Coriolanus Snow is just a teenager when he comes up with an idea that changes The Hunger Games forever in The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, but many decades later, the idea that made him a star turns out to be the key to his demise. The latest installment in The Hunger Games franchise, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, tells the story of a young Coriolanus Snow and his role in the tenth annual Hunger Games, including his relationship with District 12 tribute, Lucy Gray Baird. The film shows President Snow’s gruesome origins, which lead him to be the cruel dictator of The Hunger Games trilogy.
A key component of The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes is Snow’s unexpected role in The Hunger Games. It is announced that the Academy students will mentor a tribute during the tenth Hunger Games, and Snow is assigned Lucy Gray Baird. Because of Lucy’s charisma and singing abilities, Snow suggests that the Games would be more successful if the tributes were given a chance to connect with their audiences. Therefore, viewers would care more about whether tributes won or lost, and could offer advantages in the form of gifts. This idea makes Snow stand out to the Gamemaker and leads to his success, but also to his downfall.
Snow’s Hunger Games Change Gave Katniss An Opportunity To Become A Symbol Of The Rebellion
While Coriolanus Snow’s Hunger Games change made him a top student in The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, it is the reason why he falls in The Hunger Games: Mockingjay. The reason for this is that Snow’s addition of entertainment to The Hunger Games allows Katniss Everdeen to rise to the top. While Katniss likely could have survived the Games simply based on her physical skill, she was given countless advantages because of her relationship with Peeta. The audience’s investment in her and Peeta’s romance led to the pair getting many gifts, and in the end, allowed both of them to survive.
But, Katniss’ popularity goes even further than that. While The Hunger Games gave Katniss a platform to become popular across Panem, she continues to use that platform to overthrow the government. In Catching Fire, Katniss returns to The Hunger Games, which keeps her in the spotlight and increases her popularity. Then, with her reputation secured, Katniss uses her influence to start a revolution against Snow. Ultimately, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes connects to The Hunger Games via Snow’s decision.
How Snow’s Own Hunger Games Idea Led To His Downfall
In the end, Snow caused his own downfall. Although he changed The Hunger Games in order to secure his own success with Lucy Gray Baird, it backfired when Katniss and Peeta entered the Games. If The Hunger Games had no entertainment aspect, then Katniss and Peeta would have had to survive based on their physicality alone. In this way, they both would have died due to injuries or starvation. However, Snow’s change kept them alive, and they went on to use their platform to rally Panem against him. Therefore, Snow made a major mistake in The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes.
