Novel analysis. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins - Essay Example

? The Hunger Games Background of the novel According to findings, the Collins, got stimulus for the hunger games from channel surfing. It is said, that Collins viewed on one particular channel how individuals competed on a reality show and on another she saw the footage other features, like the attack of Iraq by the United States security forces. This molded an indication of the novel at the back of the biographer`s mind. Moreover, she used the ‘Theseus’, a Greek fairytale as the foundation for the story she had to inscribe. In relation to this myth, Collins gave a description of Katniss as a revolutionary Theseus. In addition, it has been revealed that the Roman ‘gladiatorial’ Games provided the framework. Another influence for the story, came because of the sense of loss she developed majorly through her father`s service in Vietnam war; this is linked to the story since; she also lost her daddy at a tender age also. According to studies, the hunger games are a science creative writing novel transcribed by Suzanne Collins in 2008; the story was written in an opinion of a 16-year-old Katniss, who rendering to the storywriter, exists in ‘Panem’, ‘a post-apocalypltic’ state. This is where according history; North American countries were once thought to have existed; it is known that the capital of the nation is a highly metropolis area, which practices political control over the whole nation. Studies show, that the hunger games are majorly annual events, where a boy and a girl aged around fifteen years drawn from each of the 12 districts around the capital, get selected through a lottery; the youth contest in an encounter that ends up to demise. The ‘hunger games’ was issued originally on September 14 in 2008 and later released in softcover and as an ‘audiobook’, as well as an ‘eBook’. Studies show that after the release of about two hundred thousand print copies, the book sold rapidly and by early 2010, the book had already sold about eight hundred thousand copies. The book has been translated into about twenty-seven languages since its release and having sold in forty territories the publishing rights. The design (plot) of the game Studies show that, the hunger games takes palace in Panem, a nation established in North America following the obliteration of the North America continent’s civilization through unrecognized apocalyptic events. It is found that, the nation is comprised of a wealthy capital including twelve poorer districts, which history shows, they are united through firm control of the capital. The volume instigates in the twelfth region; this region is found in the expanse, rich in petroleum and previously recognized as ‘Appalachia’ (Collins 10). The story is constructed on the realism of the past revolt; thus, as retribution related to the past rebellion against the control capital, and where the thirteenth district got destroyed. It starts with, one boy and a girl who age about fifteen or seventeen, selected from every district through an annual lottery and they are to participate in the hunger games. This is an event where the selected participants fight to death in an alfresco amphitheater, which is under the capital’s control and this goes on until there remains only one individual at the end of the event. The story is recounted through a girl from the twelfth region who is about sixteen years. She is a helper who partakes in the seventy-forth ‘hunger games’ yearly occasion. Peeta is a virile contestant who was chosen from the same twelfth district and he is a anterior faculty buddy of Katniss. In the course of the time when Katniss kinfolk was famished, Peeta gave her a bread from the household`s bakery. It is recorded that Katniss and Peeta were taken to the capital to be instructed by their mentor, Abernathy, who won the fiftieth hunger games. The instructor is also set to determine the strengths and the possible faults of other participants, which will help a great deal in understanding the role played by each party. In the capital there are stylist who are given the responsibility of ensuring that each participant look the best he or she may be. Cinna is the only individual in the capital that Katniss feels more comfortable with and she happen has some understanding. It happens that Cinna is the stylist responsible for Katniss appearance and beauty (Collins 15). Throughout the novel while the participants are still in the capital, every participant is displayed to audience in an arranged interview with a television host, Flickerman. It is in the dialogue time that Peeta divulged his unanswered affection for Katniss. This takes place on air, which means the audience gets every detail clearly. However, the two seem to have a different opinion, where Katniss believes Peeta uses this as a way of seeking for sponsorship gain. The sponsors are critical for survival because they are liable to send gifts; medicine and food to their favorite participants during the game times. Majority of the warring group die early and this may be about fifty percent of the whole group. However, it seems that Katniss relies fully on her improved and well-practiced survival and hunting skills; this enables her to remain safe and unharmed by being obscured from other participants. It is found that at the last moments prior to the start of the games, Katniss successfully develops an alliance with a twelve year girl, Rue from the eleventh district; which agriculture dependent. On the other hand, Peeta joins force with other participants from richer districts. It happens that, when Peeta get the right moment to kill Katniss, he deliberately spares her and saves her from others. Katniss received a blow when another participant killed her ally, Rue, however, Katniss avenges by killing the killer of Rue (Collins 35). It came to pass that Katniss sung to Rue until she passes away and then she manages to spread flowers over and around her body; a symbol of respect. Guidelines were altered at the midstream of the game to allow two members to win the game as a duo. This transpired after the Peeta and Katniss`s appearance of two brilliant paramours in the notices of the spectators. This caused Katniss to search for Peeta, whom she finds injured and she takes care of him and at the same time appeals to the sponsors to send gifts by acting as a young girl falling in love. After the game makers verse the rules the second time to try and get one winner, Katniss plots to force them by trying to commit suicide and thereafter the game ends with two victors. However, this insolence is not settled well by her society`s authoritarian leaders and she is cautioned of being a political target. Themes in the hunger games According to findings, various sets of themes were found, which run through the hunger games story and thus form the platform for communication of the message. concerning the interview contacted with Collins, by other studies, it is found that the novels confronts issues of oppression, poverty, the effects of war, and starvation among other critical issues in the society (Collins 45). The novel touches on the struggle for self-defense, which Panem people meet in their respective districts and in particular, the hunger games; and this is because the youth must partake in the contest. Studies suggest that, the people`s starvation and resource need in and outside the arena forces them to live in an atmosphere of helplessness. It is found that the paramount performers try to engulf by forcing their way up for existence. Alongside the themes, it is also found that there are many unethical issues that run in the various stages of the game. It is unethical for the participants or the citizens to be forced into the games. It is found that, the game rules are changed anyhow tom suit what the game makers believe suits them and through familiarization, the contenders grow. For instance, Katniss needs to rummage in order to deliver food for family; an instrument that helps her in the evolving of expertise, useful for her game involvement; which makes her more brilliant with the weaponries for pursuing. This helps her to force the rejection of the capital`s rules in more life threatening situations; an idea which presents ethical questions on the eligibility of the capital game makers. However, even if this works for her advantage, it is only beneficial for the capital authorities because the women like Katniss do not receive the attention and position that a woman should get in the society at all levels. Another instance that participants or tributes gain maturity and growth relates to the choice of characters. This makes them together with the strategies they employ to look morally complex and the participants seem to build their personality by looking at what their audience will wish to see throughout the game session. The other special themes as brought forward in other studies are of; personal independence, government control, and big brother. Many other sources see the premise of the game is in essence an exercise of propaganda, which is torturous and humiliating. It other words sit is viewed as a punishment for failed rebellion or uprising against the capital in previous years. It is also unethically unfit for the capital authority to demoralize and dehumanize people who are a subject by turning them into celebrities by coaching them to design an appealing facade to the target audience. The greatest ethical scenario comes in terms of rules, which are unforgivable, arbitrary, and subject to change at any desired time, according to the authorities. This has created ass situation where there prevails a brutal social hierarchy; the god looking, the rich, and those that are athletic take advantage over those that do not fit in the categories. It is surprising because, for one to be efficacious in such humanity, he or she has to be bogus. The ethical choices that Katniss made by faking suicidal attempt to win the decision of capital authority is one that depicts volatility of the political situation in the capital (Collins 20). Finally, the setting of the novel contribute to the coming of age of the participants, for instance, Katniss is forced to devise ways of surviving by forming alliances and faking relationships with Peeta to win the hearts of the audience and the capital`s authority. This effort safeguards the dual that triumphs to go through the antagonisms period magnificently. On the other hand, looking at the parable of the sower, a novel put forward by Butler in early 1990s, is a tool that mirrors the society and helps in analyzing the current environmental and societal crises in the United States. It is found that the plot of the book is in a decaying American future. Lauren Olamina is a young girl, who is more emphatic and she lives in a gated or walled community. In this place, Lauren tries to hold her life together but the world around her is actually falling apart because of environmental and social matters. It so happens that after an invasion and the ransacking of the community that Lauren lived in, a small group of survivors and Lauren made their exit north wise in the hope of a better place. As new travellers add up the number of the group, they receive guidance from Lauren`s vision of a new and better community; it was to make up a new life and even a new religion that gave a new way of worshiping their creator. In several interviews, Butler gave responses saying it was worthwhile to look at the neglected problems and give them an impression of the future how they will be disastrous to the society then. It shows how a small social problem could after some few years become a national and international disaster if no measures are taken to cab it down. The parable of the sower is more concerned about environmental issues; the global warming for instance, is one form of environmental degradation that has received little attention from the concerned authorities and the governments. The ethical concerns about the operation of various organization or industries are one thing that raises eyebrows; Butler generally takes concern of both social and environmental issues, to indicate the value attached to both in relation to human existence. As it concerns the ethical and political issues, it is best to explore the environmental justice theme that highlights ho the issues emerge in the protagonist, who happen to be Lauren. Concerning the parable of the sower, this starts in Los Angeles in a suburb of Robledo, whereby it is found that Lauren lives in a world critically thrown into all forms of chaos by social and environmental hazards; in this environment, people are forced to change in a dramatic way the life the they live. In her description, Lauren talks of her community as walled; a community protects its members from the world outside, where things are very hazardous, but here, people do not send their children to school, and they rarely go to work, this is because they are very fearful. Lauren comes of age by understand that they have to remain vigilant against the out world. This forces them to carry guns openly every time so that the enemy may know they are armed; this helps them to keep vigilant and avoid being taken down by the enemies. It clearly shows the fallen political set up where the nation or the community is not secured and the individuals take their own safety. It depicts fallen moral values where there is not respect for any other human other than those around or those that share a common bond. It is found that Lauren` sense of fear in not because of suspicion but rather because of the experience that life she has lived gave her. For instance, Lauren tells of the horror that her stepmother and her own father went through by trying to help an injured woman. The perpetrators who had injured the woman certainly jumped out of a wall and injured them too; to the point where the two parents almost lost their lives. Lauren has in her life has seen the very evidence of violence in the appearance or faces of disparate and beaten victims. It appeared to be more worst especially what Lauren saw in empty eyes o corpses that were scarred everywhere. Only show how Lauren dealt with the ethical choices she faced to survive together with her community. It clear that Lauren`s youthfulness gives her different perspective as compared to her own father. This is because, her father only remembers the good old days of the United States prosperity, especially in the 1990s, and he does not wish to return. It shows the fallen social and environmental structures. It also show the position that gender stereotype has taken in the society. It gives the impression that even women strive to make life better and they are regarded as heroines at their own categories. Works cited Collins, Suzanne. The Hunger Games: Movie Tie-in Edition. California, CA: Scholastic Inc., 2012. Print. Read More