the parallels between hadestown and sotr make my heart ache.
haymitch wasn't reaped originally but yet still ended up being thrown into the games, becoming an unintentional symbol to the younger folk around him and maybe even a martyr of sorts.
orpheus wasn't sought after by hades originally but yet still ended up in the underworld, becoming an unintentional symbol to the workers trapped there and nearly a martyr.
haymitch has his lenore dove, the girl he'd do anything for. but, at the very end, he loses her after having endured the games. it's almost like the gumdrops are her chips to the underworld.
orpheus has his eurydice, the girl he'd leave behind everything for. but, at the very end, he loses her after having endured the long walk to and from the underworld. her chips are the poisonous gumdrops.
haymitch's win is a cautionary tale for those who dare to rebel but it's also one riddled with love. and we, as readers, having the foresight of the original hunger games trilogy, still read sotr knowing exactly how it would end.
orpheus' journey is a painful story told again and again because, while sad, it, too, is full of love. and we, as watchers, still watch it knowing that he will always turn around because that's the way the greek myth is written.
you KNOW how both stories are going to end.
you KNOW they're going to end in tragedy and pain and that the boy is going to lose all that he's ever known and loved.
you KNOW that he's going to try to undo the status quo and fail.
and, even so, the story gets told again and again, in hopes that it'll turn out different one time around.