Exploring propaganda and power dynamics through mythological symbolism in Suzanne Collins’ The Hunger Games: a Marxist analysis

Abstract

This paper examines the dynamics of power and propaganda in Suzanne Collins’s novel, The Hunger Games, from a Marxist perspective. It aims to highlight the complexity of the narrative of how propaganda becomes a tool for the Capitol’s populace control, much like previous capitalist administrations did. This paper explores how manipulative strategies perpetuate societal imbalances, where the ruling entities profit from exploiting the working class. The paper critically analyzes the novel’s themes of rebellion and oppression in the current discourse on political change and social injustices. Specifically, it investigates how the Capitol’s manipulation of public sentiment and its resemblance to capitalist exploitation is directly reflected in this novel as a critique of the current power structures that benefit a select few rather than the majority. It aims to initiate conversations regarding allegations of social injustice and oppression that are not addressed in the novel but are typically reflected in the readers’ circumstances. This study also explores the significance of The Hunger Games’s cultural impact in expanding the literacy discourse to encompass social justice concerns. Additional research could investigate further intersections between literature and Marxist theories regarding the more practical activities of societies to activism and transformative power.