Just as the town clock strikes two, the mayor steps up to the podium and begins to read. It’s the same story every year.
He tells of the history of Panem, the country that rose up out of the ashes of a place that was once called North America. He lists the disasters, the droughts, the storms, the fires, the encroaching seas that swallowed up so much of the land, the brutal war for what little sustenance remained. The result was
Panem, a shining Capitol ringed by thirteen districts, which
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brought peace and prosperity to its citizens. Then came the
Dark Days, the uprising of the districts against the Capitol.
Twelve were defeated, the thirteenth obliterated. The Treaty of Treason gave us the new laws to guarantee peace and, as our yearly
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“It is both a time for repentance and a time for thanks,” intones the mayor.
Then he reads the list of past District 12 victors. In seventyfour years, we have had exactly two. Only one is still alive.
Haymitch Abernathy, a paunchy, middle-aged man, who at this moment appears hollering something unintelligible, staggers onto the stage, and falls into the third chair. He’s drunk.
Very. The crowd responds with its token applause, but he’s confused and tries to give Effie Trinket a big hug, which she barely manages to fend off.
The mayor looks distressed. Since all of this is being televised, right now District 12 is the laughingstock of Panem, and he knows it. He quickly tries to pull the attention back to the reaping by introducing Effie Trinket.
Bright and bubbly as ever, Effie Trinket trots to the podium and gives her signature, “Happy Hunger Games! And may the odds be ever in your favor!” Her pink hair must be a wig because her curls have shifted slightly off-center since her encounter with Haymitch. She goes on a bit about what an honor it is to be here, although everyone knows she’s just aching to get bumped up to a better district where they have proper victors, not drunks who molest you in front of the entire nation.
Through the crowd, I spot Gale looking back at me with a ghost of a smile. As reapings go, this one at least has a slight entertainment factor. But suddenly I am thinking of Gale and
his
In the book Just Mercy, Walter McMillian was an African American who was falsely convicted and sent to death row for the murder of Ronda Morrison. Walter spent six years on death row terrorized, fearing for the day he would inevitably die. However, Walter was freed from death row after six years, finally being a free man once again. However, this does not mean that Walter finally received justice. After Walter was free he was diagnosed with dementia, a disease that tragically ended his life early, Walter also received a miniscule amount of compensation for the time he spent on death row, and he had no help dealing with the traumas from being on death row.
In the novels, The Hunger Games and Catching Fire, written by Suzanne Collins, she describes a country that is overcome by many disasters, such as storms, fires, and war that ended the country that used to be North America. In its place, a new country was built, and it was called Panem. Panem was divided into fourteen districts, and one was called the Capitol. The Capitol was the new government of Panem. One day, the thirteen districts decided to rebel against the Capitol; the result of their rebellion was that the first twelve districts were defeated and the thirteen destroyed. Immediately, the government gave their citizens a punishment for their actions. The punishment that the government gave them is called the Hunger Games. At the Hunger
Every year, the Capitol hosts an event called the Hunger Games, where a boy and a girl aged 12 to 18 from each of the twelve districts are chosen to compete in a televised fight in an arena, until the last person is standing. Katniss, a 16-year-old girl, volunteers to take her little sister’s spot in the Games, and she and Peeta Mellark become the tributes from District 12, a district that is known for their coal mining, and is the poorest district out of the twelve. This particular district has only won two Hunger Games, and there hasn’t been another victor since the second Quarter Quell. However, the rules of the Games had changed during the 74th Hunger Games, and Katniss and Peeta come out victorious.
Can you imagine the feeling knowing that at anytime, a close one could be taken away. A best friend could be stolen. A family member could be killed. Even yourself could be sacrificed for nothing. Do you think that the emotions a family member may encounter, the sadness of an entire community, or even just the thought of dying, is worth it to provide a dominant government their “Hollywood ending”? Well, in the book “The Hunger Games” written by Suzanne Collins, Katniss Everdeen lives in a dystopian society where her community is divided by 13 different groups. Each year, their government randomly selects two participants from each group to play in the Hunger Games, which is a fight to the death among the other participants. In the book, Katniss’
Today was the day, the day you would find out what more President Snow could do to ruin your life. There was nothing more he could do you, there was no one left that you loved, your parents died when you were younger and you were an only child. You turned on the TV and watched it eagerly to find out what was gonna happen. You did zone out during most of it, so you didn't hear what he was saying about why the Hunger Games was there. "This is the 75th year of the Hunger Games. This year's tributes..." He paused to open the paper in his hand. "The tributes are to be reaped on the existing pool of victors" he
Suzanne Collins uses many literary devices including symbolism as well as themes to express the ignorance and lack of competence of the wealthy in the Capitol. The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, is the sequel to the highly acclaimed, best selling novel, The Hunger Games. Against all odds, Katniss Everdeen has won the annual Hunger Games. Miraculously, both she as well as fellow district tribute Peeta Mellark are still alive. This occurrence created widespread controversy, especially amongst President Snow, Panem’s dictator-esque leader. One would expect Katniss’ homecoming to be one of joyful exuberance for her family, as well as herself. However, her return simply sparks an icy distance between her long time friend Gale, as well as Peeta, who has completely turned his back following their “act” in the games. The idea of a rebellion against the Capitol by the 12 districts has fueled an unrest in which Katniss is concerned she may not be able to stop. “The Girl on Fire” has lived up to her name, and sparked a flame of revolution. As the victors prepare for their victory tour throughout the districts, it is imperative that they dispel any arguments that would suggest that their ‘love’ throughout the games was simply a ploy against the system that was rebellious by nature. What ensues is the product of Suzanne Collin’s ability to create a world based on the theme of humanity
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins and Steven Galloway’s The Cellist of Sarajevo demonstrates the way in which people are affected by war, and a brutal dictatorship. The authors illustrates the main purpose for writing their novel through the use of imagery, characterization, foreshadowing, flashback, similes, and symbolism.
The dystopian genre makes parallels between the fabricated society and actual society. The reality TV element of the games demonstrates the link between the society of Panem and our society. From child beauty pageants to a rich family that no one knows why is famous, these shows are watched by many in today's society. People forget that these people are real and living their own lives compared to the “scripted” TV shows with paid actors. Capitol dwellers are obsessed with their image, making body modifications to look young and to stay in trend. This aspect of the novel makes a comment on plastic surgery and image in today’s society (Frade, 2014). The use of the hunger games as a social event shows that Capitol views the people in the districts as lesser individuals and are willing to watch people die for their entertainment. The games are watched “At homes and community halls around the country, every television set is turned on. Every citizen of Panem is tuned in” (Collins, 2008, p. 124). There is a disconnection from the people in the Capitol and the children fighting in the games. To the Capitol, those children are just part of an elaborate game, but for the Districts, those children are daughters, sons, brothers, and sisters. The view of humans as lesser individuals can be translated into society today. The top 1% of the population that control most of the wealth have power over the individuals that have less money. The Capitol is comparable to the top 1% and the Districts are comparable to the rest of the world. The geographical aspect of
Both novels, The Road and The Hunger Games, share a common theme of survival and violence. In the book, The Road the entire setting and plot illustrate the apparent collapse of all on Earth and the violence of this dystopian world adds to the dreadfulness of survival, as many humans have reverted to terrible behaviors of murder and cannibalism. As well, a discussion of violence in The Hunger Games must consider the role violence plays in the narrative, although the film is about children who are forced to kill each other, the book does not glorify or celebrate violence. Both authors, Cormac McCarthy and Suzanne Collins, use a survival theme to present the hardships Kat Everdeen and the Man and Boy must endure to stay alive; thus, the use
Many today would watch The Hunger Games and Catching Fire and think to themselves; it is just a story, two oppressed teenagers rise to become the heroes and star-crossed lovers of their dystopian society. If you look deeper, you can see how much more that their districts are like modern society than we would like to believe.
In 2008, Suzzane Collins’ published “The Hunger Games,” which takes place in an undefined future of the United States. This new country is known as Panem, which once held thirteen districts and the Capital; now, it only holds twelve districts and the capital. District Thirteen is the reason why Panem has a yearly event called the Hunger Games. District Thirteen started a war in an attempt to overthrow the Capital. In return, the Capital demolished all of District Thirteen.
The Capitol utilizes technology to constantly monitor the districts. The people also live in fear because each year two children are selected, at random, to fight to the death in the Hunger Games. The Games is a form of punishment bestowed upon the people for a rebellion that occurred long ago. All the citizens of Panem are required to watch and the people of the Capitol are even entertained by it. It is the event of the year for the Capitolites. However, the people in the districts are angry yet they can’t express their feelings due to fear of retaliation. Their fear forces them to conform and do what they are
In the history of cinema, most movies involving a hero 's journey involve mostly the same plot; man gets a call, goes on a journey, gets in a battle or two, and saves the helpless woman from some evil source. The Hunger Games has the same plot as other hero films, but takes a complete turn on the actor encompassing the hero. The hero in this film is a Katniss Everdeen, a poor girl from a dystopian society. In this film Katniss volunteers for her sister to be in the Hunger Games, which is an event where individuals are thrown into an arena where people from twelve districts fight each other to the death for entertainment. Katniss must win the hunger games and make it back to her family. Katniss eventually befriends Peta and they defeat all obstacles and win the Hunger Games together. The Hunger Games is a perfect example of a hero 's journey plot. It follows the steps that any hero journey movie would, including the call, crossing the threshold, a supreme ordeal, companions and mentors, a transformation and the end gift. This film encompasses the classic hero journey plot, with an exception of having a strong female lead instead of male.
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
The Hunger Games, the movie, was adapted from the popular young adult novel by Suzanne Collins. The Hunger Games is sometimes described as another cliche love story for which the young adult genre is infamous. Despite appearances, The Hunger Games illustrates a complex and creative dystopian world with a much deeper underlying message, including topics such as, politics, history, and celebrity worship. The setting appears to be a futuristic version of America. This future America is very classist, and the tyrannical government is sure to keep the classes divided by heavily oppressing the working class. The working class is divided into twelve districts, which used to be thirteen districts until the thirteenth district was annihilated as a result of its uprising. In response to the thirteenth district’s resistance, the President created a game called “The Hunger Games” in an effort to instill obedience in the remaining twelve districts. Through the course of the movie, we learn that “The Hunger Games” are not only a mechanism to force obedience on the working class, but also to serve as entertainment for the elite society who live in the Capitol. The Games require 24 randomly selected children from the working class districts to fight to the death in an elaborately staged battle, all of which is filmed and broadcasted to the entire nation, working class and elite alike. Thesis: The Hunger Games, the movie, has a hauntingly feasible storyline and clear references to real