the interpretation of any literal work. The prime purpose of each critical theory in literature is to assist readers in understanding the specific work from a different perspective, which has not been arrayed before. The theories provide an excellent conceptual framework, through which readers will be able to explore and prevail the potential meaning of a given literal text by deploying the content provided and comparing it with real-life situations.
The three characters on which I will base my analysis are Katniss Everdeen, Tessie Hutchinson, and Louise Mallard. Katniss Everdeen is developed as a fictional character and one of the protagonists in the Hunger Games, developed by Suzanne Collins. She is developed as a strong and resourceful girl who is acting like a mature lady by being protective and the provider of the family. Tessie Hutchinson, on the other side, is one of the main characters in the story of the Lottery and an unlucky loser of the lottery. The lady who is highly excited about winning is willing to be a participant each year, but after the family's name is drawn, she has no option but to protest that the lottery is not fair. Louise Mallard is a character in the story of an hour, a woman who has been anticipating freedom and independence (Chopin 1. When she receives news that her husband has died from an accident, she turns secretly happy and cherishes the newfound independence. I will, therefore, give a detailed supportive argument, on how the three characters, have played an important role in exploiting and exposing the themes of gender from the feminist perspectives, privilege and power, and altruism.
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Katniss Everdeen of the Hunger Games was well developed as a round character. It can be depicted by the many roles and characteristics that the author gave her in the play. The roles include her sympathetic nature as well as her extraordinary courage. The author used direct characterization when developing Katniss, and this can be seen from the direct roles as well as the clear characteristics she is possessing. Louise Mallard is another round character in the story of an hour because she is getting more descriptions from the author than most of the other characters. For example, 'she was young, with a fair, calm face, whose lines bespoke repression and even a certain strength' she is used as a direct character, and it can be seen from the direct roles that she has in the whole story. Tessie, in the story of the Lottery, has been built as a dynamic and indirect character. We can see that she is having something unique inside her that she needs to use to bring forth some change, which is different from the accepted norms. The indirect characterization can be shown from the society which does not have room for women, and therefore she is hindered from remaining passive throughout the story.
The theme of gender in relation to the role and status of women is well illustrated in the story of an hour through the belief that women are inferior and should always be depended upon their husbands (Chopin 117) Louise is profoundly troubled by her heart condition and in addition, she is dreaming for the freedom of her life. We can conclude that her marriage is bothering her to some point despite that she has enjoyed her married life with Brently Mallard. After receiving the news of her husband's death, she becomes highly overexcited at the prospects of independence despite that she has turned into a widow. “She did not hear the story as many women have heard the same, with a paralyzed inability to accept its significance. She wept at once, with sudden, wild abandonment, in her sister’s arms” As she enjoys her newfound freedom, her husband, who was in no way involved in the accident, appears, and this gives her a heart attack, the reason as to why she dies. From this, we can reflect on the real struggle for independence and freedom in women (Chopin 1).
The story of the lottery also depicts themes of gender and the role of women, as they are seen as less important than men. Men's dominance in the story is also seen through the emphasis that daughters should draw their husband's families. It shows that the social identities of women are only defined by the men they marry. When Tessie arrives late for the lottery, she encounters the Hutchinson family, which is selected for the lottery but after her attempts to claim that it wasn’t fair and appealing, she is still unsuccessful. The woman chosen for the lottery is stoned to death by the villagers, meaning that women are inferior and have no value in society. In the Hunger Games, inequality is observed through the government's system, which is ruled by division, and the only thing that Katniss Everdeen is trying to fight. The three stories show resemblance and close comparisons under the theme of gender and inequality.
The theme of power and privilege in relation to freedom and independence has also been keenly developed in the three stories (Chopin 117). In the story of an hour, independence and liberty are held as what makes a living. Through Louise, who is at first upset by the bad news, and despite that, she mourns the loss of her husband, in the course of the hour everything changes and she now believes in an incredible gift of freedom she's been wanting. Marriages are indeed ruled by oppression, and the inferior have been looking for freedom all through their lives. In the Hunger Games, a dividing control system has been adopted as the system of ruling, which has led to the division of the country. 'District Twelve. Where you can starve to death in safety,” I mutter. Then I glance quickly over my shoulder. Even here, even in the middle of nowhere, you worry someone might overhear you”. Katniss is therefore developed as the source of hope, and her trait combination turns out effectively to inspire the lost freedom by creating new bonds among the people (Collins 184). In the lottery, officers are committing mass killings without a second thought, and a woman is also killed at the end of the story. From these articles, violence can be seen happening in the daylight with those in authority, causing violence of each kind to their subordinates.
Altruism is another theme that can be closely related to the three stories. In the film Hunger Games, a selfless character is seen in Katniss Everdeen through her protective nature towards her family, and the care, compassion, love, and loyalty, that she offers to those she loves. She's too selfless to defend her people from the divisions which have been created by the government (Collins 215). From the story of an hour, men are self-centered because they do not give freedom to women, and this is the reason why they are depressed, and despite being in marriages, they don't feel the freedom and independence of their marriages. In the story of the lottery, the community can be said to be self-centered towards women. They do not value the worth of women in society, and as a result, they are subject to suffering to them. In this way, the three stories can prevail an in-depth comparison between selfless and self-centered characters in society.
In conclusion, the three characters can be said to have clearly illustrated the themes of gender, power, and privileges in relation to violence and altruism through their character traits as developed by the authors of the stories.
Works Cited
- Chopin, Kate. The story of an hour. Jimin Recordings, 1981.
- Collins, Suzanne. Mockingjay (The Hunger Games, Book 3). Scholastic Inc., 2010.
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