Assignment 4- It's All Political

Almost all literature can be related to politics in some way. Weather it is an overwhelmingly general statement or something inspired by a specific event, literature is one of the greatest and most productive ways to spread an idea. Suzanne Collin’s The Hungar Games sheds a negative light on full government control. The country of Panem is controlled by a central city called the Capitol. Every year, one child is taken from each district of the country and forced to participate in “The Hungar Games.” These children are released into an arena and have to completely survive on their own until only one child is left living. When first reading the book I thought this was a very strange and unusually cruel tradition with little purpose. It then became clear that the Capitol was only doing this to remind all the citizens of the absolute control they held. Families and communities were completely helpless as one of their own children were sent into the arena with the tiniest chance of coming home alive. The government in the capitol also strictly controlled media within the country. School children were taught very little other than information on the specific resource their district produced and history of the country. Television was also very limited only broadcasting shows regulated by the government and preaching government ideas. This politically represents a totalitarian government and the author uses pathos with the struggle of the main character, Katniss, and her family as she is powerlessly sent away to the games to create a pessimistic shadow on this type of government.