Comparative essay Stories are how people share history, ideas, and even culture, and different types of stories can be categorized into different genres, even if the two stories seemingly have little in common. The dystopian genre combines elements of science fiction with satire and adventure with drama. This genre is so open-ended that two novels as different as The Hunger Games and Animal Farm can be grouped together. However, a look into both stories proves that a dystopian surrounding is not all the books have in common. While the dystopian novels The Hunger Games and Animal Farm differ significantly in setting, the two share similar themes through character development, individuals changing the societal norm, and universal symbols representing …show more content…
Each one manages to gain complete control over their territories through a system of instilling fear in lower class citizens, and both act in a similar manner when their power is threatened. Just like Napoleon runs Snowball out of town because he threatens his rule, President Snow kills head Gamemaker Seneca Crane because he interferes with the outcome of the games. Each one demonstrates these traits in different ways, from Napoleon selling Boxer in order to cement his dominance over the other animals, to President Snow purposely drinking poison in order to trick his enemies into drinking it, too. Another pair of characters which are comparable in the two novels are Benjamin the donkey and Haymitch, a former Hunger Games victor. Although the two exist in opposite worlds, they both react to situations in the same cynical, mocking tone. Their places in society are similar as well, for both are in positions that show they could make great leaders, but that they’re either too lazy, Benjamin, or too drunk, Haymitch, to care. Benjamin is a somewhat well-respected donkey who goes through life sitting back and allowing others to make ill-advised choices, while Haymitch is of a similar intelligence type, one who doesn’t care much for others but can be shrewd when he