on lucy gray's state and legacy (TBOSAS, THG)
somebody here said “i think her history has been told” and it is true: for all intense and purposes lucy gray is dead. lucy gray did not exist as a public concept and figure until she was drafted as tribute and she called the public's (and snow's) attention. as soon as she leaves snow and the district, her image dies with her. she is not mentioned again. she is not recognized as a district 12 champion. her existence is ephemeral for everyone BUT corolianus snow. if a tree falls in the forest but no one is around to hear it, does it really make a noise? if lucy gray exists but is not really seen or heard or felt, is she really alive?
extra thoughts i don't know how to articulate further: – she most likely abandoned her known name, lucy gray baird, as soon as she left 12. her name has no use anymore, since she won't be that person anymore. – also, she is not dumb: she knows she can't keep using that name considering snow will always be looking for her – to play devil's advocate, we could also say she is alive as her memory and impact will remain with snow till the end of his times. he remembers her, so she is still alive somehow. i do not like this reasoning, but just gonna leave it here. – from an historic perspective, lucy gray embodies the ideals of some anarchist/anarco-communist and that would mean she can also embrace the anonymity and frugality of the identity. only she will ever know her true self, and all she can do is built different selves according to context. i think that is also reflected on the covey and the way they embrace new relationships and identities while they are together, knowing that belonging is temporary.
to sum it up , i can't decide whether i believe lucy gray is physically alive or not, but i am convinced that what we and panem knew as lucy gray, died a long time ago.
https://www.reddit.com/r/Hungergames/s/YFJ22yxvu0 (the original post has been deleted, but can still be accessed)
- Camil Fernandez Cifuentes