The Hunger Games is the first book that makes up the famous trilogy written by Suzanne Collins. Katniss, the book’s main character, is a sixteen year old girl, who lives in Panem, a country divided in 13 different districts. Each year, a reaping is hold, where every district chooses one boy and one girl to participate to the games. The participants have to kill each other for their survival, and only one person can end up as a winner. Because of Katniss’ ingenuity and strategies, both tributes from her district were able to survive and get through this challenge. This world clearly relates to the reality television in our contemporary world and to the gladiator fights. This essay will analyse the different themes, which are used to convey symbols and messages, that arise throughout the novel.
Panem is the country were the Hunger Games is set and represents a dystopian United States as it is divided into thirteen districts under the power of the Capitol. As in America, which began with thirteen colonies ruled by a colonising country: England. Here, there is a very clear difference between the lives of the rich and the poor. In fact, all the richness is concentrated in the Capitol, the wealthiest district, or in other certain districts. Most people in the districts are sevearly underfed, creating discontent within the population, leading to rebellion. An example of this is when Katniss Everdeen hunts illegally in the forest past her district, to be able to bring her family some food: “The woods became our saviour (...) it was slow going at first, but I was determined to feed us. I stole eggs from nests, caught fish in nets, sometimes managed to shoot a squirrel or rabbit”. The sixteen year old, being one of the tributes, experien...
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...ar gold token that Katniss wears during the Games to represent her district, which was given to her by her younger sister Prim. It symbolizes a bird in flight, which is generally a symbol itself of freedom, but represents defiance in the novel, together with District 12, so, consequently her family and her community. Hope is what keeps us going no matter how the circumstances are. This is seen in Suzanne Collins book, as people in the districts live hoping that one of their relatives would not get chosen, and if this isn’t the case, hoping that the tribute survives to this terrific event.
In conclusion, the themes found in the Hunger Games all portray important symbols and messages that give the book a more interesting and effective outlook. Moreover, it is important to notice how this novel relates to our contemporary world, making it seem more realistic.
Suzanne Collins has, through her writings, used great imagery to expose the meaningful side of ‘The Hunger Games’, the side that is not all about what takes place in the arena. The Capitol’s rule over the districts, the reality-show part of the Hunger Games and the Mockingjay pin are all fragments of deeper meanings that create the basis of all that the story is. Suzanne Collins has depicted the country of Panem as a place overruled by a large city, known as the Capitol. The Hunger Games is apparently a means to keep peace and a fair punishment for the rebellion of the districts, where district 13 was obliterated in the mess. However, Collins has spun this interpretation around and unveiled a different perspective – that The Hunger Games is
Love and hope, together are a timeless literary thematic duo, which continue to inspire countless variations and sub-genres of romance literature. For the last many centuries, romance as a genre, is arguably the most popular of all narratives. However, the theme of love often takes presentences and overarches other thematic interpretation of stories. So why then are people seeking romance in the literature they ready? Suzanne Collins wrote The Hunger Games with the intent to introduce her young adult readership to a number of politically charged themes. Although Collins's work is acknowledged for successfully presenting themes of sacrifice, versions of reality, and power, her audience conversely identifies with the debatable sub-them of love. Social forums, such as the Official Hunger Games Facebook Website exposes an insider's perspective of sort, which reveals public perceptions and interpretations of Collins's work. Even though the purpose for the fan-website built around The Hunger games is to provide a discussion space. Participant's discussions however, unintentionally reveal a...
As human beings, we thrive to find the meaning of our existence and also the truth. In the books and movies, The Hunger Games trilogy, the very heroic character Katniss Everdeen is on a quest to find truth. As she peels back the layers of lies that swaddle her world, she finds truth within herself and everything around her. To reflect on the novels and films, we must look at the principles of axiology and also examine the plot, characters and how they react to each situation; for reflecting on “the girl on fire” we must study the grounds of epistemology with her own identity. The whole story starts off with the day of the reaping when Prim, Katniss’ sister is selected to enter the Hunger Games, a game created by the government at the time to keep the society scared. One boy and one girl between the ages of 12 and 18 from each district are selected by an annual lottery to participate in the Hunger Games, an event in which the participants must fight to the death in an outdoor arena controlled by the Capitol, until only one individual remains.
The 2nd theme I have chosen is resilience- resilience is when someone is able to bounce back after having something terrible happen to them or someone close to them. Resilience is important because without it all the tributes would be too scared to fight again after killing another tribute or when the other tribute from your district is killed (because it is hard to see someone you knew die). When in the hunger games it is a quality you desperately need to have. Katniss shows
The next theme is about the competition. The Hunger Games are very different from what we think of games to the Capitol and the whole of Panem. T...
It has often been said that there is nothing new under the sun. In this vein, authors across all literary genres often borrow themes and plot from the stories of long ago. Many of those authors choose to borrow from the rich mythology of the ancient Greeks. Suzanne Collins has been asked on numerous occasions where the idea for The Hunger Games originated. She readily admits that the characters and plot come from Greek mythology and more specifically, from Theseus and the Minotaur (Margolis 30). One familiar with both both stories can easily recognize the identical framework upon which each of these stories are built. Both Theseus and Katniss Everdeen, Collins’ heroine, volunteer to go into battle for their respective homelands, they both fight beasts of strange origin, and they are both brave in battle and emerge victorious, but it is the uniqueness of the characters that makes each story appropriate for the time period and audience to which it belongs. Collins modernizes the classic hero of Theseus by changing his gender, his motivations and altering his selfish personality, and by doing these things she creates a heroine that better resonates with today's audience of young adults.
When looking at the facts, it is evident that novel is widely immersed in a dystopian society that bonds references to Greek and Roman mythology and the deeper meaning to the characters. Suzanne Collins utilized symbols to show how The Hunger Games is more than a novel about child war, but more as an overview as to the possibilities of a world that depends on the decisions we make as a society.
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.
"There is no week nor day nor hour when tyranny may not enter upon this country, if the people lose their roughness and spirit of defiance" (Walt Whitman). In the novel The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, Katniss is a young girl from District 12, who lives in a society which finds great entertainment in the organized killing of children. These bloodbaths are constructed by the Capitol into an event known as the Hunger Games. In the Hunger Games, kids are thrown into a huge arena and forced to fight to the death. Katniss`s younger sister Prim is chosen to participate in the Hunger Games but Katniss volunteers to take her place as tribute. Over the course of the Hunger Games and the events that proceed it, Katniss changes from being impulsive and feeling impotent into a rational revolutionist, who quietly defies the capitol and takes a stand for what is right.
Entertainment can come and be enjoyed in many different forms. Television shows and movies are some of the different forms of entertainment can be in. The lives of famous actors from shows or movies are constantly scrutinized on and off screen. Within the world of The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins a version of reality entertainment is the televised murder of innocent children. Those who are chosen to be within the Hunger Games become a scrutinized celebrity. Katniss and other tributes that are forced to fight and kill show how human identity can become lost as they become objectified for the people of Panem. The Hunger Games helps represent the harm that reality television can have by using the glorification of death with the objectification
With a massive marketing campaign, it’s no wonder The Hunger Games quickly became a world-wide sensation. But, I believe its popularity isn’t due to marketing alone. In The Hunger Games we find important, if overly-dramatic, depictions of social conditions that weigh on the minds of young people today: an uneven distribution of wealth leading to massive and ever-growing class stratification; power in the hands of a few elite members; social control through widespread propaganda; and fierce competition among social classes for resources. Films like The Hunger Games are helpful for young people by teaching them a new way to see the world, through the lens of social theories such as Karl Marx’s Conflict Theory.
The Hunger Games is not simply a thrilling film that has gained the interest of people both young and old. It is a warning for the people of this nation to stop and examine the world in which they live and the social norms, rituals, and the economic and political system in which they participate. Greed and power have for too long driven and dictated the way in which Americans live their lives. If we are not careful, there is a possibility our society could end up the way that the futuristic society in The Hunger Games ended up. This movie is tale of caution that must be heeded.
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.
Thus, it is with these three key points that the government of Panem has been able to keep the Games going on for so long, without the system collapsing in on itself. Furthermore, The Hunger Games also shows us just what we as a species could become with the right about of social influence and conditioning by an authoritarian force. The peoples of the Capitol and Districts have been taught and conditioned for decades to accept the Hunger Games, especially so in the case of the Capitol, where its citizens applaud and enjoy the Hunger Games, much like many Romans enjoyed the Colosseum in ancient times. It is a rather frightening, but realistic, look at what any of us could become with the right social influences and conditioning.
The Hunger Games is an astonishing reading experience that propels the reader to feel the emotions expressed by the characters throughout the novel. These emotions were expertly developed by Suzanne Collins to create an atmosphere of compassion and understanding. Katniss Everdeen was affected by turning points which caused great adversity, demonstrated her resilience and also discipline as a human being. While others would’ve backed down and gave up, Katniss persevered to accomplish her goals no matter the situation. Volunteering as tribute, losing her sister-like friend Rue and threatening her own life for the benefit of all the districts are all examples of turning points. In life we are all faced with points where everything changes, these