Politics in “The Hunger Games”

Everyone knows TikTok and Instagram, but have you heard of BookTok and Bookstagram? 

These platforms allow people to argue the place of politics in literature. Some argue that writers should “keep politics out of books,” but is it that simple? 

Books have always been political. It’s the very reason why they’re burned and banned. 

Luz, a literary blog, explains that literature and literacy have been connected to “radical change, freedom, and social mobility.” To allow the upper class to stay in a position of power they used tactics like keeping the poor uninformed and refusing to teach them how to read. It’s easier to control people who are already downtrodden when they don’t have knowledge to protect themselves or their rights. 

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“What’s an Avox?” I ask stupidly. “Someone who committed a crime. They cut her tongue so she can’t speak,” says Haymitch. “She’s probably a traitor of some sort. Not likely you’d know her.”

— Katniss Everdeen

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Literature, like film, television, or art, is an expression of the world we live in and the human experiences that follow. It’s a way for authors to express their opinions, to educate others, and to make political statements. 

Books like “1984,”  “Animal Farm,” “Fahrenheit 451,” “The Handmaid’s Tale,” and many more are considered political. 

“The Hunger Games,” a well-known dystopian book series written by Susan Collins, is a perfect example of how books are inherently political. 

The first three books of the series are set in a corrupt government in a sanctioned society where two kids (one male, one female) from each of the 12 districts are sent to fight to the death in an arena. The trilogy follows 16-year-old Katniss Everdeen’s fight to survive the games and bring down the corrupt government.

The first book of the series follows Katniss Everdeen as she battles the struggles of being a part of an outlier district. The outlier districts of Panem are poorer than the districts near the capitol. Outlying districts represent the lower class, Capitol districts represent the middle class, and the Capitol itself represents the rich and elite. Ironic when you think about the relationship between the book and reality.

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“They’re not animals, though,” said Sejanus. “They’re kids, like you and me.” “They’re not like me!” the little girl protested. “They’re district. That’s why they belong in a cage!”

— Narrator

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As the wealthy escape suffrage and the poor become targets, the parallel of the “Hunger Games” to modern-day politics has become uncanny. Using children as a scapegoat for the older generations’ actions is yet another similarity.

Katniss is the spark of the revolution right from the beginning. She is only sixteen, sacrificing herself for the people she loves and taking on difficult tasks, showing the character of a rebel with strong beliefs. When Katniss is given the Mockingjay pin at the Hob, she is given her fate with the revolution. She has no say in her future and doesn’t even realize it. When Katniss and Peeta are forced into the arena and choose to kill themselves rather than hurt each other, the mood shifts. They have stood up to the whole symbol of Panem,  order and tradition, in front of the entire world. 

“All books are political in some way. Reading to me is gaining wisdom. You are understanding complexity, and experiencing things that you never would have experienced. The “Hunger Games” is overtly political, and they do not hide anything. It’s science fiction, which is allegorical, ” explained Andrew Kurnas, a sci-fi and English teacher. “I hope people understand that even when you are reading about aliens, it is all about humans and our real-world experience. When you are reading you are studying culture.”

In the second book, “Catching Fire,” Katniss is scrutinized by the Capitol. The 75th Hunger Games is taking place, which is special since it is a Quarter Quell (a version of the game that implements an unknown wild card, such as the number of participants being doubled). Since Katniss rebelled against the rules in the first book, President Snow, a dictator, specializes the Quarter Quell so that past victors are to participate in the games. This was his way of coming back to Katniss. Is it not ironic he targets Katniss, a woman, more than Peeta, the male, even though Peeta defied him as well?

Peeta decides to interject in the rebellion with an announcement during the tribute interviews. He claims that he wouldn’t mind fighting in the games “If it wasn’t for the baby.” At this time him and Katniss are in a fake relationship and he lies about her being pregnant in the hopes of saving her from the games. It is quite obvious from the beginning that the tributes are not cared about. Peetas stuns the Capitol citizens, as they freak out. How can she go into the games carrying a child? Well, the baby being announced, fake news if you couldn’t tell, just proved that the fetus is more cared for than the mother.

They were willing to send Katniss into the games but when Peeta announced she was with child, minds were changed. This can relate to modern abortion laws since some states want to force the mother to carry the child, even if it might kill her. But, if the child grows up, they are in danger of school shootings and other tragedies, which can go along with children growing up and participating in the Hunger Games where they would get killed anyway.

Will the odd's be in your favor?

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Question 1/6

You are chosen as tribute, you have only so much time to prepare. What weapon do you choose to train with?

A bow. I'll stay away from the danger and help people from afar.

A spear. I'll destroy anything in my way. A weapon that's close to me so I can keep myselg safe.

My hands

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Question 2/6

You’re in the games. Do you go for the cornucopia?

Yes. I'll go around the outskirts and grab the easy stuff then make a run for it. Food is the priority.

No. I'll wait until others have gotten everything and steal it from them later.

Yes, I'm going straight for the biggest weapon!

Submit

Question 3/6

What's your number one priority?

Getting me and my teammates out alive. If I find an ally along the way I'll protect them as well.

Getting out of this alive. Who cares about anyone else? They're not my friends.

Gaining glory. I want to be remembered, dead or alive.

Submit

Question 4/6

You come across other tributes. What do you do?

Try to work together

Run away

Attack them

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Question 5/6

Night falls. What do you do to survive?

Sleep on night shifts with someone I know I can trust. We'll keep to a tree or hide in a cave.

Make a fire. I want to stay warm out in the cold. Maybe I can cook some good meals.

Hunt for other tributes. They can't get to me if I get to them first.

Submit

Question 6/6

Do you support the games?

No. It's wrong and no child should ever have to be forced into this game of life or death.

Yes. Blood and glory. To fight for the capital is to gain power within the Capital.

It doesn't matter. It's the way of life.

Submit

“We read the Capitol is a dictatorship. Complete control of everyone. Our government is not a dictatorship in relation to the “Hunger Games,” but our government does control a big portion of our country and they filter the news we come across.” Shannon Murphy, ’26

Another interesting realization is within the films. The casting of the good-looking actors, had people trailing off from the main messages of the films. The two main characters in this idea are Coriolanus Snow from the prequel, “The Ballad Of Songbirds and Snakes,” and Finnick Odair from “Catching Fire,” and “Mockingjay.” Snow is played by Tom Blyth and Odair is played by Sam Claflin, both debatably attractive. The actions and events that occur within the lifetimes of both characters are ignored, as people only notice them, and create edits because they are good-looking instead of realizing what they have gone through or done.

Snow becomes a murderer, manipulator, and dictator, but people throw that out of their windows and only focus on how “hot” he is. Odair is abused and used for his looks at an early age. He is used as a piece of meat in the “Hunger Games,” and people still make edits of him, even though he has been sexually harassed. You can like how they look but shouldn’t take it too far and forget what they went through and who they are. 

There are so many elements to the “Hunger Games” being political. Even the author, Suzanne Collins, says “I only write when I have something to say,” which is shown by the quotes included at the beginning of “Sunrise on the Reaping.” How do you think politics tie into books? What are some of your comparisons of the “Hunger Games” to the current time period of America?