imo the thesis of Ballad of Songbirds is that once you start being able to dehumanize people and see yourself above others, it becomes increasingly easy to justify and do horrible things. it’s about how, slowly, all the choices you make end up making you the person you are.

(spoilers maybe?)

i think what’s so *interesting* about the book, and why i think it’s so important, is that it subverts the whole IDEA of the villain origin. snow is a protagonist and he *sees* himself, always, as the protagonist. his actions, from his pov, are righteous ones.

i cant help but think about our own political space rn and how this is reflected in politicians who can support atrocities and voters who support those leaders.

dehumanization shows itself in small ways at first, but it builds as people get away with it. and the book imo is a warning and a reminder that you have to be ACTIVE in fighting back those beliefs. you can’t enable them to grow like so many enabled snow.