Knife throwing, archery and weight lifting are all common terms to be found in Suzanne Collin’s The Hunger Games. The novel presents a unique take on the themes of sacrifice, violence as entertainment and survival in a technologically advanced and morally twisted society. This society, formerly known as North America (and now Panem), hosts an annual “Hunger Games”, in which each district selects a female and male tribute via lottery. These tributes must then compete in the sadistic inventions of “game makers”, whom make a sport of their deaths for the sake of entertainment. “Taking the kids from our districts, forcing them to kill one another while we watch – this is the Capitol’s way of reminding us how totally we are at their mercy.
…show more content…
They are first highlighted when Katniss uses the Tesserae system to give her family the food they need. She is willing to risk increasing her chances of being chosen for the game so that her family does not starve to death. In the words of Katniss, “District 12, the place where you can starve to death in safety”. (Collins 1) On top of that, she hunts, sells and trades items she forages and does not allow her sister, Prim, to use the Tesserae. However, despite Katniss’s grand efforts to keep her sister’s name from being drawn, we are surprised to find out that Prim’s name is chosen, given that her name had only been entered once. “Prim!" The strangled cry comes out of my throat, and my muscles begin to move again. "Prim!" I don't need to shove through the crowd. The other kids make way immediately allowing me a straight path to the stage. I reach her just as she is about to mount the steps. With one sweep of my arm, I push her behind me. "I volunteer!" I gasp. "I volunteer as tribute!" (Collins 2). It is then that the ultimate level of sacrifice is made by Katniss, as she is willing to face death itself if it means the survival of her …show more content…
Tributes are forced to kill each other while their families and friends watch from home. In the capitol, parties and bets are held in favor of the tributes, and it is an event the unsympathetic people of the capitol look forward to. “I can't win. …. The competition will be far beyond my abilities. Kids from wealthier districts, where winning is a huge honor, who've been trained their whole lives for this. Boys who are two to three times my size. Girls who know twenty different ways to kill you with a knife. Oh, there'll be people like me, too. People to weed out before the real fun begins.” (Collins 3). . The games themselves emphasize the concept of violence as entertainment. Many are given an unfair advantage (such as the kids from the wealthier districts), yet this is allowed because it is entertaining to see well-prepared kids slaughter the “weaker
They are first highlighted when Katniss uses the Tesserae system to give her family the food they need. She is willing to risk increasing her chances of being chosen for the game so that her family does not starve to death. In the words of Katniss, “District 12, the place where you can starve to death in safety”. (Collins 1) On top of that, she hunts, sells and trades items she forages and does not allow her sister, Prim, to use the Tesserae. However, despite Katniss’s grand efforts to keep her sister’s name from being drawn, we are surprised to find out that Prim’s name is chosen, given that her name had only been entered once. “Prim!" The strangled cry comes out of my throat, and my muscles begin to move again. "Prim!" I don't need to shove through the crowd. The other kids make way immediately allowing me a straight path to the stage. I reach her just as she is about to mount the steps. With one sweep of my arm, I push her behind me. "I volunteer!" I gasp. "I volunteer as tribute!" (Collins 2). It is then that the ultimate level of sacrifice is made by Katniss, as she is willing to face death itself if it means the survival of her …show more content…
Tributes are forced to kill each other while their families and friends watch from home. In the capitol, parties and bets are held in favor of the tributes, and it is an event the unsympathetic people of the capitol look forward to. “I can't win. …. The competition will be far beyond my abilities. Kids from wealthier districts, where winning is a huge honor, who've been trained their whole lives for this. Boys who are two to three times my size. Girls who know twenty different ways to kill you with a knife. Oh, there'll be people like me, too. People to weed out before the real fun begins.” (Collins 3). . The games themselves emphasize the concept of violence as entertainment. Many are given an unfair advantage (such as the kids from the wealthier districts), yet this is allowed because it is entertaining to see well-prepared kids slaughter the “weaker