Effie Trinket

The Power Struggle of Effie Trinket.

Written by: Lindsay Brookshier 

 

What impact does Effie Trinket play throughout the The Hunger Games trilogy?

 Effie Trinket is an interesting character. She is the one that leads the Reaping; she is the introduction of the Capitol for Katniss Everdeen. She guides the tributes from District 12 through all the motions The Hunger Games requires. Effie shows them where they're staying, she introduces them to their stylists, she is a guide as they are inducted as tributes. Effie is pleasant to Katniss and Peeta but at first, it's a cold pleasantry. She does not feel for the tributes emotionally- she dehumanizes them in order to continue her job in a guilt free manner. We don't see this dehumanizing start to waver until the second book- Catching Fire. When Katniss and Peeta are chosen to enter the arena a second time for the Quarter Quell; it is apparent that Effie is upset. She has grown attached to them as her winners from District 12. This is one of the first times we see a spark of real human emotion for Effie where she is concerned for someone else's well being rather than herself. As we know, in Mockingjay, Katniss convinces the Rebels to not harm Effie and add her to the list of people she demanded must be protected. She extends that protection to Effie Trinket; surprising the other rebels who would of thought she would be glad to see Effie suffer and die. Katniss surprises everyone again with this act of compassion for Effie; as much as Effie surprises us as she becomes committed in helping the Rebels defeat the Capitol.

Is Effie perpetuating patriarchy?

Just as how there are people in our contemporary society that perpetuate patriarchy; there are characters in the The Hunger Games trilogy that do the same. All the members of the Capitol help enforce this dominated, oppressive government. Effie Trinket is no different in the beginning. She accepts this controlling government and enlists herself in working for it; aiding the capture of the tributes from District 12 to be sentenced to their deaths in the arena. She is enabling murder and torture by these acts. Just as this idea is as dangerous to the world of the Hunger Games; it is equally dangerous to our society. Many people in our society help keep patriarchy a dominant force. At times even women will be the ones perpetuating this strict societal control. If patriarchy is benefiting someone in some way; there will be people to defend it and keep the oppressed controlled. Effie Trinket is a good example of this; her job is her benefit from the oppressive governmental system and at first she helps enable this control so it will benefit her own means.

For further information on patriarchy and what it means click here. 

What can we do?

Just like in The Hunger games; patriarchy is not a force that can be so easily overcome. It is a complex societal institution with many intricate components that make up its' power. In the books we see that Effie's demeanor begins to change and she starts to see Katniss as a human being. This change, this humanization of one of her tributes, comes as she begins to feel real emotion for Katniss. She grows attached to her as a person; one of the first tributes to survive the arena. Perhaps Effie felt relieved at the end of the first book that Katniss would be safe and protected; allowing that veil of dehumanization she used in the beginning to drop free. When the Quarter Quell was revealed in Catching Fire and Katniss had to enter the arena once more; Effie could not help herself but feel emotion for her tribute.

Empathy is one of the biggest forces that can bring about change. Effie did not feel for Katniss personally in the beginning nor did she feel guilt for the likely tortures and horrors that awaited the tributes. It wasn't until Effie began seeing Katniss as a true human being that she became attached and started to sympathize with those that were punished by the Capitol. This empathy is what changes Effie Trinket's character so drastically. This is true of real life; if one in power were to truly emphasize with someone who lacked power, things might become different in our world. That is why literature is such a powerful tool to bring about societal change. Reading is the best way to put yourself in someone else's shoes; there is no better way to understand a group of disadvantaged people than to read first hand what their experiences is like. Even though The Hunger Games is a fantastical society that exists far in the future; it is easy to see many of the same issues happening in our own society.

What do you think of Effie Trinket? Do you think she begins to truly care for Katniss or is this just a superficial act of emotion? Is literature powerful enough to bring about change? Fire away your responses in the comments!