WARNING: This article contains Spoilers for Suzanne Collins’ “Sunrise on the Reaping
Nobody likes alcoholics. Or rude people, or careless people. But nonetheless, “Hunger Games” fans absolutely love Haymitch Abernathy.
His development and ability to break down his barriers in the original trilogy makes him arguably one of the best written characters. His alcoholism not only gives him the road towards danger, but it also helps him hide from the truth. As he slowly accepts the truth, his personality morphs to fit his growing love for Katniss and Peeta to be the father figure neither got to have.
Unfortunately, in “Sunrise on the Reaping,” the recent “Hunger Games” prequel about Haymitch’s games, we learn why the truth is so scary to him. The heartbreaking reason he’s an alcoholic is shown in order of how his soul was broken and heart shattered, but also his connections with Katniss and Peeta.
Haymitch’s games, the second Quarter Quell, were the most damaging of any Games. Instead of the usual 24 tributes, there were double. 48 tributes had to train and fight, but 47 had to die. Although in reality, 49 died in the wake of the Second Quarter Quell.
Throughout the book, there was beautiful yet heartbreaking loredrop of how he shares his background and allowing foreshadowing to haunt him and other characters. His actions in the original “Hunger Games” trilogy are now shown to have a deeper meaning as we see his younger self. We now know how his habits came to be, how he instinctively and protectively acted.
Characters seen in “Catching Fire,” such as Mags, Beetee, and Wiress, all make important appearances in ‘Sunrise,’ which relate back to Katniss’ Quarter Quell. Their origins show how they act and treat each other, including Haymitch’s relationship with each of them. As I connected the dots and saw how his past influenced the ways Katniss treated them and remembering the fate of them, I cried a lot.
The more I realized how much of a genius Collins was, it also made me realize the importance of the message she was conveying. She truly does only write when she has to say something, and the growth of Panem is shown in a clearer way.
58 year old Coriolanus Snow seems to be an ever bigger menace than his reign as an elder. We see more into the side effects of the poison he strategically takes and how he treats Victors, Capitol citizens, and anyone he deems lesser than. The Heavensbees come back, and it shows the importance of having books.
Snow’s acts of violence and passive aggressiveness make him appear even more menacing and disgusting. He truly does learn everything about everyone, especially in District 12.
Thanks to that, we also learn that Lucy Gray Baird, a Covey, still very much haunts his narrative. She has not left his mind. His obsession with her and the Covey is still, unfortunately, going strong, and he decides to make it everyone else’s problem. And no matter how much Snow seems to reign and control, Lucy Gray will always find a way.
We learn the Covey are still very much relevant and more than we originally thought. Snow not only uses the Covey directly against love and Haymitch, but also unknowingly against himself.
His insecurities and ex-situationship follow him down to the end, which result in thousands of deaths of innocent people. Songbirds haunt him his whole life, from his Songbird to the Mockingjay.
We also see the ways he is able to control the narrative. Propaganda is the largest part of Haymitch’s addition in the revolution, and how the Games even worked.
We also learn about the progression the Games went through over the years of Snow’s rule, and also how easily the Capitol is able to change up the timelines.
In the actual Games, Haymitch did his part in trying to keep his friends alive, and it was so painfully easy to get attached to the other tributes. But luckily, tears didn’t stain my book. Every chapter I cried at least thrice, and even though I knew all 47 other tributes would die, I still got attached to them all. The alliances he made were always in good blood, even though his acts of defiance won’t even be able to be seen by anyone. All his pain and bravery was for nothing; he handled his own grief better than I handled mine (besides the alcoholism).
And all that pain remained unknown because of how easily the Capitol is able to manipulate the Games. At the reapings, they reshot family’s reactions to their children being reaped. Countless takes were recorded to air to the whole of Panem to reenact the grief and replace reality. They reworked the timeline of how the games went, which order people died in.
Haymitch quickly learns as a teenager that the blessing of being a Victor comes with deadly costs. He ends up being able to relate with Snow on eerie things, being forced into survivors guilt and familial grief.
More connections to Panem and the present are released. Very quickly, we learn the heartbreaking date the reaping takes place: July 4th, and Haymitch’s birthday. Connections to the oppressive dystopian kingdom fall into the United States of America’s history.
The 13 districts relate to the original 13 colonies. The idea of Songbirds meaning freedom translates to the bald eagle being the symbol of American freedom and spirit. The chilling connections add more eeriness to the series and the meaning Collins wrote it with.
Her hints of secret manipulation and propaganda is a huge and important lesson we need to be aware of today.
The more visible connections give Katniss’ trilogy a whole new meaning. Original events such as the Tribute Parade and tribute preparation change drastically from when Katniss went through them. The Tribute Parade is a deadly danger, and preparation includes insecticide and addict stylists.
Tributes are treated more as animals and pets than entertainment. Capitol citizens are more brain-dead and addicts than the usual brainwashed diva fashionistas. Their vulnerability and gullibility make them more susceptible to the propaganda and lies Snow spews.
The District 12 generation before the Mockingjay gave way into the true rebellion. Katniss is just the same as Haymitch. She was just luckier.
Nonetheless, Haymitch takes his promise of “ending the reapings” to the grave. After being only reaped once in the whole series, his vow is kept safe. He had the last sunrise on the reaping.
