Dystopia In The Hunger Games

In The Hunger Games, Suzanne Collins depicts a dystopian world, in which a totalitarian government tries to control the people through a mixture of force and surveillance. Does it succeed with the protagonist, Katniss? Is she able to choose to be, behave, and do, as she wants?

The text begins by introducing the protagonist Katniss Everdeen, who was a hunter living in the country of Panem in District 12. Their government works in a central city called The Capitol who are an overpowering government who control the people and all the resources by fear, cruelty and by withholding food and forcing children into killing themselves in the Hunger Games. The establishment of the Hunger games is a form of control by the Capitol.
When Katniss’ sister Prim gets selected to play in the games, Katniss selflessly takes her
place. She demonstrates a determined loyalty to herself and her family. She would rather put herself in the midst of danger in order to protect her family. Katniss despises the Capitol because while the people in the districts fight poverty and oppression, the people in the Capitol all live in comfort and luxury. Although Katniss opposes the Capitol and their ways, she begins in the story not being able to understand herself, unsure of what she is fighting for and where she stands.
Before commencing the games, Katniss along with the other selected children from other districts undergo an elaborate training and preparation.
They are first set up with a team of stylists to get them presentable for the games to be televised. At first Katniss is apprehensive and has negative views on them, thinking they are all shallow, since they are after all a part of a system run by the Capitol. She feels they don’t know what it means to be truly human as they have become desensitised by the tragedy happening around them. However she meets her main stylist, Cinna who she learns to trust because he does not fit the stereotype at all and becomes a friend to her. Cinna shows Katniss that people are defined by the choices they make, rather than who they are. He eventually assists in her rebellion against the Capitol such as holding hands with Peeta during the parade. Katniss allows herself to play along in the games and put on an act in front of the cameras, because she feels that is what the viewers/ sponsors want to see. She also plays along in a “love story” between Peeta and herself in order to evoke sympathy from watchers to send them
gifts.
When Katniss first participates in the games her predominant strategy was just survival. As the story progresses, her motives change and instead is driven by her motivation of defiance of the Capitol and opposing the oppressive regime. She meets Peeta, who teachers her not to become dehumanised by the games as well as her friend Rue who died during the games with a fighting spirit. This event opened up her eyes to become more self-aware in making a difference and to be a part of those who oppose the Capitol. She shows this by decorating Rue with flowers as an act of defiance against the Capitol to show them that Rue was more than just a piece in their games. This was the moment of transformation for Katniss where she became aware of her spirit and embraced it. She learns to respect humanity more and appreciate those around her. She shows this when she no longer hated Cato because she realises that he is only a player in the game just like the rest of them. Katniss takes part in the resistance among the underprivileged in the Capitol’s rule.

References
Collins, S. 2009, The Hunger Games, Scholastic Children's Books, Croydon, Surrey.