When it comes to the Hunger Games, you can’t blame the tributes having an emotionally hard time as the Games officially begin. I mean imagine being a teenager who suddenly has to grapple with their inevitable death. Let’s just say you’re better off being either drafted into the military or having a serious illness. Seriously, a teenager has a better chance of surviving a war or cancer than the Hunger Games where the competition is literally deadly. And let’s just say, most teenagers aren’t really prepared to face their own mortality. So it’s not unusual for many of the tributes to be scared. As for Katniss, well, it’s one thing that she had to come close to death in the first Hunger Games. Yet, when she found out about the Quarter Quell being an All-Stars competition, she feels like she doesn’t have much time to live. After all, victors are tougher competition than your peers. Let’s just say she’s facing issues that any normal 17 year old girl shouldn’t be dealing with.

For a good song depicting Katniss agonizing through her own mortality in Catching Fire, I used “Gethsemane” from Jesus Christ Superstar. The original has Jesus praying to God and agonizing about his upcoming crucifixion. You’d think that Jesus knew that he was to suffer a most painful death he’d be more courageous about the whole thing. But it’s not the case, contrary to how biblical movies depict it. After all, facing one’s death is a very scary thing, especially if you’re relatively young. In the Hunger Games version, I have Katniss struggle with a possible death in the arena during the Quarter Quell as well as evaluate how much as changed since she and Peeta won the previous year.

 

“Katniss’s Lament”

Sung b Katniss Everdeen

 

I only want to say

If there is a way

Take this cup away from me for I don’t want to taste

Its poison

Feel it burn me, I have changed, I’m not as sure as

When I started

 

Then I was on fire

Now I’m sad and tired

Listen surely I’ve exceeded expectations tried for since last year

Seems like thirty

Could they ask as much from any other girl?

 

But if I die

In the Quell will they mourn their Katniss Everdeen

Let them hate me, hit me, hurt me, put me from misery

I’d wanna know I’d wanna know my odds

I’d wanna see I’d wanna see my odds

 

Why I should die

Would I be more noticed than I ever was before?

Would the things I’ve said and done matter anymore?

I’d have to know I’d have to know the score

I’d have to see I’d have to see the score

If I die what will be my reward?

I’d have to know I’d have to know the score

 

Why should I die?

Can it ever be now that I would not be killed in vain?

Will dear Peeta live on or will he end up being slain

Show me how it’s worth it if there’s a chance I’ll die

They’re far too keen on where and how and not so hot on why

 

Alright I’ll die!

Just watch me die!

See how I die!

 

Then I was inspired

Now I’m sad and tired

After all I’ve tried since last year seems like ninety

Why then am I scared to finish what I started

What they started – I didn’t start it

God, their will is hard

But Snow holds every card

I will drink his cup of poison

Fight in his Quell and break me

Bleed me beat me kill me take me now –

Before I change my mind