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In the novel The Hunger Games, Suzanne Collins produces a dystopia where adolescents compete in an arena to the death. At the surface, the novel may seem as simple science fiction literature; however there are many hidden messages in the novel that we can relate to our society. More specifically, at the viewpoint of a political scientist, the novel is seen more of a political statement than anything else. The explicit details that Collins gives about the government in the novel, “The Capitol”, shows the reader that the government has complete power. The analysis of the Capitol also shows that the government does not work for the people, but instead uses the people for self-benefit. Through the mind of the novel’s heroine, Katniss Everdeen, we see the beginnings of a rebellion. To many political scientists, the novel is a critique of our political system and a detailed, dramatic view of what awaits the United States of America.
In the Collins’ novel, the city of Panem is ruled by the Capitol. Panem consists of twelve slave districts that the Capitol rules. Each slave district specializes in a different product (i.e. fishing, agriculture, coal, etc.). They work on gathering these products and sending them to the Capitol. The majority of these districts are poor, and live in the worst of conditions. They fight to stay alive and receive day to day meals. Katniss would illegally hunt to keep her and her family from starving. On the other hand, the citizens of the Capitol live an elite life. They have access to the finest clothes, toys, gadgets, food and entertainment. They live off of the supplies produced by the districts, not worrying where they came from and trusting their government blindly. Through these details, the reader can conclude that the structure of Panem’s government resembles an oligarchy; the Capitol being the single group that runs the entire country, the twelve districts.
In the American system, the government is supposed to be working for its people. However, in Panem it is quite the opposite. The people work for the government. The Capitol works to better the lives of the elite, and forces the citizens of the districts to do so as well. The citizens have no freedom, and are only given attention once a year; when it is time for The Hunger Games. The districts have no rights; they have no say in government decisions, and are not exactly cared for by the government. “In the Hunger Games the government controls their lives and doesn’t allow freedom of speech.” (Teen Ink 25). As mentioned earlier, the Capitol prospers on the products produced by the districts. However, the districts do not get much for all their hard work, and are punished if they try to “steal” from the Capitol, “‘I’d have thought, in District Eleven, you’d have a bit more to eat than us. You know since you grow the food’…‘Oh, no, we’re not allowed to eat the crops’” (Collins 202).
We also learn that the citizens of the district cannot trust the Capitol. The Capitol has a tight hold on the districts. They have guards, peacemakers, in the districts constantly on watch, making sure all the citizens in the district abide by the rules and are doing all and only what is asked of them by the Capitol. And if the peacemakers were not enough, the Capitol has surveillance cameras, to keep watch on all its citizens, and electric fences at the borders of the districts, ensuring that the citizens have nowhere to go. And if one were to attempt an escape, the Capitol would know, and catch them before they got too far.
In the Collins’ novel, the city of Panem is ruled by the Capitol. Panem consists of twelve slave districts that the Capitol rules. Each slave district specializes in a different product (i.e. fishing, agriculture, coal, etc.). They work on gathering these products and sending them to the Capitol. The majority of these districts are poor, and live in the worst of conditions. They fight to stay alive and receive day to day meals. Katniss would illegally hunt to keep her and her family from starving. On the other hand, the citizens of the Capitol live an elite life. They have access to the finest clothes, toys, gadgets, food and entertainment. They live off of the supplies produced by the districts, not worrying where they came from and trusting their government blindly. Through these details, the reader can conclude that the structure of Panem’s government resembles an oligarchy; the Capitol being the single group that runs the entire country, the twelve districts.
In the American system, the government is supposed to be working for its people. However, in Panem it is quite the opposite. The people work for the government. The Capitol works to better the lives of the elite, and forces the citizens of the districts to do so as well. The citizens have no freedom, and are only given attention once a year; when it is time for The Hunger Games. The districts have no rights; they have no say in government decisions, and are not exactly cared for by the government. “In the Hunger Games the government controls their lives and doesn’t allow freedom of speech.” (Teen Ink 25). As mentioned earlier, the Capitol prospers on the products produced by the districts. However, the districts do not get much for all their hard work, and are punished if they try to “steal” from the Capitol, “‘I’d have thought, in District Eleven, you’d have a bit more to eat than us. You know since you grow the food’…‘Oh, no, we’re not allowed to eat the crops’” (Collins 202).
We also learn that the citizens of the district cannot trust the Capitol. The Capitol has a tight hold on the districts. They have guards, peacemakers, in the districts constantly on watch, making sure all the citizens in the district abide by the rules and are doing all and only what is asked of them by the Capitol. And if the peacemakers were not enough, the Capitol has surveillance cameras, to keep watch on all its citizens, and electric fences at the borders of the districts, ensuring that the citizens have nowhere to go. And if one were to attempt an escape, the Capitol would know, and catch them before they got too far.
