Rebellion as a Theme in The Hunger Games

Rebellion as a Theme in The Hunger Games

Rebellion is basically a central theme in the entire dystopian novel of The Hunger Games. The story begins at a point where the future is uncertain, which was a consequent result of natural calamities which left North American in a devastated state. As a result of the natural disasters a nation there was rise of a nation named Panem with a city called Capitol which was surrounded by thirteen districts. The rulers of the Capitol exploited the resources of the districts as well as their workers (Collins 110). This exploitation contributed to the thirteen districts to attempt a rebellion against the Capitol. The rebellion was however unsuccessful and the districts ended up being defeated. The Capitol rulers subsequently created an annual hunger games to discourage the districts from ever carrying out a second rebellion (Collins 50).

Freedom and civil empowerment of rights and privileges is the backbone of any community. The government should provide these rights and freedoms as primary elements of human dignity and the promotion of quality life and development. However, Suzanne Collins’s dystopian novel Hunger Games goes against the four tenets that are necessary for the existence of a just government which are; Limited government, Separation of Powers, Checks and Balances and Federalism. All of these four principles provide a good understanding of the system of government in America and were brought into existence by the makers of the constitution because they were aware of exactly what kind of government they did not want.  (Muller, 40). The author uses ethos, pathos and logos to explain the aspects of rebellion in Panem.

The government of Panem achieves continuity and success through authoritarian practices of inflicting fear and roughshod over the populace. Muller affirms that the capital government disenfranchises the districts by keeping the population destructed and detached from each other through Machiavellian tactics (57). By previously excommunicating District 13, the “hunger games” cement the rule of fear (Muller 58). The reinforced approaches of fear are meant to frustrate the Districts from forming a coalition able to overthrow the authoritarian government. Despite the divide and rule tactics employed by the Capital government and Districts are determined to keep the rebellion plan through Katniss roles.

One of the themes that carry quite a lot of propaganda in the Hunger games, is rebellion, where people are diverted from their real problems by giving them a reason to turn against each other. This way, it becomes a lot easier to disregard any person who is in opposition of the current structures and place blame on them for any violence or misunderstanding (Hansen 70).

The author appeals to ethos by developing credibility throughout the novel. The rebellious aspects of the Districts against the Panem’s government informed by the cruel administration and poor living standards (Curwood 420).  She clearly brings out ethos by explaining how the government takes controlover the lives and operations of the citizens and how there is division amongst the communities. A lot of rules on how to play the Hunger games are provided for in the book. Providing how the hunger games is a big part of society’s way of life in her narrative, tells us how the citizens live their day to day lives and practiced their cultural values (Muller 70). Collins tells the story in the first person in the point that Katniss views it and tells it directly as well which is a clear indication that the use of facts and ethos have been employed.

The experiences of the Panem communities of the Capitol government informed their reasons for collaborating together in an attempt to topple the administration (Phar, and Palumbo 21). Empiricism is an essentially a theoretical concept which defines the sources of knowledge as purely sensory experiences. The author appeals to pathos by eliciting emotional responses from the audience. By invoking the problems the Districts managed, the appeals draw the emotions of the reader and the justification of the rebellion activities (Hansen 164). It is within the precepts of attaining freedom and better living conditions that the Districts come together to attain freedom and prosperity.

Literary Devices Used in the Hunger Games

1. Symbolism

This is a device that appears throughout the entire story. Madge gave Katniss a mocking jay pin which was a token that meant, that a tribute was allowed to be brought to the arena. It however turned out that it was a symbol of defiance that was used against the Capitol (Collins 50). The mocking jay symbol of going against the capitol begun to manifest itself when Katniss showed her act of defiance with Peeta at the arena.

2. Allusion

Several allusions have been made in the book, for instance, the character of Katniss is an allusion to a goddess named Diane (Hansen 120). Most characters in the book have been given names which are an allusion to the Roman Counterparts for instance, Cinna and Octavia. The hunger games itself is alluded to the gladiator games of ancient rome. In the ancient Rome, gladiators were forced to fight till death in order to please the political leaders in order to gain their favor (Green-Barteet 58).

Irony

The dress that Katniss appeared wearing at the opening ceremony made people to constantly refer to her as the girl on fire. She was however hit by a fireball which severely and grievously injured her, consequently breaking the illusion that she was not weak against the fire after all (Collins 109). Irony is also manifested at the point where Katniss voluntarily takes Prim’s spot as a tribute for the reason that Prim ends up dying anyway.

3. Foreshadowing

At some point in the book, Cinna tells Katniss not to worry since he always channeled his emotions into his work, because that way he does not hurt anyone but himself (Collins 205). This clearly brings out the aspect of foreshadowing. These words are remembered by the reader much later when Cinna gets attacked because of the costumes he made for Katniss which were politically charged.

4. Dramatic Irony

Peeta is aware of Katniss’ prowess with the bow and arrow which is shocking to Katniss. She assumed that Peeta never knew much about her which was also the same for Katniss, she did not know (Collins 102). Peeta complains for the reason that Katniss was not aware that he was still alive, which is not even true because Katniss has always been on the radar since the bread incident. The irony comes in for the fact that both Katniss were so wrong on how they felt about each other (Collins 79).

Premises help in constructing judgements in a logical and deductible process owing to the experiences and connections of reasons. Collins appeals to logos by providing facts about the various deficiencies which the people of Panem experienced in making ends meet (Green-Barteet 46). Through citation of historical state of the land, the author provides premises which are logical for the Districts to agitate for change by rebelling against the government. By substantiating and qualifying the state of land before and now, the author provides logical premises upon which Districts constructed their reason to rebel their rules albeit unexpected consequences (Pharr and Palumbo 59).

Suzzane Collins’ Hunger Games explicitly describes the rebellion against the Capitol government. For example, they rebelled against the idea of brutality in the Games which is what the Capitol wanted. The first rebellion took place when district 13 orchestrated a rebellion and all the districts of Panem made a successful attempt to rise against the oppressive rule of the Capitol (Collins 79). District 13 was consequently destroyed which led the capitol to create an annual hunger games aimed at intimidating the people and discouraging a second rebellion. Katniss and Peeta come together and threaten to ruin the 74^th hunger games by eating nightlock (Collins 212).This insighted a second rebellion and led to the catching fire events, as the citizens saw it as a defiant act against President Snow.  Katniss makes an attempt to expose the manipulation of the rulers by changing her direction. This action makes her gain support from the workers in the district of Rue which subsequently also led Thresh to save her life (Collins 215).

The author provides her credibility as well as the persistent conduct by Panem rulers which subjugated the citizens. The living conditions of the common person and the ruling elite projected a great social divide thereby prompting the Districts to use force for the recognition of their rights. Rebellion is effectively exemplified through Collins’ use of appropriate language, personal credibility and evidence throughout the novel (Muller 22). The rebellion was inevitable for Capitol governments by the Districts.

Conclusion

The happenings in the dystopian trilogy, The Hunger Games, can be compared to the U.S. The same way the districts are being oppressed by the rulers of the Capitol is more or less of the way the resources as well as the working class of countries that are less developed across the world are facing exploitation by the U.S and other states that have major imperial powers. The same way some rulers deployed to various districts are less oppressive, is also the same way the actions of liberal people for instance Former President of the United States, Barrack Obama employed their smooth actions both of which had very little effect on the exploitation of the workers.

All the above just creates the bottom line reason for workers to work against each other, a tool that was set by the rulers. A good example is seen when Katniss’ friend starts to realize the fact that some workers are being given more privileges compared to the other workers (Collins 203). This shows a similarity with today’s capitalist rulers who use wage differentials, nationalisms, and racism among others to maintain their power.

Works Cited

Collins, Suzzanne. The Hunger Games.

Curwood, Jen Scott. “The Hunger Games” Literature, Literacy and online  Affinity Spaces.            Language Arts 90.6 (2013) 417-427

Green-Barteet, Miranda  A. “I Am Beginning To Know Who I am”. The Rebelious Subjectivities             of Katniss Everdeen and Tris Prior “Female Rebellion in Young Adult Dystopian         Fiction”. Routledge, 2016 47-64

Hansen, Kathreen Strong “The Metamorphosis of Katniss Evredeen” The Hunger Games: Myth   and Femininity .” Children’s Literature Association Quarterly. 40.2, 2015 161-178

Muller, Vivienne. “Virtually Real: Suzanne Collin’s The Hunger Games Trilogy.” International     Research in Children’s Literature 5.1, 2012 51-63

Pharr, Mary F., Leisa A. Clarke and Donald E. Palumbo Eds of Bread, Blood and The Hunger      Games: Critical Essays on the Suzanne Collins’ Trilogy. Vol. 35 McFarland 2012