As a dedicated reader, Carissa Puerzer enjoys popular fiction and classic literature in her spare time. Books offer an unparalleled opportunity to explore new worlds and examine personal beliefs from a fresh perspective. Two of Carissa’s recent literary favorites share a few common characteristics:
- A strong central female character
- Love and loss under difficult circumstances
- Finding a way to cope even when presented with unimaginable choices
The wildly popular “Hunger Games” trilogy by Suzanne Collins has attracted fans from around the world. Katniss Everdeen takes on the challenge of the Hunger Games with grace, self-deprecating wit and a strong sense of herself that persists throughout the entire story. Rather than allowing herself to be defined by the men in her life, Katniss lives her life on her own terms and creates her own destiny out of the wreckage of a crumbling civilization. In a similar way, Hazel Grace Lancaster faces her own fate while maintaining her sense of responsibility for her friends and her parents. As the heroine of “The Fault in Our Stars,” Hazel shares her love of literature and her emotional landscape with Augustus Waters and creates a believable friendship that doesn’t shrink from the hard choices ahead for both of them.
The Role of Fate
Fate plays a major role in the story arcs of Katniss and Hazel. Katniss’s sister, Primrose, is chosen to compete in the Hunger Games through random chance. Hazel’s cancer is also a symbol of fate: Her terminal illness informs and defines many of the choices available to her in the limited time she has. Both young women make strong efforts to change their fates:
- Katniss voluntarily takes the place of her sister and competes in the Hunger Games, setting in motion a series of actions that eventually threatens the fragile structure of her entire civilization.
- Hazel embarks upon a friendship and romantic relationship with Augustus despite her own terminal diagnosis. She also seeks interaction with her favorite author, Peter Van Houten, to achieve closure on the novel that spoke most strongly to her regarding her own situation and the likely repercussions of her eventual death.
These two heroines represent a type of bravery rarely seen in modern society. The willingness to take on the most serious challenges and the most threatening consequences unites Katniss and Hazel despite the significant differences in their backgrounds, personalities and the environments in which they live.
The “Hunger Games” trilogy takes place in a fantasy setting. By contrast, “The Fault in Our Stars” is sometimes uncomfortably real. However, both young women experience similar challenges and heartaches as they make their way to their ultimate destinations. For Katniss, the tragic losses experienced during her journey continue to haunt her throughout her life. Ironically, Hazel expresses a greater measure of hope in her concluding statements and provides a compelling counterpoint to the existential angst communicated by Katniss in the final chapter of “The Hunger Games.”
