Heroines depicted in new emerging dystopian literatures are not only slowly breaking the stereotypical representations of youth, but are also challenging gender stereotypes. Thus, inspiring the teenage audience and providing this young generation with strong female role models. TWTWB, by John Marsden, and The Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins, are two examples of such literatures. Both of these texts portray strong female heroines- Ellie Linton (from TWTWB) and Katniss Everdeen (from The Hunger Games) – who are faced by adverse circumstances which they overcome in bold, and diverse ways.
Although these novels contain differing plots, characters, and settings, many similarities exist in the worlds that have been created by the authors. The …show more content…
At the beginning of TWTWB, Marsden depicts Ellie as being a usual teenager who sets out to camp with her friends. As the novel progresses this ‘innocent rural teenager’ (p. 78) whose life ‘had been so unaffected by the outside world’ (p. 78) becomes ‘a more complicated and capable person’ (p. 82). The foreign invasion of Ellie’s homeland results in her decision to ‘involve [herself] in… [the] war and get [her] country back’ (Marsden, p. 239), which forces her and her friends to start ‘acting… like guerrillas’ (Marsden, p. 73). This in turn results from her love for her friends and family, and the will to regain their freedom. Ellie’s life spent on working on the farm somewhat physically prepares her for the war which contributes a little to her mental stability by giving her ‘a bit of confidence’ (p. 225) and ‘a habit of doing things without… [the help of] adult[s]’ (p.256), who are now the ones to depend on her. In contrast, in The Hunger Games, Katniss has had to face adversity ever since her father died. She learnt to adapt to this emotionally challenging phase of her life and became physically capable of providing for her family. She has since figured out what matters to her the most, which is evident when she volunteers as tribute in place of her sister. Her pretension to ‘protect Prim in every way [she] can’ (p.15) is what leads her to volunteer, and is what derives
Although these novels contain differing plots, characters, and settings, many similarities exist in the worlds that have been created by the authors. The …show more content…
At the beginning of TWTWB, Marsden depicts Ellie as being a usual teenager who sets out to camp with her friends. As the novel progresses this ‘innocent rural teenager’ (p. 78) whose life ‘had been so unaffected by the outside world’ (p. 78) becomes ‘a more complicated and capable person’ (p. 82). The foreign invasion of Ellie’s homeland results in her decision to ‘involve [herself] in… [the] war and get [her] country back’ (Marsden, p. 239), which forces her and her friends to start ‘acting… like guerrillas’ (Marsden, p. 73). This in turn results from her love for her friends and family, and the will to regain their freedom. Ellie’s life spent on working on the farm somewhat physically prepares her for the war which contributes a little to her mental stability by giving her ‘a bit of confidence’ (p. 225) and ‘a habit of doing things without… [the help of] adult[s]’ (p.256), who are now the ones to depend on her. In contrast, in The Hunger Games, Katniss has had to face adversity ever since her father died. She learnt to adapt to this emotionally challenging phase of her life and became physically capable of providing for her family. She has since figured out what matters to her the most, which is evident when she volunteers as tribute in place of her sister. Her pretension to ‘protect Prim in every way [she] can’ (p.15) is what leads her to volunteer, and is what derives