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Critical evaluation of ethical relativism
The role of ethics in society
Critical evaluation of ethical relativism
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In a nation where children and teenagers fight each other to the death for live entertainment annually, what social norms can actually be considered ethical? This is the question that Katniss Everdeen faces throughout The Hunger Games series. She must choose between doing what is right, and what is accepted, because in her world, the wrong thing is breaking the rules, no matter how wrong they may be. The rules that she deals with are much different than the ethical principles that people in the real world deal with, but for Katniss and the rest of the districts in Panem, these rules are what they have known their entire lives. Catching Fire is the second installment in The Hunger Games trilogy, based on the books written by Suzanne Collins, …show more content…
Because of this, ethical relativism is the most prominent moral code in the series. The nation of Panem has no universal moral truth, instead they have their own set of rules that are valid, and murder is accepted as one of those rules. These guidelines have been put in place by The Capitol, and everyone is expected to follow them, no matter how messed up they may seem and any disagreements to these rules are unacceptable. As Rosenstand (2013) notes, moral disagreements with ethical relativism can rarely be resolved within a culture or society (p. 122). This leads to Katniss’s ethical dilemma in Catching Fire. Should she play the game how The Capitol wants her to, or rebel and cause an …show more content…
Ever since her act of defiance in her first games, the leaders in The Capitol have been outraged with her. She made the conscious decision to disobey the rules. Her and Peeta would have rather killed themselves than be forced to kill one another like the game’s rules were set up, so the head game maker let them both live. The Capitol, and many people in the districts saw this act as defiance, which no one in Panem is allowed to do. But for Katniss, it was the most moral action in a world where morality is questionable. If she decides to play the game how she is supposed to, then she knows she has to die in the arena. At first, Katniss accepts this fate, as long as Peeta is the one to survive. She also knows that if she does not follow through with this plan, her family, friends, and everyone she cares about could potentially be murdered as a result of her actions. If she decides to play the game how it is supposed to go, Katniss can make The Capitol happy and end any potential threats that can lead to an uprising. She knows that his option is probably her best choice because she can protect the ones she loves. She would rather sacrifice herself for the lives of many other people than save herself. In this option, Katniss is choosing the most Utilitarian action to take. With her death, she thinks that peace will be the outcome, and
In both books they share some traits, even though they may not look anything alike they are. both of these novels are dystopian novels and many characters share similarity’s.
The book The Hunger Games is full of critical scenes. A critical scene is a type of scene that is necessary for the book to have a story. One very important critical scene is when Prim was chosen at the reaping. When she was chosen Katniss decided to take her place as a tribute. Why did Katniss take her place? What could have happened if she didn't take her place?
This part of the journey begins when Rue dies. Katniss tried to save her and failed. She shares her struggle when she shares, "Rue's death has forced me to confront my own fury against the cruelty, the injustice they inflict upon us. But here, even more strongly than at home, I feel my impotence. “There's no way to take revenge on the Capitol. Is there?” (Collins 1364). This part of the journey continues when she finds Peeta inured. Katniss constantly risks her life to get resources to help bring Peeta back to health. Katniss is willing to go through all of this trouble because Peeta is her friend and she knows that his survival is crucial to her winning the games, and returning to her district. Protecting
The Hunger Games are basically the embodiment of society's off sense of entertainment. It combines the oddities that are violence and reality TV. However, what is it that insinuates the tones for this type of movie? Initially, there's a scene that addresses the fact that the society of this movie is conducting the games as though it was a standardized athletic tournament. In the movie, Haymitch Abernathy brings up how there are sponsors who deliver supplies to the “contestants”. Basically, sponsors influence the who will live or die, incidentally affecting the course of the games. During this scene, he claims, “And to get sponsors, you have to make people like you.” This scene mentions the thought on how people living in societies today work
Yamato, Jen. Burning Questions.“The Hunger Games and Real World Parallels: “Can kids all become Katniss Everdeen”. Movie Line. March 13, 2012. Web. May 04, 2012
The hero’s journey is a useful tool in analyzing narratives of all kinds, from myths to movies to everyday life. One of the most iconic stages in the Hero’s Journey is the ordeal, otherwise known as the belly of the whale or the cave, in which the protagonist has reached their darkest and most hopeless point – things cannot get worse. Once the hero gets through the main ordeal, their journey home is much more sedated. This can be paralleled to the encompassing plot structure, in which there is a climax, and then the intensity of the story winds down again. This stage is one of the most universal in the hero’s journey, because without conflict and climax, there is no drive or reward within the story. Popular movies such as The Hunger Games,
In a not-too-distant, some 74 years, into the future the United States of America has collapsed, weakened by drought, fire, famine, and war, to be replaced by Panem, a country divided into the Capitol and 13 districts. Each year, two young representatives from each district are selected by lottery to participate in The Hunger Games; these children are referred to as tributes (Collins, 2008). The Games are meant to be viewed as entertainment, but every citizen knows their purpose, as brutal intimidation of the subjugated districts. The televised games are broadcasted throughout Panem as the 24 participants are forced to eradicate their competitors, literally, with all citizens required to watch. The main character throughout the series is a 16-year-old girl from District 12 named Katniss Everdeen.
The movie The Hunger Games, originally based on a book by Suzanne Collins, is about a place called Panem, which is ruled by the Capitol and has 12 districts within it. These 12 districts are separated founded on their economic statuses, meaning the higher the district, the more impoverished the residents are. There are 2 tributes that are chosen to participate, forcibly, in The Hunger Games each year. Each competitor is instructed to eliminate one another in order to survive and come out on top. There is only one tribute allowed to come out of the arena alive. Katniss lives in District 12, which is the most impoverished district of them all, and she volunteers as tribute in “the Reaping” when her sister is chosen to participate. She and the other tribute from her district, Peeta, make it into the arena with the hopes that one of them comes out the winner and above all else, alive (Ross, 2012). I will refrain from going any further just in case you have not read the book or have not seen the movie. In terms of soci...
The Hunger Games and our society today are similar and yet different in many ways as it’s stated. Katniss and Peeta would be considered normal by today’s terms and behaviors. In the movie, they seem very different than our society acts today just because they have to participate in a killing event at the young age of 16. That’s normally a freshman in high school. Most freshmen are not ready for that gore or violence yet, and would not do well if they were installed in the movie. Overall, the movie really entertained me but I do not think our society and their society are alike in many ways.
The movie “The Hunger Games” has many similarities and relations to World Mythology. While it may not seem like this movie is as myth related as others, such as Troy and Thor, many of the themes and situations in the movie were inspired by the stories of the great myths and epics. The overall theme of the movie is courage, strength, and destiny.
But in this movie, a person in charge picks a girl and a boy between the ages of twelve and eighteen out of a lottery from each district to represent their district and fight to death. The children, who are chosen, are trained for a week and then sent to and outdoor arena. In the movie, the capitol shows a video explaining the tradition, the rules of the game and how it must be followed no matter what. The characters in this movie have to orient themselves in order to stay safe from the capitol; they also need to follow all the rules provided in order to live. In the story, Prim Everdeen was chosen as of the children to represent the district but her sister Katniss Everdeen volunteered instead to save her sister. After the children are chosen, they are placed in an arena that is controlled by the people who invented the game with advanced technology. The game is being broadcasted all over the world as a reality show, showing the kids of each district killing each other and how they live. The children were almost treated like animals, they were out in a forest setting that is made with the technology, and having to survive off the environment they were given. They were rewarded with food or survival kit each time they kill each other. This portrays exploiting their tradition as entertainment and not seeing the cruelty of
When Gary Ross’ 2012 adaptation of Suzanne Collins’ famous novel ‘The Hunger Games’ exploded on screens, it was received as an action-packed, thrilling story of survival, determination and over-coming corruption. Audience’s watched in equal parts awe and horror as Katniss was thrust into Panem’s battle arena and fought for justice, family and friendship. However, if we as an audience think more critically about the film; if we think beyond the wild costumes, gripping action and skilful performances, we can see that the story explores complex philosophical ideas that strongly relate to the experiences of humanity in the real world.
The novel Anthem by Ayn Rand and the movie The Hunger Games directed by Francis Lawrence and Gary Ross are popular among teens because they can relate to them by the high expectations put upon them. In a dystopian novel or movie, there is a dystopian protagonist. A dystopian protagonist is someone who often feels trapped, struggles to escape, questions existing systems, believes or feels as if something is wrong in the place they live in, and then helps the audience realize the effects of dystopian worlds. These are both good examples because it takes us on a walk through the protagonist's life and only then do we see what dystopian really is.
Dystopia is a term that defines a corrupt government that projects a false image. Thus, in a dystopian society, making belief and comfort that the society is proper to its followers. One good example of dystopian society is the Hunger Games. The terms that describe that dystopia towards the Hunger games are a “hierarchical society, fear of the outside world, penal system and a back story” (“Dystopia”).
The Hunger Games, a film based off of a novel written by Susan Collins, was released in March of 2012. The film, and the book it was based on, chronicles the struggles of a girl named Katniss Everdeen, a girl who lives in a poverty stricken province or “District”, until untimely circumstances forces her to play in the Hunger Games, a gladiatorial like contest where children between the ages of 12 and 18 are forced to fight to the death. A contest that was set up by an oppressive and authoritarian government, and has thus far been sustained via the forced obedience of the rebellious Districts, the brainwashing and conditioning of Districts 1 and 2, and the conditioning of the residents of its Capitol. The movie has a variety of messages, most especially in regards toward social control and social conditioning. With these ideas in mind, a case could very well be made that The Hunger Games, throughout its two hour long run time, shows a very realistic look at a socially conditioned society and what humanity can become with the right amount of conditioning and control by an authoritarian force.