The Hunger Games’ Katniss Everdeen & Selflessness: A Dying Moral Value

“I volunteer as tribute!” is one of the most iconic book/movie lines, and it gives me chills every time I hear it. The Hunger Games is a staple Gen Z piece of entertainment. I grew up reading the books and watching the movies with all of my friends. It’s obviously a really dark, dystopian story, but I don’t think it gets enough credit for how many important moral values and lessons are packed into this story. What sticks out to me the most is the clear displays of selflessness throughout the story from the main protagonist Katniss Everdeen.

Selflessness: A Dying Moral Value

As harsh as it sounds, Generation Z is increasingly selfish in our worldview and mindset. We are hyper-focused on our pain and suffering and always focused on ourselves. Selfishness is an inherent part of human nature, so Gen Z having selfish tendencies is nothing new. The problem is that Gen Z is viewing these tendencies as good, and acts of selflessness as bad because they contradict the value of putting yourself first. This narrative is painted in a positive light, though. It manifests in the idea of finding “your truth” and that it’s always good to put your needs over others.

The sad part about this is that selflessness is essential for the most beautiful and fulfilling life. Selflessness is how we truly love others, and selfless acts from others are how we receive love. Selflessness is why charity exists and why we help others. If everyone in the world were totally focused on themselves and always putting their own needs over others, the world would lose so much goodness, love and charity, and it would likely fall apart.

Katniss Everdeen and Selflessness

Katniss Everdeen displays a rigid and upset exterior, but on the inside, she is one of the most selfless book/movie characters. The key to selflessness is doing good for others, even when you aren’t receiving any good back. 

Katniss exemplifies this idea when she helps feed and takes care of her sister and mom, despite her mom appearing uninvolved and unhelpful. Katniss selflessly walks to almost certain death in her sister’s place when she volunteers as tribute. While she’s in the Hunger Games, Katniss helps young Rue even though it didn’t necessarily help Katniss.

 The list goes on and on, but the common theme is that Katniss acted selflessly in times when she got nothing in return, and even in times when she was negatively affected by her selfless acts. 

This kind of selflessness displayed by Katniss is a foundation of religions and cultures and is essential for a strong and moral society. Generation Z is drifting away from this moral value, so it is important that we continue to stay movie and book icons like Katniss Everdeen displaying selflessness.

Written by Peyton Price - Entertainment Values