Literary Criticism of The Hunger Games Movie - Essay Example

?English 126 The Hunger Games is incredibly based on the allegory of Greek and Roman mythology, for instance, Theseus, as well as the Minataur. As castigation for distressing Crete, Athens sporadically had to drive seven maidens, along with seven youths to Crete, someplace they were hurled into the warren and eaten greedily by the Minataur, an ogre that is half-man, as well as half bull. Athens meant to send the message to Crete that if they messed with them, they would do a bit more than just killing them--they would kill their children. The sequence does not conclude until Theseus chooses himself to go, and slay the Minotaur (The Hunger Games). Within The Hunger Games, the Panem nation is made up of an affluent Capitol, in addition to twelve poorer neighboring districts. As castigation for an earlier upheaval, by the localities against the Capitol, a boy, as well as a girl aged between 12 and 18 years are chosen through reaping to take part within the Hunger Games (Collins 12). The Hunger Games tributes must battle within an arena managed by the Capitol until just one stays alive; the winner is rewarded with reputation and prosperity. Kasniss takes her sister’s place in the Hunger Games, and becomes an opinionated enemy for civic insubordination of her society's dictatorial leaders. As Katniss goes back to District 12, Head of State, Snow is in a dilemma about the combined victors, as well as the feelings of insurgence that they might have inspired. In her individual manner, Katniss is a revolutionary Theseus, as well as Spartacus. The Capitol’s utilization of the Hunger Games as distress tactics sets the tenor for a way of existence for the Panem citizens, just as the Spartans’ behavior is set for the Helots. Katniss elucidates that the Games function as their yearly reminder that the Dusky Days ought never to be repeated. Katniss says that the Hunger Games, fundamentally a contest to the bereavement over a several weeks period, is “the Capitol’s technique of reminding them how totally they were at their mercy” (The Hunger Games). It might not be a hyperbole to portray the account of Sparta as the history of class struggle between the Spartans, as well as the Helots. Corresponding to this, the genocide of 2,000 Helots is amply more a likeness of Spartan terror of rebellion than of any unconcealed risk brought about by the Helots (Littleton & Caldwell 25). A comparable state, with a possibly more authentic concern for imminent revolt, existed within the relations amid Roman citizens, as well as their slaves. The severity of penalties counting death punishments for slaves appears to stalk from the Roman dread of slave revolts. Within the “Hunger Games” by Littleton and Caldwell, Katniss, like Theseus, an individual volunteering to go in, as well as goes forth gladly when she says "I volunteer as tribute!" Though this act is archetypal of a conventional protagonist, it imposes an ethical responsibility on her, which the other participants unavoidably shoulder. The gesticulation is self-sacrificial, which stomachs her acute existence instincts and aptitude for survival instinct (Collins 25). The choice to volunteer also brings about some complications in the literary criticism of Katniss as a standard hero or protagonist; she triumphs via a blend of archetypical male and female qualities, and her sexual role is insurrectionary in concern to the male-controlled, breadwinner character she takes on within her individual family in the stir of her father’s demise. Prim is the prototypical female move within classical mythos: expense of herself for someone else. Katniss did entirety to ensure Prim’s safety. Katniss was very defensive of Prim and wanted to make sure that she would not take tesserae, having an enhanced chance of being obtained into the Games on any occasion. This failed when Prim was obtained to participate within the Games. Katniss was ready to perish for Prim, as well as giving herself for her. Prim attempts to stop Katniss as she recognized she would most probably not endure the dreadfulness of the Hunger Games, however Hawthorne holds her back. Katniss' bravery was strong in this part (The Hunger Games). One ceremonial feature of fighter games was a communal banquet, called the cena liberal, which was held the sundown beforehand the gladiators’ games for the, bestiarii that means men who combat wild beasts, in addition to those prisoners condemned to perish. This ritualistic meal parallels the succession of elaborate meals the Hunger Games compliments participation before their combat to the demise (McGunigal 5). The Roman gladiators, as well as beast fighters, and the region tributes, were offered rich foods, as well as a pass to pander to their stomachs’ satisfaction. The excessive overfeeding at the cena libera is unusually comparable to the scenes within The Hunger Games when Katniss details devouring herself at every banquet, in the expectation of gaining a number of pounds preceding the Hunger Games (Littleton & Caldwell 50). Within the cena libera, as well as the banquets taken within the Games have been transmuted into communal spectacles, considerable like the Hunger Games themselves. Katniss is similar to Theseus along with numerous other protagonists and heroes all over classical mythos and antiquity. The interweaving of diverse gendered aspects parceled into the outstanding personality of Katniss is demonstration to her intricacy as well as the certainty that either sex has the capacity to attain status as a conqueror. Spartacus comes out as the strongest historical comparable to Katniss. Several of the figures within Greco-Roman mythos Katniss is particularly similar to take in Diana/Artemis, Odysseus, Heracles, as well as Achilles (The Hunger Games). The gladiator Spartacus, as well as Katniss have numerous similarities past being enslaved within their humanity and compelled to compete for amusement. Spartacus was culturally Thracian, and there exists implied ethnic divides within the Games. Katniss comes from the poorest zone, known as the Seam, which is in the impecunious District 12. Katniss explains the accolade from agrarian Region 11 as of people who have skin that is darker, whilst she categorizes herself as having an olive skin. The Capitol occupants, with their multicolored hair, as well as skin dyed within bright hues might as well be as divided from the districts ethnically as they are cost-effectively (Collins 36). Katniss attains enormous reputation as a competitor within the Hunger Games and decisive victor, not distinct Spartacus, who is known to be the most famed gladiator of the primordial world and an extensively known representation of personal autonomy. As a chronological figure, he is preeminently known for fronting a slave’s army alongside their Roman masters within a victorious revolt led by fighters. This twirled into a definite war of quite a few years. Spartacus ultimately hit back by making Roman combatants he captured take part in their individual reprehensible gladiator games as payback (The Hunger Games). Katniss is given a similar chance towards the conclusion of the trilogy whilst within the stir of a district insurgence; she is offered the chance to cast a vote if Capitol kids ought to be subjected to their personal Games of Hunger. She also unwillingly becomes the visage of a insurgence, as her prime motive within the games is to go back to District 12 breathing, not spur an revolt. Her displaced intentions may be similar to those that Spartacus had, who intended for his men to go back home, as well as did not plan to attack Rome (McGunigal 1). Katniss trails the equivalent arch from slave to fighter to revolt to visage of warfare. Beyond these relations, Katniss appears to show signs of the identical inner eminences of potency that Spartacus exhibited. Spartacus had an enormous spirit and immense physical power. Katniss’s strength of mind is also commemorated and mentioned as one of her potencies within the games (McGunigal 1). Katniss’s mentor, Haymitch, substantiates that it is majorly admirable quality when he says “For the inhabitants of the Capitol, no one has the capacity to help but respect her strength of mind”. Prim observes that her sister is so swift, as well as brave, perhaps you have the aptitude to triumph. It appears that for Spartacus, as well as Katniss, potency of spirit offers a spirited edge and stimulates a hope for endurance. In retort to Haymitch’s acclamation, Katniss reflects that her spirit is a novel thought, she is not sure precisely what it means, however it implies that she is a combatant in a type of courageous way (The Hunger Games). Spartacus dethrones the social structure of his humanity, as well as Katniss did when she outmaneuvers the Capitol to compel their hand and consent to the unprecedented upshot of two victors. From the Romans’ point of view, the triumph attained by Spartacus’ soldiers against Roman soldiers reversed the expected array of things. Katniss interrupts the normal array of her civilization, as well unintentionally bringing a chain of frightening events to unfurl. This bears outstanding resemblance to an additional classical mythic stature, the title disposition from the catastrophe Alcestis. Alcestis, within the self-sacrificial streak of Katniss, gives up her individual life instead of her companion Admetus’. From the information provided above, Thesaus, Spartacus, and Katniss have a lot of attributes in common, for instance, being enslaved within their humanity and compelled to compete for amusement, in addition to dethroning the social structure of their civilizations. Therefore, in her individual manner, Katniss is a revolutionary Theseus, as well as Spartacus. Works Cited Collins, S. The Hunger Games. New York: Scholastic Press, 2012. Print. Littleton, S. & Caldwell, C. Hunger Games. BMI Educational Services. 2012. Print. McGunigal, M. A Literary Criticism of the Classical Themes and Allusions Found in The Hunger Games. (2012). Senior Honors Projects. Paper 298. Ross. G. The Hunger Games. (2012). Read More