amazing at being mediocre • she/her • queer • currently wondering how to convince the entire world that katniss was in love with peeta in the first book
hello! welcome to my hunger games analysis blog! for fanfiction and original works, go to @thetypewritingkate! for all reblogs, go to @therebloggingkate!
feel free to say hello, ask me questions, and direct message me! i would love to form connections with other people in the fandom!
the post database is mostly for me so that i can keep track of my posts and quickly jump to them. but go ahead and use it if you want to look for a specific post of mine or look over what i have! (tag catalog at the bottom)
✿ non-analysis posts ✿
personal posts
✿ when did i join the fandom, and why? (here)
✿ my eagerness to be friends with people (here)
✿ me finishing the series with my husband (here)
✿ why i write analyses about a love triangle (here)
✿ my personal connection to the let me go/i can't scene (here)
funnies
✿ peeta having 'that's my wife' energy (here)
✿ hayffie shippers are my favorite (here)
✿ gale thinking is a contender in the love triangle in mj (here)
✿ nine-year-old cgi stanley tucci in tbosas (here)
✿ imagining snow in hell (here)
✿ gale versus peeta meeting katniss (here)
headcanons
✿ katniss sings to hijacked! peeta (here)
✿ toast girl being like peeta and toast boy being like katniss (here)
✿ peeta’s therapy in the capitol (here)
✿ peeta being mid-handsome (here)
✿ the toast babies realizing that the 'real or not real' game is not normal (here)
recommendations
✿ post-war everlark music (part 1 and part 2)
✿ favorite tik-tik of 'you with the dark curls' sound (here)
✿ my everlark playlists (here)
questions to the feed
✿ what is everyone's timeline for everlark growing back together? (here)
✿ does finnick odair have a cajun accent? (here)
✿ what jane austen book should i start with? (here)
✿ what is a queue? (here)
✿ what is so special about the forcefield scene (here)
asks
✿ the reaping day and july fourth (here)
fanfiction
✿ AO3 Account (here)
✿ an unexpected meeting (here)
✿ a lit-up face (here)
✿ six-ish sentence drabble about snow hijacking peeta (here)
fanart (by my husband, i have no artistic skills haha)
✿ "a place where peeta's child would be safe" (here)
✿ pregnant katniss and cheese buns (here)
✿ analyses and observations ✿
general observations
✿ snow relating to peeta and desperately trying to morph peeta's goodness to fit his narrative (here)
✿ what snow was thinking during the forcefield scene (here)
✿ movie! catching fire didn't capture katniss and peeta's bond (here)
✿ snow's message to katniss after the district 8 propos (here)
✿ what would it be like if katniss and gale were in the games (here)
✿ haymitch talking sense to katniss in mockingjay about peeta (here)
✿ the significance of suzanne opening the series with an interaction between gale and madge (here)
everlark observations
✿ outside expectations affecting katniss's ability to recognize her feelings for peeta as love (here)
✿ katniss and peeta subverting gender roles? i don't think so (here)
✿ katniss and peeta's sacrificial offerings not being enough for the other's survival (here)
✿ katniss and peeta think so highly of each other and poorly of themselves (here)
✿ katniss's feelings towards peeta were romantic (here)
✿ the real reason behind peeta's 'if it weren't for the baby' (here)
✿ katniss and peeta were both dissatisfied with 'with the capitol's plan' (here)
✿ katniss would always choose the one person over the world (here)
✿ when others were looking at the world, katniss and peeta were always watching each other (here)
✿ the japanese translation and peeta returning to katniss (here)
✿ katniss's intention in her cf private session (here)
✿ movie katniss regrets calling peeta a mutt (here)
✿ hand-holding and love in the hunger games (here)
✿ thoughts on mockingjay: part 1's final scene (here)
✿ the power of peeta thinking katniss is beautiful (here)
✿ peeta not understanding katniss's feelings and the bread (here)
✿ peeta coming back for katniss (here)
✿ peeta feeding katniss (here)
✿ katniss's first kiss to peeta was impulsive (here)
✿ katniss being a protector and peeta protecting her (here)
✿ finnick knew that katniss loved peeta romantically (here)
✿ katniss being sick of the star-crossed lovers act (here)
✿ what did katniss prove to snow at the forcefield scene (here)
✿ katniss and peeta coming from different backgrounds doesn't matter (here)
✿ katniss choosing peeta over prim (here)
✿ peeta refusing let katniss go in contrast to prim (here)
✿ katniss and peeta having nuanced selfish reasons to save the other person (here)
gale versus peeta analysis
✿ peeta mellark being protective but not possessive (here)
✿ gale's love for katniss was not unconditional (here)
✿ katniss caring for whipped gale versus hijacked peeta (here)
✿ katniss's shallow, jealous rage about gale's hypothetical lover versus her feelings of pure love towards peeta's future life without her (here)
✿ 'the hanging tree', gale, and the nightlock pill (here)
✿ katniss's embraces with gale versus peeta (here)
✿ katniss's kisses with gale versus peeta (here)
✿ katniss's reactions to people tell her she loves someone (here)
character analysis
katniss:
✿ public apology to katniss everdeen (here)
✿ katniss and passive language in killing (here)
✿ katniss was not able to refuse hijacked! peeta, despite her apathetic attitude in mockingjay (here)
✿ katniss and her suicidal ideation in mockingjay (here)
✿ katniss and beauty throughout the series (here)
✿ katniss, crying, and the forcefield scene (here)
✿ katniss being like her mother (here)
peeta:
✿ despite what his mother thinks, peeta is a survivor (here)
✿ peeta and his understanding of owing and debt (here)
✿ peeta not losing his humanity, despite the hijacking (here)
✿ peeta being just like katniss and volunteering (here)
✿ the difference between district thirteen's 'remember me' propos and peeta's actions (here)
✿ accurate peeta POV fics are ones that spout the most everthorne propaganda (here)
gale:
✿ so, let's talk about gale... (here)
✿ gale figuring out why katniss was in love with peeta (here)
parallels
✿ parallels between the bread scene and the primrose scene (here)
✿ just shoot straight, okay? (here)
✿ katniss allowing peeta to take the nightlock from gale and peeta stopping katniss from taking her nightlock (here)
symbols
✿ tokens throughout the series (here)
✿ the pearl "made it through somehow" (here)
✿ the pearl wedding dress, peeta's pearl, and katniss's freedom (here)
databases
✿ instances of peeta and katniss saving each other (here)
✿ definitions of love and instances of katniss loving peeta (here)
“i don't like everlark. peeta deserved to be with someone who is obsessed with him”
my sweet sibling in christopher… did we read the same books?
because if there is anyone obsessed with peeta, it is katniss "i would risk my life over and over and over again just so he can have a chance to be happy" everdeen.
okay, there has never been a time where i have felt so frustrated that i can't draw than right now. because what to you mean i have mapped out an entire little everlark edit to "in the kitchen" by renee rapp:
the couch that we sat on back in new york has made its way three thousand miles to l.a.
two frames. the first one being peeta handing the pearl to katniss in the quell arena. the second one being katniss rolling the pearl on her lips in the bed.
these pillows been talking asking me where the hell you've been (where the hell you've been)
katniss waking up from a nightmare in district thirteen, looking down at the space beside her, wishing he was there.
told me you loved me two weeks in
and I knew I would fall for you over and over
"you told me you loved me" frame being peeta's 'she came here with me' interview. 'i know that i would fall for you' frame being quick, alternating frame of the moments katniss fell in love with peeta (the cave, peeta giving his money to thresh and rue's family, the beach kiss)
but who would've known that the falling would come to an end (come to an end)
cut to district thirteen, with katniss and peeta sitting across from each other in the hospital room. peeta held down with restraints. katniss awkwardly stands there as he insults her.
but now it's just me and a hundred square feet of bittersweet memories. deleted the playlist but i still hear all your favorite melodies
first frame is katniss sitting all alone in district two, numb as she mourns the 'old peeta.' second frame is katniss, trying to studying military history in her room, but being distracted by daydreaming about nights on the train with peeta.
strangers, to lovers, to enemies
'strangers' frame would be them shaking hands. 'to lovers' frame would be them kissing before leaving the lightning tree. 'to enemies' frame would be them sitting across from each other at the lunch table. daggers in their eyes.
throughout the series, many of the objects that surround katniss reflect a certain aspect of herself. or her relationships.
like the mockingjay pin that madge gives her (thg, 37). a symbol of the rebellion (cf, 43). one that is used by the rebel forces until it becomes just another piece in their game (mj, 127). just like katniss.
or like the flowers that seem to follow everlark throughout their relationship. the fake flowers that mark their beginning (thg, 134). the wildflowers that mark their blossoming love (mj, 187). and the dried-up flower bush when her peeta, under the effects of hijacking, is taken from her (seemingly) forever (mj, 187).
as the series progresses, the items that surround katniss take on deeper meanings as they parallel either her or the other characters. and sometimes these objects hold a multitude of meanings.
so it only makes sense that the forcefield in the quell arena serves a similar purpose.
when katniss first comes across this forcefield, she doesn't have a lot of time to really take it in. because peeta had just been flung ten feet away and was on death's door (cf, 79). and with her lover's life in question, the hope that he would be revitalized took precedence over everything else.
but once peeta's heart was restarted and katniss was able to calm herself, finnick brought her attention back to the forcefield. and she notices its little chinks scattered throughout it. revealing what was meant to be hidden. and therefore a weakness. (cf, 81).
and of course, these chinks have significant parallels to the rebellion. and the institution of the games itself. and snow's the weakening grip on panem.
but the forcefield also poses a parallel to katniss's relationship with love. her love for peeta.
because katniss's had spent years building protections around herself. trying to keep herself from marriage (cf, 73). to keep herself from falling in love.
but, just like a forcefield that reveals its outside world when a chink is hit, katniss's layers of emotional protection unravel around her as she watches peeta's lifeless body (cf, 79). desperate for any sign he might come back. so desperate that she doesn't control her expressions for the audience.
because without the layers of protection, katniss's heart was on display. for all of panem to see. for the country to see what she tried so hard to keep herself from. especially in a place like panem.
her love. a love that was brewing under the surface. creeping up on her so slowly that she didn't even realize it. a love that she found herself in regardless.
so, the chink in her armor revealed it all. a love meant to be hidden. a weakness to exploit.
and, boy, did snow spare no effort in exploiting her weakness for all it was worth.
okay, there has never been a time where i have felt so frustrated that i can't draw than right now. because what to you mean i have mapped out an entire little everlark edit to "in the kitchen" by renee rapp:
the couch that we sat on back in new york has made its way three thousand miles to l.a.
two frames. the first one being peeta handing the pearl to katniss in the quell arena. the second one being katniss rolling the pearl on her lips in the bed.
these pillows been talking asking me where the hell you've been (where the hell you've been)
katniss waking up from a nightmare in district thirteen, looking down at the space beside her, wishing he was there.
told me you loved me two weeks in
and I knew I would fall for you over and over
"you told me you loved me" frame being peeta's 'she came here with me' interview. 'i know that i would fall for you' frame being quick, alternating frame of the moments katniss fell in love with peeta (the cave, peeta giving his money to thresh and rue's family, the beach kiss)
but who would've known that the falling would come to an end (come to an end)
cut to district thirteen, with katniss and peeta sitting across from each other in the hospital room. peeta held down with restraints. katniss awkwardly stands there as he insults her.
but now it's just me and a hundred square feet of bittersweet memories. deleted the playlist but i still hear all your favorite melodies
first frame is katniss sitting all alone in district two, numb as she mourns the 'old peeta.' second frame is katniss, trying to studying military history in her room, but being distracted by daydreaming about nights on the train with peeta.
strangers, to lovers, to enemies
'strangers' frame would be them shaking hands. 'to lovers' frame would be them kissing before leaving the lightning tree. 'to enemies' frame would be them sitting across from each other at the lunch table. daggers in their eyes.
This sort of behaviour is the reason this fandom is dying.
How about instead of sending baseless accusations and anonymous death threats to artists and other members of the fandom you do something valuable with your time?
Check in on your neighbours, volunteer somewhere, go to a protest, VOTE!
i don't think we talk enough about how peeta went into THE WOODS to find the primrose plants at the end of mockingjay.
in first book, peeta was scared of the woods. in the second book, he was unhappy with katniss risking her safety by going into the woods. in the third book, peeta was so messed up that we really don't revisit the whole 'woods' conversation...
this boy was not a fan of the woods.
but he went there. stayed in the woods for enough time to search for a specific type of plant.
mockingjay everlark is sooo messy (and i love them for it). because what do you mean peeta asked katniss who she liked kissing more (him or gale) and she responds with a cheeky 'both, depending on the mood.'
when we, the readers, know full well that katniss (three chapters earlier, mind you) was skipping at the thought of peeta kissing her again. like be so for real for a sec.
one of my favorite parts of the hunger games book is when peeta is like, "what good will hand-to-hand combat and strength be in the games" and katniss just looks at him like:
everytime i read fanfiction, there is a little rat in my ear whispering "canon katniss/peeta would never do this." i promptly tell that rat to shut up and let me enjoy the amazing work that my fellow fans create.
that being said, @mage-chocolate's "i wake with your memory over me" has to be the most canon accurate characterization of katniss and peeta i have ever read.
"you love her. and oh, how she seems to love you. except sometimes you wonder, because her plans don’t include you at all" (sotr, 139).
perhaps my favorite moment of sunrise on the reaping. because it shows us how precisely snow was projecting himself onto these boys. first haymitch. and then peeta.
because you just know that snow was feeding peeta's insecurities when he was torturing him. telling him over and over again that katniss would choose gale/the rebellion/literally anything over him. that she would leave him at the soonest possibility he was not useful for her.
because that's all he is good for. helping the mockingjay.
but that is why the "stay with me/always" scene marks an important shift in peeta's return to himself.
because there is katniss. the hisses of mutts encroaching. holding hijacked peeta by his shackled wrists. right as he is about to lose control. close enough to kill her.
👏 and 👏 she 👏 does 👏 not 👏 leave 👏 him 👏
because her plans have always included peeta. she needs him.
she needs him in the darkness of the night. she needs him when he is injured on the bank of a creek. she needs him when he can't even remember his favorite color. rain or shine, she needs that boy like oxygen.
so give her the nightlock berries. let her kiss the rabid boy. she would do it. ten times over. because she would rather die than leave him.
we need to realize that peeta in catching fire already knew that katniss deeply cared about him. his little pouty phase was centered around him accepting that katniss does not love him. and likely never will.
he understands that katniss wasn't faking everything in the games. she was just faking the kissing and lovey-dovey stuff.
because while katniss might care about him enough to sacrifice her life for him, she will never love him the way he loves her.
and he is okay with it. he stays with her anyway. always.
because a life without katniss at all is much worse than a best friendship with your soulmate. much, much worse.
there is something so special about the parallels between the berry scene and the 'let me go/i can't' scene.
because katniss didn't have to hurt peeta in the berry scene to win the games. and peeta didn't have to do anything to save himself after the snow/coin assassination.
they could have just done nothing. they just had to let the other die.
but instead, they chose to put their own safety at risk. katniss putting the berries in her mouth. peeta grabbing her shoulder with the nightlock pill, knowing it would be bit.
for both, they could have just stood there. done nothing. survived to tell the tale.
but what good is surviving if you just find yourself trapped in a never-ending hell without the only person who can help you out of it?
