CATCHING FIRE

Catching Fire

Catching Fire

Introduction

The Fans of "Fame Games", the captivating and the popular novel by Suzanne Collins, waited impatiently for the publication of the second book in the trilogy, "Catching Fire" on September 1 and have not been disappointed (Lisa, 2010).

Katniss Everdeen comes from District 12, a poor region, assigned to the extraction of coal, the nation of Panem, with its shining Capitol City surrounded by 12 districts, each with its own products and geography. Capitol City focused on the control of districts rebellion or dissent is not easily tolerated. In order to maintain its tight grip on the outlying regions, in the last 74 years Capitol City has requested that each district would send a male and a female aged between 12 and 18 years in a horrible TV show, to fight to the death.

In Catching Fire, Katniss, skilled with bow and arrows because they grew up hunting to help feed her sister and the widowed mother, begins to experience the consequences of events that pushed her into the spotlight of the Games 74. Katniss soon discovers that her actions have turned against her, and left brought her family and friends near danger.

Thesis Statement

“Catching Fire” makes for an exciting read as the novel heavily punctuated by allusions and symbols that the readers interpret to extract the underlying meaning embedded within the lines. Various symbols employed by the writer (bread, fire, Mockingjay etc.), to convey implicit meanings for the reader to infer. The present paper attempts a semiotic interpretation of the text to unearth the notions behind the ubiquitous signifiers.

Semiotic Theory

Semiotics is the discipline that studies signs and their meanings. A semiotic system characterized primarily by the presence of a plane of expression and a content plan. The expression (also known as the signifier/ symbols) stands for something that is absent: the content (or meaning).

Catching Fire Signifiers or Symbols

There are very few books like Catching Fire with a story this well put together in a long time. The symbolism, foreshadowing, imagery and, of course, the plot is just brilliant. Every character developed in such a way that one cannot help but be pulled into this world. The thing that stands out in mind though is the aforementioned symbolism and foreshadowing (Gabrielle, 2009). Here, are a few things that really stood out in the reader's mind that will have something to do with the conclusion of this series.

One of the recurring symbols is that of bread. Katniss makes a point of this on pg 32, of The Hunger Games when Peeta brings her a loaf of bread at a time when she was about to give up. She says that bread brought her hope. Peeta is the source of hope, the baker's son. Another instance of 'bread' giving hope is in the cabin by the lake when Katniss gives Bonnie and Twill rolls. The bread theme keeps cropping up throughout the books whenever things seem at their bleakest.

Another recurring symbol is flowers, especially ...