Hunger Games Sociology Essay - 1098 Words

Suzanne Collins’ novel The Hunger Games and its big screen adaptation follow the journey of a teenage girl in the dystopian country of Panem. Katniss Everdeen must fight to survive in a game of death against other youth from the twelve districts in Panem. However, The Hunger Games is not just a young adult genre obsession, but also a complex study of the social sciences. The symbolism and plot of The Hunger Games are prime examples of Sociology because they display different societal rules and norms, the struggle for power, and the importance of the media. Although The Hunger Games is set in the future, societal norms, rules and views still exist just as they do in today’s society. Macrosociology studies the wide perspective of such†¦show more content†¦Social constructs and the struggle for power are huge sociological aspects of The Hunger Games. The differences between the Capitol and the districts are easily noticed in the film and book; the bright and colo urful fashion, showing off wealth, and their carefree lifestyles are apparent. The Capitol and the ‘peacekeepers’ dehumanize the districts’ people at the reaping and throughout the novel. The Capitol uses these differences and the games to keep their control over the twelve districts and their citizens. In the novel, it is said that, â€Å"All year, the Capital will show the winning district gifts of grain and oil and even delicacies like sugar while the rest of us battle starvation.† Mass murder has become a foundation of their society. Karl Marx’s Conflict Theory suggests that society structures itself around imbalance , explaining the integration of the Hunger Games in Panem. Additionally, it describes the competition of groups for power. There are not only differences between the Capitol and the districts competing for power, but within the districts themselves. For example, District 10, 11, and 12 are much poorer than District 1, 2 or 3. This separation enables the conflict of rich vs poor. In the Capitol’s neighbouring districts, such as 1 and 2, they have a higher quality of life, and train their youth so that they can volunteer at the Reaping and have a greater chance of winning the games.Show MoreRelatedThe Sociology of the Hunger Games Essay1026 Words   |  5 Pagesthe Capitol and 13 districts. Each year, two young representatives from each district are selected by lottery to participate in The Hunger Games; these children are referred to as tributes (Collins, 2008). The Games are meant to be viewed as entertainment, but every citizen knows their purpose, as brutal intimidation of the subjugated districts. 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