Previous
Chapter 10
Themes
and Colors
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in Sunrise on the Reaping, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Authoritarianism, Surveillance, and Propaganda
Compliance vs. Resistance
Unity vs. Individualism
Music, Solidarity, and Grief
Dehumanization and State-Sponsored Violence
Summary
Analysis
Beetee explains that, like a regular house, the arena is equipped with electricity, plumbing, and ventilation. Haymitch’s house doesn’t have these things—only the houses in 12’s vacant Victor’s Village do. Regardless, Beetee plans to sneak Haymitch into Sub-A through a “mutt portal,” through which Gamemakers typically release genetically-altered animals called muttations. Haymitch will locate the water tank and blow a hole in it, flooding the computer system. Ampert will help. Losing composure, Beetee asks Haymitch to make sure his son doesn’t suffer. The explosive requires fire, for which Haymitch can use his flint striker. Wiress appears: a crew is fixing the power. Haymitch returns to bed with strict instructions not to reveal the plan to anyone else.
The relative poverty of District 12 emphasizes how the Capitol has hoarded the nation’s wealth and left its citizens to suffer. The Victor’s Village is an empty subdivision in 12 dedicated to housing winners from the Games. By targeting the arena itself, Beetee and his co-conspirators plan to derail the Games and expose the Capitol’s incompetence. The mention of muttations reminds the reader that the public has generally accepted their government’s cruel treatment of tributes—in this case, the Gamemakers send vicious animals to hunt them down. Beetee accepts that Ampert’s death is inevitable; like the District 12 tributes, his only hope is for that death to be quick and painless. Haymitch’s involvement in the plan isolates him from his fellow tributes.
Active
Themes
Haymitch imagines using Lenore Dove’s striker to break the arena, proving District 12 citizens aren’t mindless animals. Maysilee takes over watch, seeming to suspect Haymitch is up to something. In the morning, the tributes agree to treat Lou Lou like the original Louella with cognitive damage. Lou Lou is likely wearing an audio transmitter, reminding Haymitch of the jabberjays—the Capitol’s mutated birds used to eavesdrop on rebels during the war. The jabberjays mated with mockingbirds, producing mockingjays, which mimic song. In training, Ampert tells Haymitch that Beetee thinks District 9 is essential for their alliance. Maysilee offers to help sway them, but Haymitch worries she’ll insult their tokens—gaudy clay sunflowers reminiscent of the fields where they work.
If the plan is successful, Haymitch feels he and Lenore Dove will have worked together to rebel against the Capitol. He hopes that his actions will also send the message that district citizens are just as intelligent and worthy of life as Capitol citizens. Comparing Lou Lou to a jabberjay underscores that she is still held captive as a Capitol surveillance tool. That said, the jabberjays’ descendants—mockingjays—exist outside the government’s purview, making them a symbol of hope and freedom despite oppressive conditions. Despite Maysilee’s obvious intelligence and dedication to the alliance, Haymitch continues to distrust her.
Active
Themes
Haymitch joins District 9’s tributes at a station where they learn to construct shelters from tarps. Panache interrupts the session to invite District 9 to join the Careers’ alliance, but they refuse. In retaliation, he smashes a young girl’s sunflower token. Maysilee uses homemade glue to fix the clay flower. Haymitch engages the tributes in conversation about sunflowers and mentions his district’s alliance with Ampert’s group but doesn’t push it. At lunchtime, District 9’s tributes join the Newcomers, as do the kids from District 11. District 5 joins the Careers, meaning the Newcomers have exactly twice as many members as their opponents. After lunch, each tribute has a private session during which they must impress the Gamemakers. Haymitch goes last.
Active
Themes
Knowing the Gamemakers have likely watched his rebellious behavior at the reaping and the parade, Haymitch decides to pretend he no longer cares about anyone but himself to divert suspicion and maybe secure some sponsors. He claims he only cared about the real Louella and now plans to betray everyone. The Head Gamemaker, Faustina Gripper, expresses surprise that Haymitch would let his allies die. He points out that she is indifferent to their deaths anyway. Peacekeepers take Haymitch’s striker for inspection. He hopes they don’t confiscate it permanently. Later, District 12 views the broadcast of their individual scores, according to the Gamemakers. Out of 12, Wyatt and Maysilee receive sixes, Lou Lou receives a three, and Haymitch receives a one.
Active
Themes
Get the entire Sunrise on the Reaping LitChart as a printable PDF.
"My students can't get enough of your charts and their results have gone through the roof." -Graham S.
