Corruption In The Hunger Games By Katniss

A corrupt government leads to unfairness, creating a negative effect on society. Unethical decisions are made for private gain, benefiting an authority figure. In Suzanne Collins novel, The Hunger Games, authority is cruel and oppressive. Katniss feels obligated to engage in sparking the rebellion against authority for the essential well being of the citizens.

Katniss's father was rarely referred throughout the novel. However, his death caused by a mining explosion, profoundly affected her. Following his decease, Katniss adopted a stoic attitude to life so as to provide for her family giving her responsibility and maturity. While Katniss’s mother was unable to cope with the loss, she had taken on the role of her family’s head of household.

Filling her father’s shoes: hunting, foraging and preventing starvation “I was determined to feed us. I stole eggs from nests, caught fish from nets, sometimes managed to shoot a squirrel or rabbit for stew, and gathered various plants…I kept us alive”(5). Even though trespassing the woods is illegal and is breaking the law by going out and hunting for food, Katniss is determined to keep her family alive. She possesses determination which drives her to succeed despite all the hardships she faces, which is an aspect that helped her through the games. Katniss’s role as a provider not only originated within the context of her family, but in the arena as well. Her protective instincts also occurred with her ally from District 11, a young girl named Rue. They shared food, clothing, and fellowship. In addition, while her alliance with Rue was sadly short, once it was announced that both tributes from the same district will be declared winners if they are the last two alive, Katniss then acts as provider and protector of her co-tribute from District 12, Peeta Mellark. As the Games is near its climax, Katniss risks her life against the other tributes to bring Peeta the only medicine that can heal him from the edge of death “I’m at the table now, my fingers closing over the tiny orange backpack… I’m turning to fire again when the second knife catches me in the forehead. It slices above my right eyebrow, opening a gash that sends a gush running down my face, blinding my eye, filling my mouth with the sharp, metallic taste of my own blood… Clove slams into me, knocking me flat on my back, pinning my shoulders to the ground with her knees” (284).
The Capitol holds most of the country of Panem’s wealth, therefore, is able to control the people of all districts.

The country of Panem is split into twelve divisions of population. Each district surrounded by a fence that no one is allowed over “Separating the Meadow from the woods, in fact enclosing all of District 12, is a high chain-link fence topped with barbed-wire loops” (4). The citizens are divided amongst districts and different social class, it is then easier for the Capitol to manipulate and rule the people. Social isolation contributes to the lack of attitude of rebellion against injustice.

The Hunger Games consist of citizens of Panem who become nothing more than pawns in an elaborate game of life or death, suffering for the entertainment of the Capitol and a mandatory viewing for the people that is meant to enforce control over the districts and remind them that the Capitol will have no mercy for those who disobey. The reaping can exploit children, you are eligible to be reaped at the age of twelve therefore, the reaping systematically harms innocent children. You can opt to add your name more times for the reaping, if you are in need of a tessera to support your family, as did

Katniss:
Each tessera is worth a year’s supply of grain and oil for one person. You may do this for each of your family members as well. So, at the age of twelve, I had my name entered four times. Once, because I had to, and three times for tesserae for grain and oil for myself, Prim, and my mother. In fact, every year I have needed to do this. And the entries are cumulative. So now, at the age of sixteen, my name will be in the reaping twenty times (13).
This is a unfair system of which the Capitol creates a consequence for providing food for survival.

It discriminates against the poorer citizens who need extra resources hence, make themselves more likely tributes compared to the higher districts “District Twelve. Where you can starve to death in safety” (6).

Katniss despises the government who rules the country, and all the cruelty and ignorance for which they stand. The games that are televised are the ultimate cruelty to the people as a constant reminder of a past failed rebellion. According to Katniss she feels the real message is clear “Look how we take your children and sacrifice them and there’s nothing you can do. If you lift a finger, we will destroy every last one of you. Just as we did in District 13” (19).

During The Hunger Games, many acts of defiance take place despite the Capitol’s authoritarian control over the people of Panem. Katniss and Gale illegally hunt which is an act of rebellion. Katniss is a hunter, and she feeds her family primarily with what she can catch or kill in the woods outside District 12 thus, they are violating the Capitol’s rules of trespassing beyond the fence that imprisons their District. This can also refer to the existence of the Hob, an active black market of District 12, a location to purchase and sell banned items, such as spirits, poached game, or other goods illegally

obtained.
The gesture of respect the residents of District 12 offer to Katniss when she volunteers as tribute, is similarly a form of defiance that contradicts the behaviour which Capitol seeks and expects “… So instead of acknowledging applause, I sand there unmoving while they take part in the boldest form of dissent they can manage. Silence. Which says we do not agree. We do not condone. All of this is wrong” (23-24). The people of District 12 create a protest of the Hunger Games which comes in the form of silence. They refuse to take part in a forced celebration of the event after Katniss sacrifices herself for her younger sister.
As a memorial of Rue's death, Katniss covered her body with flowers. This challenges the idea that Rue's death was entertainment for a viewing audience. She indicates that the young 12 year-old was not just a piece in their games but a human who made a great sacrifice in giving her life during the Games.
Toward the ending of the games it was announced that the earlier revision of both tributes from the same district may be crowned winners, was revoked. Katniss and Peeta defied the rules of the game, they knew that in order to keep their 'act' of love true, they either had to win together or die together. Katniss proposed the nightlock, a berry that is so toxic that it can kill anyone who eats it in a matter of seconds. "Without a victor, the whole thing would blow up in the Gamemakers' faces" (344). And so it did, this act of rebellion made Snow and the Capitol appear unstable.