Analysis: The Hunger Games By Suzanne Collins

Do we live in a society where we are emancipated to do as we wish? Or are our actions dictated by basic economic factors? Karl Marx, a German philosopher who founded Marxism believes just that. His theory postulates that: "those groups of people who owned and controlled major industries could exploit the rest of the population through conditions of employment and by forcing their own values and beliefs onto other social groups." The Hunger Games, written by Suzanne Collins, provides the epitome of a society in which has developed to delineate Marxism. Myriads of aspects of the novel intertwine with the Marxist ideology of society. Firstly, how the capitalists' were holding the reins of the working class. Secondly, the social effect of the literary

Set in a dystopian, post-apocalyptic nation of Panem in North America, with which has been split up into thirteen constituent districts that amalgamate to form the working class. These districts are forced to succumb to physical labour to provide The Capitol via their industry; luxury, masonry, technology, fishing, power, transportation, lumber, textiles, grain, livestock, agriculture, mining, and nuclear weaponry. In spite of the fact that those living in The Capitol are fewer in number and have an abundance of resources than those in the districts. As a result of leading a revolt against The Capitol, the thirteenth district (nuclear weaponry) was wiped out. Karl Marx theorized, "those groups of people who owned and controlled major industries could exploit the rest of the population through conditions of employment..." The Hunger Games depicts this impeccably as The Capitol utilizes their control over the districts for their benefit. The Marxian class theory is also present in The Hunger Games as The Capitol framed the basis of the social hierarchy within Panem. Out of fear of 'punishment' the districts