The Hunger Games; Theme

 Hannah Elshennawi

Dr. O'Brien

Language and Literature 2

9/24/2024

 The Hunger Games

    The Hunger Games book tells a fascinating story with many morals and themes. What are some examples of these deep messages and how do they relate to the real world? Well, one example includes the point of view of the lower class in the social hierarchy of society and all the mistreatment and suffering they have to face. Another example conveys how certain minority groups are/were severely mistreated and most of the upper class is either silent about it or thinks it's normal. These examples relate to the real world in many ways and are very similar to some situations going on today.

    To start, I believe that this book shows the effects social hierarchy has on the lower class. In the book it explains District 12's quality of life and how they are kept poor and powerless to keep the capitol wealthy and superior. In The Hunger Games book states "My father could have made good money selling them, but if the officials found out he would have been publicly executed for inciting a rebellion" (Collins 5.) This quote explains how the people in the Seam are kept powerless and left to suffer in poverty on purpose by the Capitol. This relates to the real world because in neighborhoods of minority groups such as African Americans and immigrants, they are purposely kept poor and in bad condition in order to keep majority group's neighborhoods in good quality and wealthy.

    Additionally, this book conveys how many minority groups are mistreated while the wealthier groups believe it's normal or don't speak up about it. The book says “We spent one hunger games watching the players freeze to death at night… It was considered very anti-climactic in the Capitol, all those quiet, bloodless deaths” (Collins 39.) This shows that the wealthy, privileged people in the Capitol watch deaths and suffering of the lower class like it’s a TV show and feel no sympathy towards them whatsoever.  This relates to the real world because many people living a healthy and ideal lifestyle watch people suffering on the news in places such as Palestine, Lebanon, and Ukraine and do basically nothing about it, saying it’s not their problem.

    In conclusion, the Hunger Games displays many similarities to the real world involving poverty, inequality, and social hierarchy. This book describes social hierarchy’s effects on people in the lower class. To add on, it describes the extreme mesures taken to keep them poor and vulnerable. Also, the Hunger Games demonstrates a clear understanding on how much minority groups go through but none of these struggles are addressed and recognized by the upper class. Overall, this book has many references to situations and problems happening in the real world.

(Collins, Suzanne. The Hunger Games. Scholastic Inc, 2008.)