This post is for Chapters 25 through 27 of The Hunger Games...
Abby, I totally agree with you that this book may strongly show violence is the way to handle being angry, and there are many examples within the book that support our agreement (as you said). I think that children would strongly be influenced by how the characters in the story react to their problems through violence instead of being calm, especially since the entire plot is a dangerous one and Katniss makes some bad decisions that seem to somehow work out for her. Children may start to think that making hasty and violent choices is not that bad of a thing in the long run, when the truth is the exact opposite. On the other hand, you are also right that people can learn to enjoy the life that they have because it is most likely better than the lives of those in The Hunger Games, and this can be a very important reason to take the ban off of this book.
One other big reason associated with violence that could have been used to get this book banned is that suffering is thought to be a form of entertainment in this world. When Cato is slowly dying after being mauled by wolves, his pain and moaning is pushed for so long that Katniss starts to wish he would hurry up and die; the only reason the Gamemakers wouldn't give him a quick death is that his suffering was entertaining. "And I do. No viewer could turn away from the show now. From the Gamemakers' point of view, this is the final word in entertainment." (pg. 339). Not only is this pictured as wrong in our society, but I also see it as absolutely evil and disgusting to leave someone hanging in the middle of life and death in order to enhance the interest of others watching. This could also influence readers in thinking that it is fine to watch others in pain and not do anything because one is enjoying it, which isn't right even in a situation of revenge.
Now for a reason that this book is too good to ban is it shows that love prevails and can overcome anything, and that as long as one has love, no problem is too big to face. Peeta and Katniss are so in love and care for each other so much that they aren't willing to kill one another or let either kill him or herself, so they both decide to die together instead. "If Peeta and I were both to die, or they thought we were..." (pg. 344). Of course, this doesn't mean that dying is the best solution to a problem, but it is the only option the couple had that held equal results for both of them, and that is what love is all about: compromise. When you love a person, you automatically look at what is best for him or her before what is best for yourself, and this shows sacrifice is a big part of love that can hold people together so that problems are faced side-by-side, making them almost easy to get through.
Abby, I totally agree with you that this book may strongly show violence is the way to handle being angry, and there are many examples within the book that support our agreement (as you said). I think that children would strongly be influenced by how the characters in the story react to their problems through violence instead of being calm, especially since the entire plot is a dangerous one and Katniss makes some bad decisions that seem to somehow work out for her. Children may start to think that making hasty and violent choices is not that bad of a thing in the long run, when the truth is the exact opposite. On the other hand, you are also right that people can learn to enjoy the life that they have because it is most likely better than the lives of those in The Hunger Games, and this can be a very important reason to take the ban off of this book.
One other big reason associated with violence that could have been used to get this book banned is that suffering is thought to be a form of entertainment in this world. When Cato is slowly dying after being mauled by wolves, his pain and moaning is pushed for so long that Katniss starts to wish he would hurry up and die; the only reason the Gamemakers wouldn't give him a quick death is that his suffering was entertaining. "And I do. No viewer could turn away from the show now. From the Gamemakers' point of view, this is the final word in entertainment." (pg. 339). Not only is this pictured as wrong in our society, but I also see it as absolutely evil and disgusting to leave someone hanging in the middle of life and death in order to enhance the interest of others watching. This could also influence readers in thinking that it is fine to watch others in pain and not do anything because one is enjoying it, which isn't right even in a situation of revenge.
Now for a reason that this book is too good to ban is it shows that love prevails and can overcome anything, and that as long as one has love, no problem is too big to face. Peeta and Katniss are so in love and care for each other so much that they aren't willing to kill one another or let either kill him or herself, so they both decide to die together instead. "If Peeta and I were both to die, or they thought we were..." (pg. 344). Of course, this doesn't mean that dying is the best solution to a problem, but it is the only option the couple had that held equal results for both of them, and that is what love is all about: compromise. When you love a person, you automatically look at what is best for him or her before what is best for yourself, and this shows sacrifice is a big part of love that can hold people together so that problems are faced side-by-side, making them almost easy to get through.
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