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SOCIAL CLASS IN THE HUNGER GAMES: THE STRUGGLES OF THE POOR


By Griffin Spurgin

The Hunger Games is an action-packed fiction book that was also turned into a movie. Throughout the series, main characters, Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark are fighting for their lives in a tournament where they battle to the death of all but one tribute. They don't have much to lose as they are from District 12, the poorest district of Panem. The winners of the game get showered in riches from the Capitol and live the rest of their lives as if they were kings. A constant theme throughout the film is how the wealthy don't have to work as hard as the lower class to maintain their status. The upper and middle class are more prepared for the games just like their respected classes are in life.

Class representation in film is a popular category among filmmakers. The Hunger Games portrays class in a way that resembles a lot of social systems in the world. The Hunger Games was published in 2008, at the very moment that the financial crisis was pitching the world into panic and confusion (Fisher, 2012). The film uses the games to show the financial and social status of Peeta and Katniss and the disadvantages they face during the games. Peeta works for his parents bakery and Katniss hunts and trades to make a living. While their lives differ in some ways they both face the same outcome of being in the lower class.

The Capitol, District One, is run off of the embezzlement of the other eleven districts. To make sure the Capitol maintains ownership of the majority of goods, the Capitol uses police force against those that don't comply with them, those that don't comply are more often than not poor. District 12 is the coal mining district and a merchant district. The districts are responsible for the extraction of raw materials and the manufacture of commodities, leaving the citizens of the Capitol to engage in various kinds of service industry- food preparation, styling, and entertainment- not to mention consumption (Fisher, 2012). Unlike the Occupy Wall Street movement, the 99% are privileged and don't have a worry in the world. With nothing to their names, Katniss and Peeta must pretend.
Katniss and Peeta must pretend to be something that they're not. The Capitol gives them fancy clothes to wear and upon arrival to the games, they are in awe of the beautiful sites the Capitol has to offer. Katniss and Peeta have never had fancy clothing nor the opportunity to bathe themselves with luxury soap, so coming to the games and Capitol is a culture shock. The two tributes act and try to fit in as if they're of wealth and have class. In order for Katniss and Peeta to win, they need to win people's hearts to receive sponsors. Nobody knows them or expects them to win the games because they are poor and don't come from a wealthy district. District One normally wins the games because they are privileged enough to have the best sponsors. to get sponsors, Katniss and Peeta fake love with each other. The game makers and citizens of Panem enjoy watching this as it gives them a reason to pay for item to give to the two. Faking love, risking their lives, and pretending to be different people just to have an equal chance at surviving like those of the upper-class districts, shows the struggles within the lower class.
The main theme in The Hunger Games is social class. The film does a wonderful job portraying the different classes. The characters in the series make the case for social class as a theme much more prevalent. Many critics believe the class system in The Hunger Games is like that of modern society. The wealthy are far better off than the lower class. The difference between class distinction is similar in the world of film and the real world.




References
Fisher, M. (2012). Precarious dystopias: The Hunger Games, in Time, and Never Let Me Go. Film Quarterly, 65 (4), 27-33.
Word Count 635






Comments

  1. Griffin, this has some potential. As you suggest, The Hunger Games addresses class inequality in a surreal but nonetheless very recognizable fashion. As such, the novel and subsequent film adaptation are ripe for class analysis.

    However, your essay reads more like a plot synopsis or film review rather than an analytical essay. What's more, your reference to Occupy is confusing and ultimately confounds the point you are making regarding economic inequality in a dystopian society.

    In short, I'm glad you took a swing at this. Moreover, glad you found a useful film critique to inform your discussion. But it seems you haven't made the most of this material.

    25 pts.


    ReplyDelete
  2. Griffin--

    I applaud you for bringing attention to such a major theme in the Hunger Games, that I have happened to overlook despite it being one of my favorite series growing up. I appreciate that you talked about the Hunger Games, and how you show the depth of the story. Many might dismiss the seriousness and value of analyzing such a book seeing that it falls under the Young Adult category, but you bring up many good points and show that these types of books are worth looking at.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Griffin,

    You talk about a very popular series of books and movies that many people have fallen in love with, but people might not notice this theme you are talking about. What you talk about is a serious matter that many people over look and might not appreciate as much as you do in this post.

    ReplyDelete

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