In the first novel, the two are forced into the deadly Hunger Games competition, in which only one of the twenty-four contestants survives. As the story develops, their mentor uses a star-crossed lovers strategy to make it appear as though Katniss and Peeta are in love publically, but privately Peeta maintains a chaste relationship with Katniss, despite his genuine feelings for her. This innocent pursuit of Katniss is glamorized by Peeta’s character and shows young females how a proper young man should act, as dictated by modern culture. His genuine feelings for Katniss make these readers swoon and reinforce Peeta’s role as Katniss’s servant and guardian. Throughout the novel, Peeta does not act upon adolescent desires unless prompted to do so for the cameras. Instead, he respects Katniss and her talents. “He stages his own servitude” (2410) by placing Katniss on a pedestal and vowing to protect her at the risk of his
In the first novel, the two are forced into the deadly Hunger Games competition, in which only one of the twenty-four contestants survives. As the story develops, their mentor uses a star-crossed lovers strategy to make it appear as though Katniss and Peeta are in love publically, but privately Peeta maintains a chaste relationship with Katniss, despite his genuine feelings for her. This innocent pursuit of Katniss is glamorized by Peeta’s character and shows young females how a proper young man should act, as dictated by modern culture. His genuine feelings for Katniss make these readers swoon and reinforce Peeta’s role as Katniss’s servant and guardian. Throughout the novel, Peeta does not act upon adolescent desires unless prompted to do so for the cameras. Instead, he respects Katniss and her talents. “He stages his own servitude” (2410) by placing Katniss on a pedestal and vowing to protect her at the risk of his