#maritte

There has been a lot of debate in the fandom concerning the degree to which District 4 is a Career district, right? Well, what this book is suggesting is that yes, District 4 is a Career district. But the people at the other extreme end of the argument who were insisting that there were absolutely no differences between Four and the other two Career districts were also wrong. District 4 is a Career district. But while Districts 1 and 2 are Career districts that are also largely loyal to the Capitol, this isn’t the case for District 4.

Maritte is willing to team up with One and Two to hunt down the other tributes. She’s literally chasing down Haymitch and Maysilee in the earlier part of this scene. But when the group encounters some Gamemakers inside the arena then things change very quickly. And Maritte doesn’t even need any convincing. In a snap, in an instant, she puts her trident through a Gamemaker. Because Maritte knows who the real enemy is.

The contrast with Silka, who is from District 1, is striking. Silka isn’t even portrayed as a monster and is given a bit more depth than a lot of the Careers in the series. But Silka’s response to Maritte killing a Gamemaker is a stunned: “What’d you do? Did you kill Gamemakers? They’ll never let us win now!” Silka is focused on winning. Silka is as traumatized by the Games as anyone (she cries under the tree), but she cannot conceive of rebellion. Before she fights Haymitch at the very end of the Games she says: “I will be the one to honor the Capitol.” I think these are her last words. I don’t think that you have to believe that Silka even likes the Capitol deep in her heart, but for whatever reason she isn’t willing to defy them.

There are actually several references scattered throughout the series to Districts 1 and 2 being close to the Capitol while District 4 is more rebellious. But this scene with Maritte killing the Gamemaker puts it in really sharp relief. Maysilee scolds Haymitch for not being quicker to attack the Gamemakers because Haymitch and not District 4 is meant to be her ally. She scolds him because his inaction allows District 4 to very briefly ally with District 12. Meaning that for about thirty seconds, District 12 and District 4 were in alliance in the Second Quarter Quell. Just as they will be in alliance in the Third Quarter Quell. In alliance against the Gamemakers. In alliance against the Hunger Games. In alliance against the Capitol.

I don‘t know this sort of talk and behaviour is very rebellious.

Before my reread I wondered if Silka might have actually killed Maritte for this behaviour, to prove to the capitol that she did not agree with her actions and she then cried under the tree from guilt.

But no. It was the squirrels. Silka had to watch Maritte die the same way Haymitch had to watch Ampert go. It was probably even worse for Silka. She was there for the start of it. And she‘d KNOW Maritte was targeted, the mutts ignoring Silka.

Maybe seeing that, she lost faith. Maybe, seeing that, her belief in the glory of the capitol was shaken. But she had to continue. If she didn‘t hunt Haymitch and Wellie like the good little career she was conditioned and bred to be… she could be next.

She finds their tree. But she doesn‘t try to find a way to force them out. She doesn‘t throw an axe at them. She just collapses. And cries.

And then Haymitch drops the chocolate. And she disappears in the morning. Was she considering not killing them? For just a moment? It could just be that she wanted to give them the chance to come down so she could kill them (like she ultimately did) but maybe… she needed a moment to clear her head, clear out the conflicting emotions. I think she was tired of the killing.

She finds her way back and Wellie lifts the darts and Silka‘s training kicks in.

Haymitch returns and shouts at her. And she is defensive about killing Wellie. „She was trying to kill me!“ The unspoken continuation here is „I wouldn‘t have done it if she hadn‘t threatened me.“

i'm not deep in the sotr trenches but silka & maritte seem to be popular, @janecresca asked for them so i delivered!