Whats a Snowball in the Hunt?

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Key Takeaways:

  • In “The Hunt,” Snowball is a nickname for the character Crystal given by the villain Athena.
  • It references the pig Snowball in George Orwell’s “Animal Farm” who is targeted for his revolutionary ideas.
  • Like the original Snowball, the nickname refers to someone whose fervent beliefs make them a target.
  • It connects to the film’s themes about belief systems and considering other viewpoints.
  • The name Snowball highlights Crystal’s refusal to compromise her principles.

Introduction

The 2020 satirical thriller film “The Hunt” sparked controversy even before its release. Originally titled “Red State vs. Blue State,” the movie depicts privileged vacationers hunting down and killing “deplorables” from rural America for sport. While the violent premise itself caused an uproar, the movie explores deeper themes related to prejudice, politics, ethics, and communication failures across divides.

Within this complex narrative, the curiously eccentric nickname “Snowball” stands out. In the story, Snowball refers to the character Crystal, who the villainous Athena chooses to hunt. This article will comprehensively analyze the meaning and significance of calling Crystal “Snowball” in “The Hunt.” It will evaluate how the nickname connects to symbolic references, Crystal’s personality, the film’s social commentary, and the evolution of the character.

Understanding the context around Snowball provides valuable insights into “The Hunt” and its underlying messages about conviction, understanding, and the dangers of extremism. For those who have seen the controversial movie or anyone interested in analyzing its social, political, and psychological themes, this article delivers an in-depth examination of the peculiar moniker. Read on to uncover the layers of meaning and commentary contained within this simple nickname.

The Origins of “Snowball” as a Nickname in “The Hunt”

The first step in demystifying Snowball is tracing how and why the name emerges within the story. Athena, the wealthy leader of the hunters, initially chooses Crystal as a “worthy” target. Right before releasing Crystal to be hunted, Athena dubs her Snowball, referencing the pig character from George Orwell’s iconic novella “Animal Farm.”

This immediate connection to Snowball in “Animal Farm” provides the first key to unlocking the significance of the nickname. In Orwell’s story, Snowball is one of the lead pigs organizing an animal uprising to seize control of the farm from humans. He competes with Napoleon for power over the fledgling animal society. Snowball frequents committee meetings, gives passionate speeches, and comes up with progressive plans to improve life for all animals. However, his ideological zeal ultimately puts him at odds with Napoleon. Snowball’s political activities and revolutionary ideas make him a target for Napoleon’s aggression.

By naming Crystal “Snowball,” Athena means to categorize her as a rabble-rouser who deserves to be hunted down. The reference signals that Crystal’s identity and beliefs go against Athena’s ideals, just as Snowball’s principles represented a threat to Napoleon’s control in “Animal Farm.”

Connections Between Crystal and the Original Snowball

Beyond the surface-level allusion, there are deeper similarities between Crystal’s approach and the convictions of Orwell’s Snowball that give more nuance to the nickname.

Fervent Adherence to Belief System

In “The Hunt,” Crystal expresses vocal disapproval toward the wealthy elites organizing the hunts, boldly calling them out during a debate. Her steadfast principles against the hunt make her a “disruption” that Athena decides must be eliminated.

Likewise, the original Snowball in “Animal Farm” refused to waver in his beliefs about animal equality and rebellion against human control. He continued promoting his philosophies despite Napoleon’s growing threat. In both cases, the characters’ zealous adherence to their belief systems in defiance of the dominant group makes them targets.

Perceived Danger of Foreign Ideology

Additionally, Athena and her cohorts perceive Crystal’s ideological positions as dangerous because they differ from their own worldview. To them, Crystal’s perspective represents the same kind of threat that Snowball posed to Animal Farm.

Athena calls Crystal “Snowball” to symbolize a rabble-rouser spreading “dangerous” ideas that go against Athena’s beliefs. The nickname attempts to undermine Crystal’s credibility through association with the traitorous Snowball of the novella.

Unwillingness to Compromise Principles

Finally, neither Crystal nor Snowball demonstrate willingness to temper or moderate their positions to avoid conflict with the dominant power. Crystal vocally condemns Athena’s hunts. Snowball repeatedly ignores Napoleon’s warnings and continues rallying animals to the cause.

Their shared refusal to compromise their ideological convictions contributes to the perception that their beliefs pose a seditious threat to the existing social order.

How “Snowball” Highlights Themes in “The Hunt”

Analyzing the parallels between Crystal and Orwell’s Snowball reveals how the seemingly random nickname directly ties into the movie’s central themes.

Flaws in Communication Between Groups

At its core, “The Hunt” emphasizes failures in communication and understanding between social/political/economic groups. The wealthy elites completely misinterpret motives and dehumanize the working-class characters.

Crystal’s nickname highlights this by symbolizing how Athena projects her assumptions and fears onto Crystal without truly listening to or engaging with her perspective.

Dangers of Uncompromising Extremism

The original Snowball’s unwillingness to find common ground ultimately leads to his downfall. Similarly, Crystal’s refusal to temper her rhetoric makes her a target.

This parallels how absolutism and extremism on all sides prevents understanding. The themes suggest adopting even small compromises or efforts to understand opposing views could defuse escalating conflicts.

Misjudging Others’ Motivations

Snowball earns Napoleon’s aggression by misjudging Napoleon’s motives as aligned with his own vision. Likewise, Athena misreads Crystal’s principles as making her a danger to society.

The nickname symbolizes assumptions and misperceptions characters harbor about each other in the absence of real communication, leading to mistreatment.

Evolution of Crystal’s “Snowball” Role

While the Snowball moniker initially represents Crystal’s uncompromising beliefs, her character evolves over the course of the movie in alignment with the themes.

Early “Snowball” Position

In early scenes, Crystal’s steadfast condemnation of the hunts and refusal to find common ground peg her as a “Snowball” rabble-rouser flouting the established order. Her vocal challenges to Athena position her as a direct threat to Athena’s authority.

Forced to Reconsider Beliefs

However, the tables turn when Crystal becomes the hunted. She realizes the hunters are not the evil villains she assumed but themselves facing struggles. Her experience being hunted leads her to recognize nuances in their motivations.

Emerging Compromise

In the climax, Crystal refuses to kill Athena, instead trying to communicate. This shift represents moving past absolutes and opening space for understanding, compromise, and humanity. Her character arc suggests the dangers of fixating on a rigid belief system without empathy.

By the end, Crystal transcends being Athena’s persecuted “Snowball” to arrive at a more tempered, inclusive perspective. The evolution conveys the film’s themes about how communication, empathy, and compromise provide paths to overcome extremism and divisions.

Conclusion

In “The Hunt,” the seemingly puzzling nickname “Snowball” given to Crystal helps unify the complex social commentary provided in the controversial satirical film. Tracing Snowball to its origin in “Animal Farm” illuminates how the name characterizes Crystal as a dangerous ideological threat in the eyes of the elite hunters. Analyzing the parallels between Crystal and Orwell’s Snowball reveals the nickname’s ties to the film’s themes regarding communication failures, dangers of uncompromising extremism, and misjudgments of opposing groups. Additionally, Crystal’s evolution over the course of the movie allows her to move past the fixed “Snowball” position to reach understanding.

Examining the deeper symbolic meaning and role of “Snowball” provides valuable insights into the messages and character arcs within “The Hunt.” The process reveals how even small details contain layers of significance in sophisticated narratives. Rather than taking names or references at face value, analyzing them in context allows us to unlock deeper ideas and appreciate the intricacies of storytelling.

Frequently Asked Questions about “Snowball” in “The Hunt”

What does the name Snowball symbolize in “The Hunt”?

In “The Hunt,” the nickname Snowball symbolizes Crystal’s ideological beliefs that go against the principles of the elite hunting group. It associates her with the original Snowball from “Animal Farm” as a rabble-rouser spreading “dangerous” ideas that oppose the dominant order.

Why does Athena call Crystal “Snowball”?

Athena calls Crystal “Snowball” to categorize her as a threat to Athena’s authority and principles. It references how Snowball in “Animal Farm” was perceived as a dangerous revolutionary by Napoleon due to his uncompromising ideals. Athena sees Crystal’s vocal condemnation of the hunt as a disruptive challenge to Athena’s authority that must be quelled.

How is Crystal similar to Snowball from “Animal Farm”?

Like Snowball, Crystal vocally promotes an ideology that opposes the beliefs of the dominant group in power. Neither Crystal nor Snowball show willingness to compromise on their principles and are targeted as threats. Both are perceived as “dangerous” for steadfastly adhering to their belief systems against the prevailing order.

How does Crystal’s character evolve regarding the “Snowball” nickname?

Early on, Crystal’s refusal to compromise her condemnation of the hunts fits her in the fixed “Snowball” role. However, experiences that force perspective shifts allow Crystal to develop more empathy and openness. By the end, she abandons rigid absolutism to understand hunters’ struggles, transcending the “Snowball” label.

What themes does the Snowball nickname tie into?

The Snowball nickname highlights themes in “The Hunt” related to lack of communication between groups, dangers of extremism, and misjudging others’ motives. It symbolizes Athena’s failure to genuinely listen to Crystal’s viewpoint and tendency to project assumptions onto her.

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