Hunger is a common feature in many dystopias. In some cases its due to lack of food because agriculture, flora and fauna have been wiped out. In other cases, there are too many people for the available resources. In yet others, there are enough resources, they are not nut distributed equitably. This sounds too much like our world today, exacerbated by the pandemic. No need to dig into literature or film to understand the tragedy and challenge of hunger, and what people might do to feed themselves or their children.
Even hunger is very much a part of our world, how its woven in dystopia can tell us a lot about how a world works. For this, we will look at Suzanne Collins’ The Hunger Games. In this dystopia, all resources are shipped from the districts to the capital. As a price for a past uprising, each district contributes two competitors annually to the Hunger Games, where players kill each other until there is one standing. Players are chosen by a lottery. Winning districts receive extra food. The winning contender gets the luxuries of the rich in the capital–food, home, and money. Collins uses food throughout to remind us of the difference between the district and capital, and between the rich and destitute. The truth is, it takes little to create a dystopic life. Looking at Hunger and the Hungers games reminds us that we write and read dystopias because of how much they help us understand the world in which we live–the part we see, and the part we don’t.
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Is that why it is called ‘Hunger Games’? (I have never read it… errr).
@JazzFeathers
The Old Shelter – The Great War
Yes. Hunger is used to control the periphery. I’ve never read it either, but have seen the movies multiple times.
I jumped on the Hunger Games novel bandwagon before the trilogy was even completed. I couldn’t wait to get my hands on the second and then third novels. I was fascinated by the whole thing, and horrified to see it on the big screen. But I can’t look away. Fascinating, terrifying, but also a wonderful story that really speaks to the resiliency of youth. Although the movies are good, I really recommend the books. (As always) there’s a lot that gets left out that is really fascinating.