In Suzanne Collins’ book, she paints an extremely grim dystopian society, where the people of the Capitol are raised up on the exploitations of their people. While their people labor day and night in districts surrounding the capitol, the citizens of the Capitol lavish in extravagance and comfort such as delicious meals at the touch of a button or weird fashion standards that can change any day. When I first read the Hunger Games in elementary school, it was just a really interesting book filled with gore, action, drama, and an new, interesting dystopian setting. However, now looking back at it, I feel like there are lots of similarities and parallels to our own society despite the dystopian setting of the Hunger Games.
One thing that stands out to me the most is the systemic disadvantages that exist at each level designed to separate and divide the people of the districts. With the concept of the tessera’s, it is easy to see how there exist such a systemic disadvantage towards the poor. This reminds me greatly of how privilege exists in our own society and how people like white, cis, middle-class citizens have inherently an easier life than others. These people of the districts cannot change the fact that they are poor and it only decreases the disadvantages against them. Even for someone as hardworking as Katniss, sometimes the hard work can not make up for everything but only help them get by. The Hunger Games especially highlights system discrimination in our own society. Sure, everybody can get a shot and become famous and rich, but not everyone can be like that. The risks also associated with being elevated to that status are almost life and death. I think while Suzanne Collins’ book is a very interesting read for many, it also highlights many issues in our own society and just like Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, it could possibly be a political statement of our own society.