Ah ha! We've talked about this but I've thought more on it since our conversation. Considering the fact that you and I have already discussed PTSD, I would have to say that in Mockingjay, Katniss has a psychotic break. Sometimes people call it a "breakdown", but that is making light of something much more severe. Poor Katniss. She is so used and used and needed and used. Katniss doesn't have a true friend in the world for all but maybe 30 pages of this series. Depression is the easy answer, PTSD obvious, the death of her father, stress of poverty and hunger, etc. The Hunger Games is all about survival mode. Survival mode even before the games probably. Here is my final thought, Primrose is the most well adjusted person in the book.
How do you see her as not having a true friend? I think she does, in both her sister and Peeta.
I don't know if I would give her a diagnosis before the Games unless you want to consider "over-protective recluse" as a diagnosis. ;) Yes, she lost her dad, but she was dealing with it pretty well. Her mom could have been diagnosed with PTSD before the games, but not her. At most, I'd say depression.
After the games, I would say PTSD. Also, I don't see the psychotic break?? She didn't have delusions, hallucinations, extreme change in personality, etc. I thought she handled the effects of being in the Games pretty well. I know I wouldn't have done nearly as well as she did!
Before the Games, I dunno. She seemed to be in survival mode, which lucky for her prepped her for the games but she was very angry, the world, her mother. She only had Gale to confide in and I can't tell whether or not she was sharing her own thoughts or just mirroring Gale's philosophy. It seems to me that Katniss may not have developed a way of thinking for herself, at all. What I mean in regard to her not having any "true friends" is that initially she only has Gale, which again would support my theory that Katniss was depressed as she only had Gale to confide in and when Peeta had shown her kindness, she resented him for it. There was a true friendship possible there but her anger isolated her. There are glimmer's of Katniss' innocence during the games, like when she twirls, unprovoked in her dress. That, I believe is the true Katniss. The girl who like the stew with dried plums and was able to talk about that without the possibility of reproach. The thinks that she may have enjoyed life, as it was, if her father would not have died tragically. Instead her hate, mirrored through Gale was her way of life. Everyone hated the Capital but there were folks in District 12 who were still able to make the best of things. I guess that could be hard to imagine but it is shown in recollections of her mom. That there was the possibility of a better life and mom married for love and left that life. For example, mom had nice clothes from her former life. For some life was good financially, so I'd have to assume that life was bareable and possibly fulfilling to the poor. You don't have to be wealthy to be happy. Regarding the psychotic break, I am referring to the time where Katniss completely broke down and was unable to function, at all, in Mockingjay. That would be categorically a psychotic break.
Well I would have to agree with Beth, that in Mocking Jay Katniss had a Phychotic break. There was also that time when Crestada was trying to film her that Katniss had what I think was a breakdown (or breakthrough!) Up until that point Katniss had not really dealt with what had happened to her! I also think the pre-games she also was "dealing" pretty well with the death of her father and had learned many survival skills, that I agree helped her tremendously in the games, but that Katniss definatly had changed for the worse. She lost the inocence of childhood and often talks about that being when she learned to keep her emotions off of her face! That in and of itself is not typical healthy mental development! I agree with April, that she did have a friend in Peeta! She also trully loved him, I believe! She could sleep if he was near her. I just love them, and this is definatly one of the most tradjic stories I have read! Especially when you delve farther into the books!
Ah ha! We've talked about this but I've thought more on it since our conversation. Considering the fact that you and I have already discussed PTSD, I would have to say that in Mockingjay, Katniss has a psychotic break. Sometimes people call it a "breakdown", but that is making light of something much more severe. Poor Katniss. She is so used and used and needed and used. Katniss doesn't have a true friend in the world for all but maybe 30 pages of this series. Depression is the easy answer, PTSD obvious, the death of her father, stress of poverty and hunger, etc. The Hunger Games is all about survival mode. Survival mode even before the games probably. Here is my final thought, Primrose is the most well adjusted person in the book.
ReplyDeleteHow do you see her as not having a true friend? I think she does, in both her sister and Peeta.
ReplyDeleteI don't know if I would give her a diagnosis before the Games unless you want to consider "over-protective recluse" as a diagnosis. ;) Yes, she lost her dad, but she was dealing with it pretty well. Her mom could have been diagnosed with PTSD before the games, but not her. At most, I'd say depression.
After the games, I would say PTSD. Also, I don't see the psychotic break?? She didn't have delusions, hallucinations, extreme change in personality, etc. I thought she handled the effects of being in the Games pretty well. I know I wouldn't have done nearly as well as she did!
Before the Games, I dunno. She seemed to be in survival mode, which lucky for her prepped her for the games but she was very angry, the world, her mother. She only had Gale to confide in and I can't tell whether or not she was sharing her own thoughts or just mirroring Gale's philosophy. It seems to me that Katniss may not have developed a way of thinking for herself, at all. What I mean in regard to her not having any "true friends" is that initially she only has Gale, which again would support my theory that Katniss was depressed as she only had Gale to confide in and when Peeta had shown her kindness, she resented him for it. There was a true friendship possible there but her anger isolated her. There are glimmer's of Katniss' innocence during the games, like when she twirls, unprovoked in her dress. That, I believe is the true Katniss. The girl who like the stew with dried plums and was able to talk about that without the possibility of reproach. The thinks that she may have enjoyed life, as it was, if her father would not have died tragically. Instead her hate, mirrored through Gale was her way of life. Everyone hated the Capital but there were folks in District 12 who were still able to make the best of things. I guess that could be hard to imagine but it is shown in recollections of her mom. That there was the possibility of a better life and mom married for love and left that life. For example, mom had nice clothes from her former life. For some life was good financially, so I'd have to assume that life was bareable and possibly fulfilling to the poor. You don't have to be wealthy to be happy. Regarding the psychotic break, I am referring to the time where Katniss completely broke down and was unable to function, at all, in Mockingjay. That would be categorically a psychotic break.
ReplyDeleteWell I would have to agree with Beth, that in Mocking Jay Katniss had a Phychotic break. There was also that time when Crestada was trying to film her that Katniss had what I think was a breakdown (or breakthrough!) Up until that point Katniss had not really dealt with what had happened to her!
ReplyDeleteI also think the pre-games she also was "dealing" pretty well with the death of her father and had learned many survival skills, that I agree helped her tremendously in the games, but that Katniss definatly had changed for the worse. She lost the inocence of childhood and often talks about that being when she learned to keep her emotions off of her face! That in and of itself is not typical healthy mental development!
I agree with April, that she did have a friend in Peeta! She also trully loved him, I believe! She could sleep if he was near her. I just love them, and this is definatly one of the most tradjic stories I have read! Especially when you delve farther into the books!