Those of you considering yourself Team “Gale” or Team “Katniss don’t need no man” please take a minute to reel in your rage. I’m not here to take sides, but to provide a short explanation via the world of anthropology as to how the epic Hunger Games saga has woven the universal battle of good versus evil through the character arcs of the indomitable Katniss, wholesome Peeta, and tempestuous Gale.

In anthropology, we link many cultural processes to the biological mechanism of evolution. In order for organisms to evolve, our DNA must replicate and create variation, then nature decides what variation should be replicated (based in its capacity to strengthen us) or terminated (because of its mal-adaptive potential to destroy us). This is considered the natural order of things and the only way the favorable traits that gave humans the potential to become so awesome came to exist. But sometimes our DNA betrays us.

The mutations it can produce can kill or cause abnormalities to our physical and mental states. In nature, these mutations are normally prevented from being replicated so they cannot affect the entirety of the species and create an army of mutated (or MUTTated) creatures. But occasionally through crazy-nuts circumstances like the isolation of a religious cult, or intermarriage of royal siblings (a la King Tut’s parents Nefertiti and Akhenaten- but NOT the precious William and Kate), these mutations can be spread to terrible effect (basically picture an army of evil Spiderman babies with the ability to suck out your soul like dementors and you’ve got the picture).

In Panem we find that the natural order of society (as we know it today) has been disrupted by the rise of the Capitol, who has destroyed or taken complete control over the districts of North America. This is a large scale example of a rift in the natural evolution of society, thus, consider it a mutation to our cultural DNA. It’s also natural for humans to be masters of our own destinies, as the evolution of civil and human rights away from the institution of slavery and towards one of equality for all people has shown. Strike two for the Capitol as an example of the unnatural manifestation of the human state. Those guys must not have paid attention in biology class.

We are introduced to Katniss in the context of District 12’s insufferable conditions and collective horror at the approaching reaping. As a people they are suffering due to the mutations that have risen in the Capitol, just as organisms suffer as a result of a negative biological mutation. But Katniss demonstrates that there is hope in the return of natural order through her continued connection to nature itself, as she is able to escape the clutches of the Capitol and return to the woods where she is master of her own destiny. Thus, Katniss represents the potential for a return to the natural order. The cultural connection District 12 has maintained with its former Appalachian roots through language, music, styles, and stories reinforces this. Her very name, Katniss, a stubborn root that will always survive and reproduce, also signifies this.

Peeta and Gale are both representatives of natural forces. Peeta is obviously like a hearty loaf of bread that is necessary for survival (message received Ms. Collins, loud and clear), and Gale is like the forces of nature which have the power to support life or destroy it. His very nature, we find, is not unlike a Gale that grows more destructive as it gathers momentum. Throughout the series Katniss does not want to give in to either force, because she has enough to worry about on her own – and I mean come on, could you choose between sexy half-beard man and lovable “saves your life every five minutes” dude?

But in the end she chooses Peeta, the force she cannot live without. And rightly so, without sustenance one does have a tendency to die…

Here’s where the analogy gets good. We have several very clear examples of the negative impact of the characters’ mutations. Just look at the actions of Snow, Coin, and eventually Gale to see how they regress from the direction Panem and our lovely protagonist obviously needs to go. Their attempts to squash Katniss and thus the rebellion through literally tampering with DNA with their creation of the muttations. Not to mention, also denying Katniss her much needed support/sustenance by highjacking Peeta. These are all examples of how cultures have to literally make an effort to spread harmful mutations, which can have disastrous results. But what does nature do when things go awry? She kicks ass with a bow and arrow, naturally.

Well, not really. Nature rejects these actions and refuses to replicate them, just as normal people don’t all run away to join cults where you marry your father (unless you’re North of the Wall, in which case you’re in trouble). And in the end this is what Katniss and Peeta do. The reason the universe is Team Peeta is because of not only what he represents and why that is essential to Katniss’ survival- it’s because he chooses to walk away from the never ending cycle of mutation. Unfortunately, we can’t say the same for Gale. In this world, most of those exposed to power, technology, and money start to make bad decisions, and before you know it they have spiraled out of control. Like a storm brewing over the ocean, this seems to be Gale’s fate as well. This path is obviously one that leads to mutations, not a return to nature, peace, and harmony.

The lesson here is that the only way to defeat a mutation is to refuse to recreate it. Just as Katniss and Peeta do when they reject the ways of the Capitol and the Rebellion. Just as the mockingjay shows us that in the end, nature always wins, and good will always find a way to conquer evil.

For more fun times check out my archaeology podcast “The Struggling Archaeologist’s Guide to Getting Dirty” on iTunes and Stitcher!