The Hunger Games

I thought I'd chime in on these books since I have now read them all. This post is response to criticisms of The Hunger Games made on a local homeschool list. Please keep in mind my analysis is by no means complete or all-inclusive. The books are too complex for me to take in everything in one reading. Of course, each parent needs to decide for themselves what they will and won't read in their families. And I think we should all have our choices respected and not have our faith or intelligence questioned if we happen to allow a book that someone else doesn't. :) So here are my two cents:

I do not think the books are at all as I've heard first person shooter video games described. (Note: I have no experience with those games!) Nor do I think the reader is meant to be entertained by the killing. (I agree, I would find that sick!) The violence in the trilogy is found to be despicable. The idea of teens killing other teens is loathsome, and those characters in the story who find it entertaining are variously portrayed as evil-minded or dehumanized, out of touch with the dignity of the individual. Parallels are drawn between the story and the Ancient Romans. Sacrificing one or two people for the supposed good and punishment of all is also criticized and its short-sightedness is pointed out. There is a difference between freely giving up one’s life for another--making that choice oneself--and being forced to do so.

I’m puzzled by the commentary on my homeschool list that found no Christian themes in the book(s) because I was reminded of the Jews talking about letting Jesus be killed for the good of all, but that Jesus said no one takes His life, but that He lays it down freely. One of the things that makes Katniss the heroine is that she freely offers to go to the Hunger Games in her sister’s place, to spare her sister. There are other examples of characters showing such compassion and/or love for others.

Something that really surprised me in the books is that procreation is linked with marriage! How often do we see that in popular culture?! A character expresses not wanting to get married because she doesn’t want to have kids subject to the Hunger Games. In today’s post-Christian society (our present day society) wouldn’t people just contracept? That isn’t an option in the Hunger Games. Elsewhere marriage is recognized as something very special, and is celebrated by all, even under very adverse conditions. And pregnancy is viewed with respect, albeit such as can be given in such a world as the Hunger Games. That even those most hardened can be touched at the thought of carrying one’s dearly loved husband’s child is a testimony to truth, no matter how messed up a society is.  

My take on the books is that they are meant to be disturbing, because the author is asking us to think about what it might be like to live in a totalitarian society. She is also asking us to think about whether a select few, independent of the people they govern, can make wise decisions. She shows a connection between the decision to treat people like animals on a large scale, and disordered appetites on a personal level. She takes a stand against those who would want an eye for an eye. She asks the reader to look at what motivates rescuers. (I don’t want to be more specific because I don’t want to have spoilers.)

Back to the heroine-- Catholic author (and Steubenville grad) Regina Doman gives talks across the country to aspiring Catholic writers (at homeschool conferences and writers’ workshops) and she says the challenge they face is to create protagonists, “good guys”, who are appealing, with whom we can identify, who are exciting, etc.. She points out that much of modern literature makes the bad guys far more exciting and interesting than the good guys. (I heard her speak a couple of years ago at the Dayton Catholic Homeschool Conference.) Anyway, I think the author of the HG trilogy succeeds--for the most part--in achieving this in her Katniss character. (And no, I don’t know what faith, if any, that Suzanne Collins has. Truth has universality.) Katniss is wounded, but not defeated. She doesn’t subscribe to societal norms of beauty and popularity, but is none-the-less, attractive. She is strong and independent and yet still able to acknowledge her need for others. She is compassionate and respects the dignity of others. She is appalled and sickened at what she is asked/forced to do in the Games. She has experienced great hardship and loss, but she still has an innocence in the ways of the commercialized world in which she is thrust. She is tough but not hardened.

I think these books have *very mature* themes and are not for children, as they present ideas that I think are beyond the intellectual capabilities of most children. And the third book has a mention in it of forced prostitution. Very sensitive readers of any age might find them too intense. IMHO, teens are going to vary a lot in their ability to digest and understand these books. So my recommendation is to read them yourselves to decide; you know your child/teen best. And yes, I agree with a previous poster that we can learn about the ideas presented in the trilogy in other ways, and through studying history. I also agree with the poster who pointed out that literary devices are also used to convey truths and there is a need for both. But just as someone cautioned me that Jeff Cavins’ Bible Timeline might not be appropriate for children because it discusses the more mature Bible stories, so, too, a parent must choose when and if to introduce literature with such violence and mature themes.

And now for a very important caveat: Mercy killing and suicide come up without consideration of their moral implications. The topics are not treated lightly but as an ultimate resort. Never-the-less, the characters, in considering suicide and mercy killing, don’t discuss the moral implications of such actions. That was very disappointing to me. I think suicide/mercy killing is presented as a viable action only in the most dire circumstances (which don’t include the appalling virtual slavery that most of the citizens live under,) but the lack of a Catholic worldview is evident in this aspect of the trilogy. Given the books popularity, I think it’s important to challenge this sort of thinking (so prevalent in our modern day culture) that preventing suffering can be a reason to end a life. It isn’t.

Also, the morality of Katniss wanting to kill someone for revenge isn’t addressed. And I’m not sure that it really is revenge per se. But she expects someone to be executed for their crimes and she wants to be the one to do it because of the harm that this person has caused to so many, including her and her family. Whereas Katniss expresses distaste/disgust with the Hunger Games tributes having to kill each other, and feels anguish about so many people’s deaths that she feels were because of her, I don’t remember her questioning the taking of this one life of a “bad guy”. I think she feels justified in wanting that person’s death. It reminds me of today, when not infrequently the loved ones of murder victims express not feeling closure or satisfaction or whatever until the perpetrator has been executed.

I don’t know about you, but we’ve encountered quite a number of people who have read these books. I hope to be able to engage them on the above observations I’ve made. Since they are being widely read, I think it is important that these books be discussed, especially with a Catholic worldview in mind. And, of course, I will be interested to learn what others take away from their reading of them.