Graduation Thesis

UNIVERSITY OF MARIBOR FACULTY OF ARTS Department of English and American Studies GRADUATION THESIS Darko Vöröš Maribor, 2015 UNIVERZA V MARIBORU FILOZOFSKA FAKULTETA Oddelek za anglistiko in amerikanistiko Diplomsko delo IGRE LAKOTE KOT DISTOPIJA Graduation thesis THE HUNGER GAMES AS A DYSTOPIA Mentor: Kandidat: Red. prof., dr. Victor Kennedy Darko Vöröš Maribor, 2015 Lektorica: Andreja Podvratnik, prof. slovenščine in zgodovine Abstract This diploma thesis will explore all three books of Suzanne Collins’s blockbuster young adult dystopian trilogy The Hunger Games. I have compared the novels and their film adaptations, elaborated on the history and creation of the trilogy, identified the dystopian elements within it, and analysed it from a Frommian, Veblenian and Žižekian perspective. I have also sought to explain why both the novels and big-screen adaptations have become so massively popular. I have found that one reason for the popularity of this trilogy is that it resembles the old heroic myths that never go out of fashion. Furthermore, many of the themes in the trilogy have contemporary relevance and examine some of humanity’s most pressing issues. Keywords: The Hunger Games, Suzanne Collins, dystopia, young adult, heroic myth Povzetek Namen diplomske naloge je proučiti vse tri knjige priljubljene distopične trilogije Igre lakote avtorice mladinske književnosti Suzanne Collins. Primerjal sem romane in njihove filmske upodobitve, raziskal zgodovino in nastanek trilogije ter proučil distopične elemente v njej. Delo sem analiziral z vidika Frommovih, Veblenovih in Žižkovih teorij. Prav tako sem skušal pojasniti, zakaj te knjige in njihove filmske upodobitve doživljajo tako izjemen uspeh. Po mojih ugotovitvah je eden izmed razlogov ta, da trilogija vsebuje prvine starih junaških mitov, ki nikoli ne zastarajo. Nadaljnji razlog je, da trilogija tematizira aktualne družbene pojave in ustrezno obravnava sodobne izzive človeštva. Ključne besede: Igre lakote, Suzanne Collins, distopija, mladinska književnost, junaški mit Acknowledgements I would like to thank everyone who supported me in completing this thesis. Specifically, I would like to thank my parents, whose encouragement has been invaluable and unwavering. I owe my deepest gratitude to my mentor, Dr Victor Kennedy, for his feedback and counsel, and for encouraging his students to always use critical thinking skills. I am also indebted to my many friends and co-workers, whose unflagging help has been crucial to the completion of this thesis. All of the help I received has been invaluable and greatly appreciated. Table of Contents 1. Introduction ............................................................................................................................ 1 2. Plot Summary ......................................................................................................................... 2 3. Introduction to Dystopian Literature and The Hunger Games Trilogy .................................. 5 4. Origins and History of The Hunger Games ......................................................................... 10 5. Changes from page to screen................................................................................................ 18 6. Faces of Dystopia in The Hunger Games ............................................................................. 25 7. The Cultural Impact and Popularity of The Hunger Games Franchise ................................ 33 8. Conclusion ............................................................................................................................ 42 9. Works Cited .......................................................................................................................... 44 1 1. Introduction Suzanne Collins’s The Hunger Games franchise has taken the world by storm. The novels, as well as their big-screen adaptations, have become almost as iconic as the phenomenally popular Harry Potter series. The trilogy is set in a dystopian future that is packed with contemporary references. The cultural impact of The Hunger Games has been widely acknowledged, with The Telegraph describing it as “an essential science fiction film for our times, perhaps the essential science fiction film of our times” (Collin). The franchise has even spawned a hit song, entitled “The Hanging Tree”, sung by the trilogy’s lead character, Katniss Everdeen. The question that emerges is: Why is The Hunger Games so popular? I will examine, in detail, all three novels of The Hunger Games trilogy, which comprises The Hunger Games, Catching Fire and Mockingjay. All of these centre on the main character, Katniss Everdeen, who is 16 years old when the trilogy begins. Katniss lives in Panem, a fictional dystopian version of modern North America, which is ruled by the dictatorial Capitol. Katniss is ordered to take part in the Hunger Games, an annual death match established by the Capitol as punishment for a rebellion that took place several decades earlier. As the trilogy unfolds, Katniss becomes a political rebel and national symbol of revolution. The Hunger Games trilogy touches upon many issues that are of contemporary importance. I will begin by placing the franchise in its context and, in particular, by comparing it to earlier but similar works such as The Running Man and Battle Royale. Next, I will compare The Hunger Games films and books, then analyse the dystopian elements in the trilogy. I will also establish what makes The Hunger Games so appealing to its audiences, and its young adult audience in particular. 2 2. Plot Summary In the trilogy, President Snow rules the country of Panem – the fictional backdrop of The Hunger Games – with an iron fist. The country is a post-apocalyptic version of North America that has been divided into 12 Districts, which the wealthy Capitol ruthlessly suppresses and controls. At the beginning of the story, Katniss Everdeen lives with her mother and younger sister, Prim, in District 12. District 12, also known as “the Seam,” is a coal mining area. Since the death of her father, Katniss has been the breadwinner of her family. With her friend, Gale, she hunts wild game to feed her family. She also sells some of it at the Hob, District 12’s black market. Every year, as punishment for a rebellion that took place decades earlier, each District must take part in the Hunger Games, a death match for children. All citizens of Panem are forced to watch. At the reaping ceremony, in which the tributes for the next Hunger Games are chosen, it is Prim’s name that is drawn. However, Katniss decides to save her by volunteering to go in her place. The other tribute from District 12 is Peeta, whose family owns a bakery. Mentored by Haymitch and trained by a prep team, Katniss and Peeta progress towards the Hunger Games. During a televised show before the Games, Peeta admits that he is in love with Katniss. She dismisses this as a publicity stunt, but his feelings for her are real. His crush has the added benefit of casting Peeta and Katniss as “star crossed lovers,” a gimmick that proves useful for enticing sponsors. Before the Games begin, all of the contestants have a tracking device implanted in their bodies. In the arena, Katniss teams up with another tribute, Rue, who is later killed. The Games’ authorities – known as the Gamemakers – decide to change the Hunger Games rules, allowing two tributes from the same district to win, so Katniss turns her focus to Peeta. She finds him very ill and near death, but is able to get hold of the medicine that he needs. 3 Together, the pair set out to slay their enemies, who now also include mutations, a set of genetically-altered beasts. They manage to take out all of them. The Gamemakers try to play Peeta and Katniss off against each other by revoking the previously announced change and declaring again that only one tribute can win. In the end, their willingness to make the ultimate sacrifice for each other sees them both declared victorious. Their joint victory does not go down well with President Snow, and Head Gamemaker Seneca Crane must pay the ultimate price for this decision. When the Games are over, Katniss is stunned to discover that Peeta has truly been in love with her all along. In Catching Fire, the next book in the trilogy, Katniss and Peeta move into their fancy new houses in District 12’s Victor’s Village. President Snow visits Katniss to tell her that she must prevent the impending revolution from happening. After Katniss and Peeta return from a victory tour, Katniss decides to run away with Gale, but they change their minds. Peacekeepers, or riot police, are sent to District 12 to quell possible sedition. Katniss learns of a revolt in District 8, and hears rumours that District 13 – thought to have been destroyed decades ago – is actually still in existence. The Capitol decides that the 75th Hunger Games – also known as the Third Quarter Quell – will feature previous Hunger Games victors as tributes. During the Quarter Quell, Katniss and Peeta befriend several other tributes: Finnick and his mentor, Mags, Joanna, Beetee, and Wiress, who realizes that the zones in the arena are set up like a clock. Together, they find a chink in the force shield that surrounds the arena. Katniss manages to dismantle the force shield but faints and has to be rescued by a hovercraft. Finnick, Haymitch and Plutarch are in the hovercraft. They tell Katniss that they are bound for District 13 and that she is the Mockingjay, the symbol of the revolution. Meanwhile, the Capitol

Load more