In tales of Greek myths, the stories center around the feats and accomplishments of heroic figures. There are characters with immense strength and invincibility like that of the hero Heracles and the warrior Achilles, and there are those whose cunning outsmarts enemies like the hero Perseus beheading the Gorgon, Medusa, and Odysseus overcoming countless endeavors so he may return home. These myths are abundant with male protagonists, but lack a female heroine. The Hunger Games, written by Suzanne Collins and adapted into film, creates a contemporary plot stemming from the mythology of the ancient Greeks. Many of the ideas from the plot as well as the main character, Katniss Everdeen, resemble stories of heroes battling against and overcoming the wrath of monsters and Gods for power and glory. Katniss’ character is a new take on what many can parallel to the work of Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey and the heros of Apollodorus.
The movie follows the…show more content… Katniss is empowered by her perseverance to survive and self-sacrifice for those she cares for. On the other hand, Greek heroes are portrayed as seeking kleos, or glory and honor. Like Achilles fighting in the Trojan War simply to gain honor, Theseus volunteers to be a tribute for the Minotaur, not to take the place of another youth who could have been chosen, but to kill the beast so he may gain glory and the entitlement of being a great hero. The legends of Ancient Greek heroes most often depict them as selfish and self-centered--like Heracles, who is renowned for defeating his components, but for his own gain. Katniss demonstrates what the heroes of lore lack. She shows self-sacrifice and compassion by taking her sisters place as a tribute, caring for Peeta when she finds him injured, and looking after Rue, a young tribute from District 11 who reminded her of her sister,