The Hunger Games
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JuliaThe Hunger Games
Uploaded by
JuliaThe Hunger Games
In my analysis I am going to focus on the first episode of the Hunger Games series, based on a
dystopian trilogy written by Susanne Collins and produced by Nina Jacobson and Jon Kilik. The
movie represents the possibility of individual resistance against an oppressive system. This
meaning is conveyed through a story set in the dystopian nation of Panem, located in North
America. The country is made up of a wealthy, advanced Capitol city and twelve, poverty-
stricken districts, controlled by the Capitol. The Capitol, in order to punish the districts for a
past rebellion every year selects from the twelve districts one boy and one girl who are forced to
fight to death in a televised event called the Hunger Games. Only one of the participants
survives. The Hunger Games function as a source of entertainment for the Capitol and they also
serve as an annual reminder of the Capitol’s mercilessness for the districts.
The movie exemplifies its meaning primarily through the main character, the 16-year-old Katniss
Everdeen from district 12 who volunteers to go into the arena to save her sister Prim and
becomes the symbol of rebellion against the oppressive system. First of all, Katniss’ willingness
to die instead of her sister stands in stark contrast to the Capitol’s cruelty, sacrificing innocent
lives for entertainment. Even more importantly, Katniss and Peeta, another tribute, force the
authorities to concede by refusing to kill each other, thus undermine the Capitol’s power.
Defiance is also symbolized by the mocking jay. The mocking jay is a reminder of the Capitol’s
failed project to spy on the districts, therefore when Katniss wears the pin of a mocking jay, she
presents herself as a rebel. Eventually, through her identification with the symbol of the mocking
jay, Katniss becomes the embodiment of the resistance. Fire is another important symbol
associated with Katniss. The Katniss's costume, designed by a stylist who is secretly working for
the rebellion, literally bursts into flames and Katniss becomes known as “the girl who was on
fire”. In the movie fire becomes the symbol of Katniss’ inner strength and also of the rebellion.
Bread also conveys several symbolic meanings in the movie. It represents not only a means to
stay alive but more importantly, it also conveys important connotations regarding Panem, the
country in which the Hunger Games take place. The word panem meaning “bread” in Latin
evokes the phrase “panem et circenses”, or “bread and circuses” referring to the Roman Caesars’
strategy of controlling public discontent by providing the people with food and entertainment.
In the construction of the movie’s meaning three contextual elements are of primary importance.
First, the viewer needs to be familiar with the Greek myth of Theseus and the Minotaur, in
which, the king of Corinth forces Athenians to sacrifice their children to the Minotaur as a form
of expressing their total subjugation. A further essential contextual element in the construction of
meaning is that of the gladiator games is Ancient Rome. Just like the tributes in the Hunger
Games, the Roman gladiators needed to fight to death for the sake of public entertainment and
they were forced to kill by an oppressive system. The most important contemporary factor to
consider is that of reality shows, often exploiting people for entertainment. The
Capitolers watch with a frightening detachment how the tributes massacre each other. Today’s
reality television audience often manifests the same indifference for the suffering of contestants.
In this way, Panem becomes a powerful symbol of contemporary society, treating people as
means of entertainment.
Resources:
https://www.sparknotes.com/lit/the-hunger-games/
https://www.coursehero.com/lit/The-Hunger-Games-Series/symbols/
http://www.thehungergamesunitplan.com/Articles/hungergamesandrealitytelevision.htm
