Depiction of Totalitarian Regime in Suzanne Collins' "The Hunger Games"

Introduction

Suzanne Collins' The Hunger Games is a political novel that draws attention to the consequences of a totalitarian regime. It depicts the struggles of young adult Katniss Everdeen, who lives in a disadvantaged province, or 'District', and her journey as an advocate of freedom and equality. A series of unfortunate conditions force her to play in the Hunger Games, a contest where children between the ages of 12 and 18 are compelled to fight to the death. This tournament, established by a totalitarian government, is maintained through forced legislation on the disobedient Districts. The novel conveys a variety of messages, particularly relating to power and politics. The Hunger Games provides readers with a realistic insight into the consequences of power and political control on the social conditions of people and the extent to which conditioning and fear can drive individuals to live unethical lives.

Background of the Hunger Games

The Games came into existence when the country of Panem was shaken by a civil war. Twelve oppressed Districts rose against a tyrannical Capitol, resulting in the Capitol's triumph. Due to the defiance of its outer territories, the administration of Panem declared the creation of the Hunger Games, where each District would send one young man and one young woman between the ages of twelve and eighteen to battle to the death until only one victor emerged. This victor would then be 'showered with glory' by the Capitol, intending to demonstrate the leniency and benevolence of their government, despite their truly monstrous nature. The rationale behind the Games and the overall punishment of the Districts through the Games is well explained by President Snow, the leader of Panem and the novel's primary antagonist.

“Seneca, why do you think we have a winner? I mean, if we just wanted to intimidate the Districts, why not just round up twenty-four of their citizens at random and execute them all at once? The reason why is hope. Hope is the only thing stronger than fear. A little hope is effective...a lot of hope is dangerous. A spark is fine, so long as it is contained” (Collins, 2008).

The Role of Hope and Control

With this statement, President Snow unveils the government's overarching strategy, using the Hunger Games to keep the Districts in check. They use the Games to punish the Districts and make them fall in line while simultaneously providing the people in the Districts with a false sense of hope. Since the Games have a champion, each District holds the faint hope that someone they send might win, thereby investing themselves in the Games and giving them a reason to care about who wins and who loses. If a District has a victor, that champion and the District are given the possibility of rewards and opportunities for advancements and changes. The victor of the Hunger Games becomes an overnight celebrity and can use their power to improve the conditions of their District if they so choose. By giving the Districts this hope, a hope of reward or a better chance, the government of Panem can maintain control over the rebellious Districts with minimal conflict—an ingenious, albeit sinister, combination of punishment and reward.

Influence on Districts 1 and 2

However, the Capitol hasn't stopped there in its efforts to subjugate the Districts through the Games. According to Haymitch, Districts 1 and 2 of Panem are so invested in the Games that they exclusively train children and adolescents to compete in the Hunger Games; these individuals are often called 'Careerists'. In Districts 1 and 2, the Capitol has indoctrinated and conditioned these inhabitants to accept the Hunger Games. In fact, they've gone so far as to have the Games deeply ingrained in the attitudes of these residents, establishing an entire academy to train young people, giving them an edge for victory while withholding a true perspective of the Games. From the characters we see from these Districts, especially Cato, it is evident that conditioning and indoctrination in Districts 1 and 2 have succeeded without a doubt. The inhabitants from these Districts are ruthless and cunning, with the Games ingrained in their social worldview. This is demonstrated when the particular inhabitants of these Districts are shown to brutally kill a young girl without remorse.

The Capitol's Desensitization

The effective use of forced obedience and propaganda over the decades has led the Capitol to become the epitome of extreme wealth and desensitization to human suffering. Readers are shown countless times that the citizens of the Capitol are highly supportive of the Games, treating them as if they were a legitimate sport. Virtually all Capitol citizens support the Games, as seen by the crowds that came to greet the characters Peeta and Katniss when they arrived in the Capitol. Every year that the Hunger Games are held, Capitol citizens go into a frenzy, making bets on certain contestants and watching social media, such as the Caesar Flickerman Talkshow, which expounds on that year's Game. Some Capitol citizens even become Sponsors, using their wealth to give contestants in the Hunger Games certain gifts, like medicine, food, and utilities to help them survive the Games.

Conclusion

This final touch to their overall plan with the Hunger Games has thus secured the government of Panem's ultimate control over its citizenry. Even if the Districts detest the Hunger Games, the people in the Capitol, or the base of the Panem government, are delighted by it, tuning in to watch it with great enthusiasm every year. With such strong supporters who view the Games as punishment for the rebellious Districts, the Panem government has managed to keep the Games running for decades, all the way to the 74th Annual Hunger Games that this novel is set in.

References

• Collins, S. (2008). The Hunger Games. Scholastic Press.