Compassion

"In the arena, we are able to see compassion in a number of characters even as they are in the most barbarous fight of their lives.  What do you think this says about humanity? What does it say about them individually? Why do you think Suzanne Collins wanted us to see glimpses of the humanity of characters like Thresh even when we are supposed to hate him?" - Ms. R.

       I believe that human beings have a natural compassion for each other. The Capitol tries to force them to give up this instinct. It is another way that they try to control their pieces in the games. Though I believe that people have a natural compassion for each other, I also think it is true that the instinct to survive is much more powerful because it is the basis of all instincts. Not to try to win is quite literally an act of suicide, but to try to win is to kill another. We often forget compassion for others when our own survival is at stake. It becomes impossible in such a situation as the Hunger Games to step out of your mind for a moment and think about what you are doing. It is all you can do to stay alive

      It is also a basic instinct to defend yourself against danger, but the real danger is not the other tributes; it is the Capitol. The tributes begin fighting knowing that that is the only way out. Not because the other tributes are a danger to them. [Spoiler Alert] In the 75th Hunger games  all of the the old victor tributes band together to escape from the arena and flee to District 13. They banded together because they now realized that the other tributes weren't the enemy. They did it in an act of rebellion against the Capitol and also to ignite a fire that had laid dormant since the last uprising. A new rebellion begins against a world where some have more of a right to live than others. Against a powerful and corrupted justice. The Capitol could have a little humility and compassion. Those who don't are less than human.