Blog no. 8
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To refresh you from last week's blog, I announced I was beginning a three-part series where I break down and summarise my dissertation findings. The focus of my dissertation was on one of my favourite book and film series of all time. Personally, this dissertation helped tide over my excitement for the beautiful and tragic adaptation of Sunrise on the Reaping that is being translated to the screen this November. I can't believe how close we are to it now!
Last week, I gave and explained three examples of different types of linguistic deviations. Well, today I am excited to dive into the second part of my dissertation, which explores different aspects of allegory. Allegory is a concept I hadn't ventured into much outside of one singular lecture, which actually was about this time last year. Applying that stylistic technique to The Hunger Games truly opened up some impactful social divisions that otherwise may have slipped through the reader's notice.
What is allegory?
Allegory is a stylistic technique that authors use to elevate and refine a specific message to the readers. This is also used to create contexts that readers may have experienced in their lives. Allegory is often used to comment on discriminatory elements, therefore portraying a message to readers from poorer backgrounds (who could be indoctrinated by those in power) that these actions are only self-serving to elites. Collins is trying to educate them so they do not fall into the trap of the elite, like those in her book have.
The three aspects of allegory I researched within the novel The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins were in the context of food distribution, geographical oppression, and media manipulation.
Food distribution.
Example: "Panem"
Interestingly, "Panem" is taken from the Latin phrase panem et circenses; this can be translated to "bread and circuses". How "Panem" has food allegorical connotations is by syntactic means: "bread"; it relates to food. This then puts a high emphasis on Katniss's own government (the Capitol) micromanaging the food resources for those below them. Circling back to the "circuses" part of the translation, that can then be linked back to the Capitol's use of entertainment to distract the masses and inflict human rights violations to provide luxuries for the rich. This just shows how those in power happily use it to their advantage to maintain compliance through others' desperation to survive. Collins uses this as a critical lens for the readers to consume and apply to their own societal structures. Isn't it so clever how one singular word can convey and portray something so deeply embedded it could go unnoticed?
Geographical oppression.
Example: "black cinder streets" - District 12, "glistening buildings in rainbow hues" - Capitol
Geographical oppression is depicted in every inch of the book, but one place that is openly evident is through the structure of Panem itself. In the examples above, the descriptions of the lowest and highest parts of Panem's society contrast one another, which is as expected. So, I looked below the surface and discovered that location itself defines their birthright. The Capitol and the higher districts were built there for a reason, as District 12 is located in Appalachia. Where the health hazards are the highest due to mining, this is based on real history that was happening as Collins was writing. It is known as the Coalfield Delegations of 2006; this affected water resources, began faster health decay, and damaged the natural ecosystems. So no wonder the Capitol was on the opposite side of Panem. It also shows how much the Capitol cares for the welfare of the poorest districts, as they used slow violence to exploit innocent people.
Media manipulation.
Example: "he made you look desirable"
Media manipulation is persistent through the surveillance of the tributes. The quote, "he made you look desirable," immediately emphasises the allegorical intention of the Games' media purpose of constantly being sculpted and crafted into something that will win over those at the top. Ultimately, this can be tied to the idea of the Spiral of Silence theory. For example, a particular news outlet enhancing one story to benefit their country whilst forcing the lower classes to believe it too. The elites' spun narrative is incredibly biased and erases any humanity of those they pin as the enemy. This influences anyone who doesn't align with that line of thinking to come to the understanding that "if I speak out, I am exposing myself to physical and mental danger," therefore leaving them powerless against the government's voice due to fear. So the need to make Katniss "desirable" is a desperate act to survive, causing her to align herself with the extremist consumption of the Capitol by partaking in their entertainment against her will.
Blog Wrap Up.
I really hope I opened you up to a new perspective on this book in general. As most of us are aware, this series really is political, but from dissecting it between the lines, it is even more so. Allegory is really interesting to look into, as the different persistent messages are so interesting to uncover and analyse from a stylistic point of view. It also highlights an accurate depiction of the political issues in our society to this day, as the main trilogy is a warning about the happenings of the early 2000s. The fact that Collins is still writing in this universe goes to show she isn't done critiquing those in power, as she should be. That aside, I cannot believe I have already written two out of the three blogs in this series. The only thing to keep me occupied until the new adaptation comes out is rereading the book.
Question: Which character from The Hunger Games do you think is underrated?
Until the next wick burns low,
Esme-Rose xoxo
Beetee is underrated. If not for his smarts the whole self-destructing 76th Hunger Games arena would have gone very differently.
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