Handmaid's Tale Vs The Hunger Games Analysis

ISU

Compare and Contrast Essay

The Handmaid’s Tale vs. The Hunger Games

ENG 4U0

Ms. Woloshin

Salma Desai

A dystopian text often consists of a society that is based on a utopian ideal of a “perfect” society. Despite being a fictitious setting, the more realistic a dystopian text seems, the more disturbing it is for the audience. The novel The Handmaid’s Tale, written by Margaret Atwood, takes place in the Republic of Gilead that was formerly the state of Massachusetts. Massachusetts has been reformed to a place where puritan traditions and beliefs are the only customs allowed. Gilead and its totalitarian government oppress women to the extent where rape is a norm in their society. The novel The Hunger Games, written by Suzanne Collins, is about a contest held in the country of Panem, where twelve teenagers are forced to fight one another until only one survives the battle. The people of Panem are mandated in watching this contest, as a reminder of the previous uprising that was stopped by their totalitarian government called the Capitol. Atwood depicts Gilead in a way where it is almost possible for the society in Gilead to

exist in the 21st century, which is what makes The Handmaid’s Tale a dystopian novel that is more disturbing than The Hunger Games. Dystopian depiction is fictitious, and it discusses features from reality but it does not depict present-day society in general. Dystopian stories take place in the future but they can be related to events that have happened in the past, and/or events that are predicted to occur in the future. There are several dystopian elements found throughout both novels. This essay will compare and contrast three specific dystopian elements; a controlling government that takes over every aspect of peoples’ lives, religion being used to manipulate information, and the plot being unresolved. These dystopian elements will make it transparent as to which novel is more disturbing.
In present-day society, the state of the government is often known to take into account the well being of its citizens.

In a dystopian society, this totalitarian state is a dictatorship, mandating everyone under its ruling to obey them, and making selfish decisions that disregard the freedom and/or happiness of any of their citizens. In The Handmaid’s Tale, the government allows little to no room for anyone to rebel. The rebellion seen in this novel is so minimal that in present-day it would not be considered a major act of rebellion. The government in The Handmaid’s Tale is so controlling that they have given the Handmaids assigned phrases and/or responses for conversing. For example, when Offred meets Ofglen for the first time, their conversation is very passive, and they use all the right

phrases.

“The war is going well, I hear,” Ofglen says.
“Praise be,” I reply,
“We’ve been sent good weather.”
“Which I receive with joy” (Atwood, 25).

Handmaids are not allowed to lead a private conversation and express their thoughts. This is the only time of day where Offred is in contact with someone else besides those she lives with, yet she is not able to take advantage of the presence of another. This is because the Handmaids, specifically, are always being watched; the presence of the government is everywhere. This enforces the power and control that the government in Gilead holds over its citizens. In the country of Panem, Katniss has more freedom than Offred and does not realize this herself. Although districts separate the citizens of Panem, Katniss is still able to live with her family. She has the freedom of being with her family, unlike Offred who has been separated from her husband and daughter. The Capitol is not as cruel as the government in Gilead, as it does not break up families, nor strip its citizens of their identities, embarking new ones. After Katniss volunteers, in place of her sister Prim, as tribute for the Hunger Games, she feels lonely in the arena. She has to stay away from her family because of this contest, and it is when she is in the arena with Rue that she realizes what loneliness feels like.

“I realize, for the first time, how very lonely I've been in the arena. How comforting the presence of another human being can be” (Collins, 1).

It is apparent that Katniss did not realize the value or appreciate being able to live with her family, and having the freedom to interact with others. In Panem, being free to associate with others, especially your family, is not considered a freedom because it is a given. This is one of the many ways on how the government in Gilead is more controlling and powerful than the Capitol, making The Handmaid’s Tale a novel that is more disturbing.
One may argue that being able to go out during the day to shop is a way for the government in Gilead to give some freedom to the Handmaids. However, even this short walk Offred is able to take, cannot be indulged on. The thought that this walk is a source of freedom for the Handmaids is a mere illusion, as Offred says:

““A rat in a maze is free to go anywhere, as long as it stays inside the maze” (Atwood, 165).

This symbolism forces the reader to take a look at what freedom truly is. A rat is being compared to the Handmaids in the sense that they both think they are free because they are allowed to move around freely, but in reality they are trapped. Both rats and the Handmaids are unaware of being in a maze, and therefore consider themselves to have freedom. The Handmaids are free to walk around within the town, visiting the church or observing the salvaging, so long as they stay within the boundaries. The Republic of Gilead is a “maze,” carefully structured by the government to manipulate the Handmaids into thinking they are experiencing freedom. Many of the Handmaids, like rats, are oblivious to what is going on. They are not aware of the manipulation and control that the government holds over them.
In The Hunger Games, the control that the government has over the districts is less complete, and seems less intimidating for the characters. There is a stronger sense of rebellion present within Katniss, than there is in Offred. There are many gaps and loopholes found throughout and within district 12 that allow Katniss to do as she pleases. Katniss and Gale often jump a fence into restricted territory to hunt animals. They are easily able to escape district 12, and Gale suggests just that:

“We could do it, you know."
"What?"
"Leave the district. Run off. Live in the woods. You and I, we could make it” (Collins, 11).

If the Capitol is as controlling as Collins set it out to be, it would not be as easy for Katniss and Gale to escape. The fact that at any moment they are able to jump a fence and leave makes the novel in its entirety less disturbing. It forces the reader to think why they would not escape if the Capitol is so unaware.
In a dystopian text, there are many rules and regulations that seem out of the ordinary. In order to justify its actions, the government in any dystopian society resorts to religion or some sort of doctrine. They use a type of doctrine as a means of justification and in doing so, are manipulating their people. Religion is of extreme importance in The Handmaid’s Tale, as the entire city is based off what is written in The Bible. The Handmaids are supposed to be bear children for their commanders, and in a sense are being raped every time they have to perform sexual intercourse. This makes rape a norm in the Republic of Gilead, and to justify this cruelty, they use The Bible. To justify rape, Offred says that the government uses the reference to Genesis 30:1-3 (Epigraph), where Rachel says:

“Give me children or else I die” (Atwood, 18-20).

This is a very famous line from the Bible, which is almost imprinted in the minds of the Handmaids. When Rachel noticed that she was not able to have Jacob’s children, she was devastated. After demanding Jacob for children, at any cost, she says, “Here is my maid Bilhah; go in to her, that she may bear upon my knees, and even I may have children through her.” (Genesis 30:1-3) The idea from the Bible that focuses on allowing a maid, or a Handmaid, to bear children for another woman is the fundamental idea behind the Republic of Gilead. Rachel is not able to conceive children, and therefore turns to her maid for assistance. This act in the Bible is the most important piece of religious information that Gilead uses to justify what the Handmaids are required to do. This excerpt from the Bible allows Gilead to continue on with building a society where rape is a norm. By relying on religious context to justify some of the rules and regulations set in Gilead, the government is giving the roles that the citizens play, a biblical significance. Being significant in any way is something that the Handmaids yearn to feel, and so the justification through the Bible is very compelling.
It is apparent that religion plays a huge role in The Handmaid’s Tale, whereas it is the complete opposite in the country of Panem. On the surface, Panem appears void of religion or any sort of doctrine. There are no churches or religious institutions for that matter. It is as if they have perhaps outgrown religion. Without a religious context to fall back on, there is no convincing way for the Capitol to justify its actions. Without this manipulation, can The Hunger Games truly be considered a dystopian novel? Rather than a religious journey, Katniss goes through a spiritual one. She does not know of religion and is confused about what sort of spiritual journey she is facing, as she says:

“My spirit. This is a new thought. I'm not sure exactly what it means, but it suggests I'm a fighter. In a sort of brave way. It's not as if I'm never friendly. Okay, maybe I don't go around loving everybody I meet, maybe my smiles are hard to come by, but I do care for some people” (Collins, 9).

Katniss is not familiar with believing in any sort of doctrine, and so talking about her spirit is a confusing subject for her. Through following no religion and having no beliefs, one can infer that Katniss does not believe in an after-life. She does not think that anything beyond the life she lives exists, and in her mind there is no heaven or hell. This makes it easier for the people of Panem to live, knowing that they will not be facing consequences after they die for possible bad deeds they have committed. Consequently, the novel is not as disturbing when you imagine being in Katniss’ shoes. The only thing she has to fear is the life she is living, and knows that once that life is over, there is no torture waiting for her beyond it.
Throughout the novel, Offred mentions how the government in Gilead finds multiple passages in the Bible to justify rape being a norm in their society. Religion being heavily involved is disturbing, as the government is manipulating the Handmaids into believing that they are performing a good deed. The Handmaids are pressured into bearing children, and it is almost programmed into their minds that this is a must, that not being able to bear children feels like a sin. The citizens of Gilead are forced to praise the Bible and in doing so, believe in heaven and hell. This makes The Handmaid’s Tale a more disturbing novel than The Hunger Games because Offred fears for what may happen in her after-life and therefore performs her duties as a Handmaid.

“'Blessed be the fruit,' she says to me, the accepted greeting among us" (Atwood, 19).

This is an allusion to a section of the Bible, called Deuteronomy: 4. The line in the Bible being alluded to is, “Blessed be the fruit of your womb, the produce of your soil and the offspring of your livestock, the issue of your herds and the young of your flocks!" The meaning behind this prayer is abundance of children. The Handmaids use this greeting as they are hoping to become impregnated by their Commanders, so that they will not become Unwomen and be forced to live in the colonies. This Biblical greeting shows the theocratic government of Gilead, where women are brainwashed into learning and obeying by Christian values.
In The Handmaid’s Tale, one must always make a prayer before a hardship, during one, and after one passes. This prayer is essentially supposed to provide whomever with hope. Despite the brutality of the Hunger Games contest, there are no prayers said. The famous saying that is always said before the battle is:

“May the odds be ever in your favour” (Collins, 30).

This famous line just goes to show that there is no presence of God in The Hunger Games. They do not hope, or wish, or praise someone for success. They take each event that occurs as it comes. If something does not go their way, there is no disappointment, as there was no expectation of anyone higher above helping them. Using ones beliefs against them is an act that is cruel and disturbing. If there are no beliefs to manipulate, there is less cruelty present.
At the end of a dystopian novel, there is often an unresolved plot when dealing with the protagonist. In both novels, Offred and Katniss are becoming more rebellious by the day. The reader anticipates some sort of freedom and/or empowering event to occur. However, in The Handmaid’s Tale, there is no definite buildup to the Mayday team that comes to rescue Offred. Freedom is not foreshadowed by the reader, whereas in The Hunger Games, it is a given. This unexpected event in The Handmaid’s Tale leaves the reader in shock. It is something that happens too soon, and out of nowhere, even for Offred as she says,

“Every night when I go to bed I think, In the morning I will wake up in my own house and things will be back the way they were.
It hasn’t happened this morning, either.” (Atwood).

Every morning that Offred wakes up in the same house, the same clothes, around the same people, she loses a bit of hope. Freedom seems to be so far out of reach that is seems almost impossible. Her life has become a routine, and she does not expect any miracles to happen. This everyday routine life is pure misery, and it is disturbing to think that Offred lives such a life with no hope or expectations.
The plot in The Hunger Games gives Katniss no choice but to win, as she is narrating throughout the game itself. It is also a sin to kill a Mockingjay, and that was the idea behind the third novel of this trilogy. After the great impact she had on the people of Panem, a revolution had to come. Once the initial Hunger Games contest was won, Katniss was trapped in a bigger game of overthrowing the Capitol. Along the way she got help from everyone who offered it, Haymitch, for example:

“Just the perfect touch of rebellion," says Haymitch "Very nice."
Rebellion?” (Collins, 74).

Haymitch was one of the first few people who inspired Katniss to truly be the girl on fire. She started to rebel and soon enough the Mockingjay was a symbol of strength and more importantly hope. The reader anticipated a defiance occurring and succeeding because of the many people supporting Katniss. She had the burden of winning the contest, and continuing on with her success for the people of district 12. The plot of this story ends with Katniss winning against the Capitol, something that can be predicted instantly. This novel does not leave the reader with an unresolved plot.
At the end of the novel, Offred was unexpectedly saved by her lover Nick and the Mayday team. The twist in plot was not expected, as there was no buildup. The reader, however, was anticipating some sort of breakthrough. On the other hand, Offred was utterly surprised, as she says,

“The van waits in the driveway, its double doors stand open. The two of them, one on either side now, take me by the elbows to help me in. Whether this is my end or a new beginning I have no way of knowing: I have given myself over into the hands of strangers, because it can’t be helped. And so I step up, into the darkness within; or else the light” (Atwood, 295).

The plot of the Handmaid’s tale is so much more realistic. The reader follows the hellish life of Offred until it goes off the map. The ending is far less tidy and unresolved, but compelling nevertheless. Offred was inching closer and closer to freedom, and for her to merely walk into a van and disappear leaves the reader anxious. Did she get her freedom? Was she captured? These are the questions running through the readers’ minds, as the plot of this storyline was definitely left unresolved. Not knowing and wondering what has happened to Offred is what makes The Handmaid’s Tale a disturbing dystopian novel.
Although Collins wrote a trilogy to The Hunger Games, it was evident what the outcome of the plot would be after the very first book. At the end of the contest, Katniss and Peeta were the only two left alive. Because they did. not want to kill one another, they decided to commit suicide together by eating poisonous berries. As it is about to happen, a million thoughts are running through Katniss’ head,

"It's too late to change my mind. I lift my hand to my mouth taking one last look at the world. The berries have just passed my lips when the trumpets begin to blare. The frantic voice of Claudius Templesmith shouts above them. "Stop! Stop! Ladies and gentlemen, I am pleased to present the victors of the 74th Hunger Games, Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark! I give you - the tributes of District 12!” (Collins, 134).

Katniss was the true winner of the Hunger Games as she thought of the brilliant idea that forced the Capitol to give in. This very moment shows the reader how powerful and brave Katniss is. It is an empowering moment that gives both the people of Panem and the reader hope. This moment is the first major step of overthrowing the government, which is obvious to the reader that it is going to occur. The plot of this story is so easily predicted that it is almost comforting for the reader to infer the outcome. The reader is not left with their imagination, wondering of possible outcomes. The plot in The Handmaid’s Tale gives the reader a cry of anguish, unlike Collins’ novel.
It is evident as to which dystopian novel is more disturbing after comparing and contrasting the three dystopian elements; a controlling government that takes over every aspect of peoples’ lives, religion being used to manipulate information, and the plot being unresolved. In The Handmaid’s Tale, Atwood portrays a more realistic society. Imagining rape being a norm in present-day is very disturbing, and with the depiction of Gilead in this novel, it is almost possible for the reader to imagine living in such a society. The Hunger Games, although a great novel, seemed to be very unrealistic and lacked dystopian elements when compared to The Handmaid’s Tale. The dystopian elements play a huge role in determining which novel can be deemed most disturbing, and after this essay, it is apparent that Atwood outdid herself when writing The Handmaid’s Tale.