Category: Dystopia

A dystopian satire is a significant and interesting type of literature to read and get engaged in .If you read various types of dystopian based stories you would notice that they normally have three main themes though-out the text. Such as Futuristic , Survival, and Government Control. Those who enjoy it say that it is both a thrilling and depressing experience due to certain characteristic the stories themselves may entail . A dystopia satire could be described as stories told in high-tension environments,because of the constant actions or the captivating, story-lines. These specifics aspects certainly play an important role in the continued success of most dystopia satires . This paper will be comparing and contrasting two kinds of dystopia satire fiction , such as The Hunger Games, and the Handmaids Tale .

In order to fully compare the similarities and differences between the two stories in detail, the term “dystopia” needs to be defined. According to dictionary.com, dystopia is defined as a “society characterized by human misery, as squalor, oppression, disease, and overcrowding”. Another website describes dystopia as” an imaginary place where people are unhappy and usually afraid because they are not treated fairly”. However the Oxford dictionary defines dystopia as an” imagined place or state in which everything is unpleasant or bad, typically a totalitarian or environmentally degraded one”. However the term is defined , they all have one similar concept in common—and that is the fact that dystopia worlds are portrayed as unfavourable places to be . Further aspects of dystopia societies may portray future-like settings due to the technological and environmental advancements being described in the stories, This will be explored further down the essay when discussing the Hunger games and Handmaids Tale.

The novel Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood tells a satiric story of a totalitarian government in first person narration . In this dystopia the society consists only of men who dominate women based on strict , incorrect and pathetic Christian ideologies. The government uses fertile women called “handmaids” for baby making purposes, mainly because of a decrease in birth rate. In Handmaid’s Tale, women are unfortunately used and controlled , they are forced to have no identity because their futures are already planned for them. There is no freedom for anyone , especially the clones and the handmaids, they are refined as nothing and treated as less than a human. In contrast to the Hunger Games where the targets and those suffering are young kids and the parents. Gender does not play a huge role in how you are treated . However in both stories the government mercilessness enforces laws and regulations for their own amusement and gain . Justifying its reasons for doing so by stating that they wish to maintain peace and harmony within the societies. In both dystopia worlds, the laws are apparently meant to ensure the safety of all citizens . But this is done in a very twisted way.

A recurring theme between the two stories is the use of manipulation and propaganda in their respective societies . In the Hunger games novel by Suzanne Collins, the main character Katniss Everdeem struggles everyday in the propaganda consumed society known as Panem . In this society there are twelve districts and one all mighty and powerful Capital . The capitol uses persuasion and propaganda through the “games” to keep all the districts under their control . They take children from each district and forcing them to fight and kill each other , for survival, while their parents are forced to watch in horror/ suspense and celebrate it . The civilians are also starved as a method of control “Most people in the district, Katniss explains, don’t have enough food “ (Collins 1-3). These are tactics used to put fears in the hearts and minds of Katniss and the civilians that live in Panama.

When I was younger, I scared my mother to death, the things I would blurt out about District 12, about the people who rule our country, Panem, from the far-off city called the Capitol. Eventually I understood this would only lead us to more trouble. So I learned to hold my tongue and to turn my features into an indifferent mask so that no one could ever read my thoughts. (Collins 6)

This quote by the main character Katniss further explains how the fear and controlling tactics used by the capital worked, and the effects it had on the minds of many civilians. Constantly living in terror and having to watch what u say , in fear of being punished.

Comparable to the Handmaids tale , where the main character Offred lives in a controlling and cult like society called Gilead . In the community she is forced into being a sex slave , who’s only purpose in life is to bear children. In the novel she is brainwashed to believe that such an existence it is honorable one . Aunt Lydia in the novel is quoted manipulating Offred by stating, “Yours is a position of Honour “ (Atwood 13) . A statement that is far from the truth , due to the fact that majority of the women are forcefully kept in a buildings where many wish to run and escape but cannot do so , because of the intense security surrounding the place . It is not an honorable position .

The handmaids are psychologically tormented , they are deceived to believe that they are free just because they can move around in their community , however in reality they are completely trapped. Offred illustrates this concept well by stating , “A rat in a maze is free to go anywhere, as long as it stays inside the maze” (Atwood 165). The conditions are so devastating that some handmaids concluded that taking their lives is the only way to get actual freedom in Gilead. A contrast between the two satires is that ; women in Gilead face more extreme and dire conditions due to the wicked patriarchy government then women in Panama , This is because women aren’t the specific targets in the hunger games. The women with suitable ovaries in Gilead have no identity of their own because they are used for baby making purposes against their will . The entire ordeal the handmaids have to face is traumatizing .The kind of trauma is illustrate in chapter 13. While talking about her body, and comparing how she use to view it verse how she sees it now Offred says ,

I use to think of my body as an instrument , of pleasure, or a means of transportation , or an implement for the accomplishment of my will .. Now the flesh arranges itself differently. I’m a cloud , a congealed around a central object , the shape of a pear, which is hard and more real than I am. (Atwood 71).

In this quote the main character is traumatize because she sees that her former self no longer matters , and that now her boy is only significant because of its “central object” aka her womb. In Gilead women are seen as objects and not individuals. That mindset alone can traumatize anymore and make them feel worthless.

A final factor connecting the two dystopia satires is the theme of being under constant watch by the government . In the Hunger Games the watchmen are called the “Peacekeepers” , an active militarily force controlled by the capitol to keep an eye on everyone in the districts of panama and to maintain order. While in the Handmaids tale the watchmen are known as “ The Eyes “. The eyes (police) in Gilead are use as a propaganda tool by the government to keep everyone in fear . They are used to convince and scare the citizens into thinking that the eyes of god and the eyes of the police are one and the same . That kind of manipulation created by government as a means of control , completely embodies a totalitarian regime/state. This satirizes the real world by having us the reader step back and look at how our own world is governed . One example in particular regarding government control are abortion laws and bans. Government creating bills and laws telling women want they can and can not do with their own bodies. In a article entitled -Abortion Bans Strip People of Their Human Rights- published by TIME a writer explains that “ the bans are designed to control and confine women and girls to stereotypical gender roles. They are an affront to their human rights and dignity and constitute gender discrimination’ (Newberry-Gheer) . The connection between the article can be tied to the handmaids in Gilead not having freedom of choice when it comes to their body . Totalitarianism stories may also satirize real life problems by reflecting on, women imprisoned and currently living in patriarchy environments while not having the freedom to make their own decisions- without suffering serious consequence or sometimes even death. “Any person who does not control what happens to their body cannot be free.” (Newberry-Gheer)

In closing both the Handmaids Tale and the Hunger Games are similar in futurist setting descriptions , and key traits on how the dystopia societies are govern with cruelty . Two significant differences in the stories however are the targets being tortured and humiliated – which consist of women and young – kids respectively and the various punishment and controlling lifestyle the citizens must endure throughout the story .

Works Cited

1. Atwood, Margaret Eleanor. The Handmaids Tale . New York : Anchor Books. 1998 ,c1986. Print.
2. Collins, Suzanne. The Hunger Games. New York: Scholastic, 2008. Print.
3. Newbery, Uma Mishra, and Jamie Tood Gher. ‘Abortion Bans Strip People Of Their Human Rights. Here’s Why We Must Stand In Solidarity Against Them.’ Time. N.p., 2019. Web. 7 Mar. 2020.

War, a terrible war. A war in the form of a game. How would you feel if you were a tribute in a game like that? The hunger games by Suzanne Collins is a dystopian novel reflecting on the world we live in right now. The hunger games have many aspects that reflect on this world. The dystopian novel portrays the biased government(the capitol) and the social classes we live by. I am here to convince you that The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins is an engaging book and movie for teenage audiences and should be read by them. In my speech, I will cover the themes of power and society & class and how they help to engage the audience

Collins confronts readers with the harsh reality of life in the districts where the people are not allowed to speak up. Districts which are controlled by the Capitol aren’t allowed to speak up or do any rebellious activity against it because the Capitol will cut off the tongue, proving they have more power over the districts. This dystopian concept is showcased through the usage of emotive language and dialogue that is experienced by the characters. “What’s an Avox?” I ask stupidly. “Someone who committed a crime. They cut her tongue so she can’t speak,” says Haymitch. “She’s probably a traitor of some sort. Not likely you’d know her.” This portrays the power the Capitol has on the Distract. How is this a fair system? The Capitol is like our world, where power and injustice take place, causing many innocent people suffering just like the people from the districts. Many people in our world today, don’t speak up for their rights or opinion because the authorities that are ruling have more power, as a threat to go against them. Overall this element of collin’s novel reinforce how “the hunger game” engage teenage audiences by reflecting on our world.

Collins informs the readers about the judgemental social class they have in their world through this novel. In many cases, you get given respect, opportunity and resources depending on where in the social class you sit. How is this a fair social system? This is showcased through the use of Contrast and imagery which helps to grab the audience’s attention. “They do surgery in the Capitol, to make people appear younger and thinner. In District 12, looking old is something of an achievement since so many people die early.” This shows how much the Capitol is higher in society because they are open to more resources than the people in the districts. The people get more money to spend on desirable needs, such as their appearance when the people in the districts barely get food to eat on a daily basis. Similarly in our world, the upper class gets to spend money on their desires whereas the lower class can barely feed themself. Therefore this once again emphasizes the idea of how “The hunger games” engages teenage audiences via showing the world they currently live in.

In conclusion, The hunger games is an engaging novel and should be read by teenagers. The novel is more engaging and appealing to teenage audience because of the use of language techniques and relating it to their world today. I encourage you to read the hunger games and learn the importance in our life.

To know whether Panem is a command or market economy, we must first understand both. A market economy is a type of economic system where prices and production are determined by unrestricted competition by privately owned businesses, like the United States. Another way to look at it is that in a market economy, the activity is unplanned, it is not organized or controlled by a central authority but rather by the supply and demand of goods and services. On the other hand, a command economy, often referred to as a planned economy, is a different type of economic system where investments, production, incomes and prices are controlled by a government.

Knowing this information we can see that Panem is a command economy. In Panem we can see that there appears to not be any ownership of private property. More probable, it appears that the government assigns all housing. We can also see that the government in Panem can take away people’s possessions at any time and try to justify it by saying that it is for their own good. Seeing how the government in Panem treats its people, we can also infer that the government controls that production and pricing of goods. Finally, in Panem we see that there is also a major disparity with individuals’ wealth. We see that the higher up members of the government have all the wealth while the people in the other districts starve. These are a few of the many things we can see in Panem that make it a command economy.

There are a few reasons as to how the relationship between District 12 and the Capital is explained by the extraction model of development. To start off, district 12 is based around their main skill of coal mining. In the real world the coal mining industry would have more competition for labor and with the organization of unions, they would be able to raise their wages. Not wanting this to happen the Capitol in Panem does things a little differently. To keep this from happening, the Capitol gives the miners in District 12 subsistence wages, or wages that are maintained at the minimum level. People who are watching this movie may think, “well why not just move to another district where wages are better?” Knowing this is what people would want to do, the Capitol banned its people from moving to other districts to search for more opportunities. If the Capitol allowed the people of District 12 to earn more money, families such as the Mellark family who own a bakery in District 12, would have more customers because people would have more money to spend. This whole process would eventually mean that District 12 would grow and its people would do better. But the extractive institutions set in place by the Capitol keep District 12 from doing this, leaving them in a permanent state of poverty.

When you look at District 12 you see a group of people with such a low amount of money that they can barely afford to keep themselves fed. Knowing this, when hearing the question “In what sense are poor people in District 12 too poor to actually buy things” a few things come to mind. Mainly what comes to mind is the people in District 12 being too poor to buy things in the sense that they can not purchase things that will allow them to make money. In an economy such as ours, someone in poverty can attempt to buy things or start things such as a business to get out of poverty. In District 12, not only does the Capitol make sure they can never make enough money to do this, but the Capitol also owns everything, so it wouldn’t be allowed even if you could. What also comes to mind is that people in District 12 are too poor to buy things in the sense that they are literally way too poor to buy things. With the wages they are being given by the Capitol and the sheer lack of resources, people in District 12 are just far too poor to buy things.

This system of not allowing people in a District to make enough money to purchase things can really affect the development of their economy. In order for an economy to grow you need to have goods and services being produced as well as people with enough money to afford and purchase those goods and services. In District 12 it is impossible for this to happen. With the incredibly low wages prohibiting the people of the district from producing these goods, the economy of District 12 is at a constant standstill. They aren’t allowed to create businesses, they can’t afford to produce goods and services, and even if someone did, none of them could afford it. Unless something were to change such as increased wages or the ability for citizens to buy land or structures, the economy of District 12 will never grow or get better.

The Capitol is in charge of the distribution of all resources to all districts throughout Panem. You may be asking yourself what is in it for the Capitol to waste resources on the lower Districts. This is called opportunity costs. Put simply, opportunity cost is losing a benefit that could have been gained if a certain choice had not been made. In this case, the benefit lost by the Capitol is extra resources that they could have used for themselves but instead chose to give to the Districts. The Capitol does this because they want to make the Districts dependant on them. They know that there is a less of a chance that the Districts will try to rebel if the Districts know they get all of their resources from the Capitol.

Making sure the Districts do not rebel is not the only reason the Capitol gives other Districts resources. Another big reason is because all of the other districts have a purpose, they all have jobs to do. If the Capitol does not give them the proper resources to do their jobs then they will not be able to produce the Capital with the necessary items. Knowing this, the Capitol must make sure that the districts always have the minimum amount of resources necessary to do their jobs. It is very interesting looking at Panem from an outside perspective. Panem is like a bunch of cogs and gears that power one machine, that machine being the Capitol. If one gear stops working, then the whole machine stops working. So if one District stops working, everyone suffers.

In our lives we have new technologies being created everyday. Oftentimes these technologies have a common theme when they are being created. That theme is usually what technology can be created to make, fill in the blank, easier. Society wanted to travel further distances quicker and more efficiently, so the car was made. When we wanted to go even further even faster, the plane was made. When writing letters and making phone calls in a phone booth was too hard, we created the cell phone. Panem and the Capitol do not have this same approach. The theme of the Capitol creating technology in the hunger games can better be described as, what technology can be created to make sure Districts obey us. Instead of technology making life easier in Panem, it seems to make life for the people of the Districts harder. We see some of these technologies in the hunger games movies. We see the Capitol’s soldiers with weapons to keep the districts in line that none of the people of the district own. We see aircraft whose purpose is to identify and sometimes execute people of the districts who are out of line. We also see technology that allows items and animals to appear in the hunger games arena. Many of these technologies could be used to help the districts but instead are used to make sure order is kept.

A common theme seen in the hunger games is the large technological differences between the districts. Despite the Capitol having a large array of very advanced technologies, we can see that Districts such as District 12 are suffering from starvation and disease. This is all due to the Capitol’s ultimate goal of having the Districts provide all necessary items for them while making sure they themselves benefit with all the money and fancy technology. Could the Capital distribute and teach other Districts about these technologies? Sure, in fact it would benefit everybody. The people of the Districts would have access to technology that would better their way of living. And the Capitol wouldn’t have to worry about rebellion because the people of the Districts would be happier. But, remembering that this is a movie, we all know that if this was the case the whole plot for the movie would not work. The Hunger Games is a very entertaining movie with many interesting connections to the world of economics that I would have never seen if not for the question given to me.

The Hunger Games, an insightful novel by Suzanne Collins, is based on morals and justice. This novel is about Katniss Everdeen, a 16 year old girl and tribute for The Hunger Games, who is obligated to fight to the death with twenty-three others. She and her male counterpart, Peeta, are pitted against bigger and stronger representatives who have trained for this competition their whole lives, however, this advantage does not intimidate them. Trust, determination, and love and friendship, are prevailing themes apparent in The Hunger Games.

These themes enhance the book by creating characters, adding more excitement to readers. Katniss and Rue’s alliance was based on trust and loyalty, while the others were only together for defense and to prevent them from being vulnerable in the moment. Furthermore, Katniss and Rue contained a powerful bond and always watched each other’s backs. Katniss was very kind to Rue as she told her because she regard Rue as her sister. It was essential for Katniss to trust Haymitch as she put her fragile life in his hands. She obtained significant advice and strategies from Haymitch’s experience, which had benefited her in the long run. Haymitch was the key difference between her life and death. As stated from the book, “Your mentor is your lifeline to the world in these games. The one who advises you, lines up your sponsors, and dictates the presentation of any gifts” . Overall, trust is a huge part of the Hunger Games, if you place your trust in the wrong person at the wrong time, there is a limited chance of survival.

The theme of trust is also clearly present throughout the other relationships in the book. The story’s champions, Katniss and Peeta, were willing to do things that put themselves in grave danger, just to prevent each other from getting harmed. Also, Katniss always put Peeta’s well being before hers and treated him the way she would want to be treated. As quoted from the book, “If I die at the feast, District 12 isn’t likely to have a victor” .

Another major theme in The Hunger Games is determination. Against all odds, Katniss was determined to win the games for Prim. Despite Katniss’ hardships, she was motivated to put in her best effort as she knew Prim would be anticipating her every move, and that was also one of the vital factors of her survival. In the book, Katniss quotes, “For her sake, I try to look as least desperate for water as I possibly can”. From the get go, Katniss had no one to rely on but herself. She had to think independently and cautiously in order to stand a chance in competing and eliminating the rest of the tributes. During the story, Katniss quoted, “Being in the woods is rejuvenating. I’m glad for the solitude even though I’m probably on-screen right now” . The young hero, Katniss, is also a very skilled and talented hunter but what makes her so unique is her defiance. Katniss successfully managed to outwit, outlast, and outplay all the other tributes, and along the way, she was essential towards helping Peeta recover from his injury. As it states from the book, “She said ‘she’s a survivor, that one’. She is” . Determination is a qualities that Katniss demonstrates well before the games even begin, and then serves exceedingly well in her quest to survive The Hunger Games.

The final theme that is prominent throughout The Hunger Games is love and friendship. The love for Katniss’ sister and mother is what helped Katniss maintain the strength as the provider of the family, as well as courage and fortitude throughout the brutal games. In some scenarios, Katniss was losing hope and her will to survive, however, when her thoughts turn to her family, she does whatever it takes to overcome her struggles. As Katniss states from the book, “…Really, really try. I swear it” I say. “And because of Prim and my mother, I’ll have to” . A small act of kindness can solve even the biggest of problems. When Peeta offered loafs of bread to Katniss for sharing with her desperate family, his generosity indicated his love for her.

Katniss could, “never shake the connection between this boy, Peeta Mellark, and the bread that gave hope” . To honor Rue’s death and express her anger and hatred towards the Capitol, Katniss even covers Rue’s corpse with brightly coloured flowers and gives a farewell gesture. After Rue’s death, Katniss was determined to avenge her in order to make her loss unforgettable. As it states from the book, “I won’t close my eyes. The comment about Rue has filled me with fury, enough fury, I think to die with some dignity”. In a way of showing her disobedience towards the Game Makers, Katniss intentionally formed an alliance with Rue. In addition, she also opposed the rules from her desire to keep both Peeta and herself alive in the end. Katniss, Rue, and Peeta were brought together, to achieve the ultimate goal of defiance.

The Hunger Games shares many significant messages and themes with its readers. Trust, determination, and love and friendship, were critical to survival for both Katniss and Peeta. The Hunger Games was definitely successful in giving a meaningful message for readers to take home and cherish. This book will certainly open many people’s eyes for appreciating the peaceful environment were given.

This essay discusses director, Baz Luhrmann’s director style. In addition, this essay will apply Baz Luhrmann’s unique director style to the 2012 dystopian film, The Hunger Games (which is based off of Suzanne Collins’s novel of the same name), in order to for the film to agree with the criteria of Luhrmann’s Red Curtain Style.

Firstly, the cinematographic and directing style seen in The Hunger Games, as it is, is significantly different from that of Baz Luhrmann. Foremost, Luhrmann would ensure that the establishing scene of the film reveals the ending of the storyline as well as the films essential symbols. These symbols would be cleverly framed (as seen in The Great Gatsby with the green light in the dock).

Therefore, to apply this to The Hunger Games the establishing scene would begin with the forest fire in the 74th Annual Hunger Games Arena that Katniss Everdeen escaped. The foreground reveals a mockingjay bird perched on a tree branch while the forest fire in the background frames the bird. In the distance Katniss whistles the bird’s song and the bird replies. Katniss then begins to sing “Deep in The Meadows” thus introducing the artistic device of song the film, as seen in Moulin Rouge!

An arrow comes flying from off-screen and the camera tracks it up-close at a high speed. Just before the arrow hits the bird the speed suddenly alters to slow-motion and the bird flies up to dodge the arrow. With CGI the forest fire forms a ring around the bird and arrow, thus creating the essential symbol of the mockingjay pin ( that Katniss received combined with that of fire. All the while Katniss is not yet shown on-screen.

Thereafter, the scene will cut to that of the coronation after the 74th Annual Hunger Games’s conclusion. Katniss and Peeta Mellark are being crowned in an arena filled a crowd. Their faces and identities remain unknown. Before the crowning the camera moves rapidly over the loud and cheering crowd only halting abruptly on a close-up focus on important people who look directly into the camera, as seen in Moulin Rouge’s opening sequence when the camera moves through the streets of Paris. As Katniss is crowned This Girl is On Fire (Alicia Keys) plays as background music; a modern song which relates to the symbol of fire in the film. Her face is hidden during her exchange with president snow, revealing only her mockingjay pin.

In addition, Katniss twirls before the audience and her dress catches fire, as during the Tribute Interviews, just as the chorus begins. The camera moves in circles around Katniss, following her movement to disorient the viewers. The camera constantly cuts between circling Katniss and circling the audience.

Furthermore, Katniss’s delayed introduction will finally take place during the District 12 Reaping. The reaping takes place during the night and the courtyard crowding with people is lit up by multiple trash-bin bonfires. As such, fire, an essential symbol of the film, portrays the idea of poverty and suffering in District 12.

Sucker for Pain begins to play as background music after Effie Trinket says “As usual – ladies first.” The lyrics of the song emphasise the evident sadism in that members of each district are forced into a game of death for entertainment, for which Katniss volunteers. The music silences before the chorus as Katniss detaches from the crowd as her sister, Primrose, nears the stage after being called. The camera focuses on a far shot of Katniss over Primrose’s shoulder with Primrose out of focus. The camera zooms in rapidly to an extreme close up of Katniss’s lips as she says “I volunteer as tribute.” The camera then immediately zooms out to a medium shot displaying Katniss’s determined face and the chorus of the background music resumes. The rest of the song plays until the end of the scene.

Lastly, Peeta will be the narrator of the film as seen in The Great Gatsby (Nick) and Moulin Rouge! (Christian). Peeta would be a considerable choice for a narrator as he is heavily involved in the plot and is usually around the main character, Katniss. He would be able to recount pivotal moments in the film during a live interview with Caesar Flickerman after the 74th Annual Hunger Games with regular flashbacks throughout the film.

In conclusion, the elements of Luhrmann’s Red Curtain Style has been applied to The Hunger Games. The elements of framing through fire and that of revelation through the coronation have been applied in the establishing scene. Post-modernistic music such as This Girl Is On Fire and Sucker For Pain have been added to scenes to emphasize the particular symbolism prevalent in these scenes. In the opening sequence Luhrmann’s characteristic chaotic camera angles and artistic device have been applied.

Some adaptations make significant changes to the original text, while some fail to depict the thoughts of the author. This is especially the case with the adaptation of The Hunger Games, which has undergone several changes. Some of these alterations were necessary to create the desired effect for the audience.

Hunger Games is about a young girl named Katniss, who is a tough hunter. She brings food to the table after her father’s death. Every year, the capitol of Panem holds an event called the Hunger Games, where two civilians from each district are selected to fight in an arena.

One of the main differences between the book and the movie is the way they treat the relationship between Katniss and Rue. The other major difference is that the Mocking Jay pin is given to her by the mayor’s daughter. Also, the game-maker is also a third person, and not in the book. Lastly, the mutts are used by the game-maker differently.

The way the movie is set up and the way the book is presented changes the way people react to the death of Rue. For instance, in the book, the district 11 gave Katniss an arena token as a sign of gratitude for her noble acts. On the other hand, in the movie, the district 11 gives her an actual medal. Even though she died in the movie, Rue is still very much an iconic figure in the sequels. When she dies, the people of District 11 start to protest against the government, and they eventually overthrow the Capitol patrol officers.

Another major difference is that while reading the book, one can see the Avox girl, as she is not a minor character. While reading the book, Katniss regularly meets with some of the Capitol servants and serves them drinks and food. One of the servants that she recalls is an Avox girl, who was a desperate escapee when she was caught.

Another illustration of a death is Thresh. It is implied that he was killed by Cato, who is a vicious cold-hearted man. It is also believed that he killed some dogs that were released in the arena in order to kill some tributes that remain.

In the book, Katniss prepares herself for the games by practicing her archery skills with her companions. When entering the arena, her only focus is on making the games through. Due to the fact that some of the minor characters in the book have more extended roles in the movie, the Game Maker is mostly left out of the spotlight. In the end, he is faced with a one-word choice: kill himself.

Based on the book by Suzanne Collins, the character of Gale is the best friend of Katniss. When she enters the Games, he seems to be a forgotten character in her mind. Also, he is shown to have an active role in monitoring her movements. Gale was in a way his brother as she tells in the beggining of the book.

In the book, the two share a closeness and admiration for one another. This relationship is also shown on a dubious way. She gets various people she loved before she goes to the Games. Some of them are her sister and mother, as well as her father. In the process of making a movie, many changes are inevitable. However, in the end, they are not that serious.

The Hunger Games movie and novel are both well made projects but in the end the novel is far more processed than the movie. You can see that even the characters change in how they know one another and appereances. In my opinion i like movies more than reading so technically the movie for me was better but i cant disagree with the fact that the book got me hooked up on what will happen next.

In the book the Handmaid’s tale it shows The Causes of Complacency. People believe that, how they got to a certain point is fair and Just , Causes of Complacency, In the Handmaid’s Tale because individuals going through suffering and Persecution, by the Ladies by and large help Gilead’s presence by enthusiastically partaking in it, and disregard to have any sort of impact.

In an authoritarian state, Atwood proposes, individuals will suffer persecution energetically as long as they get some slight measure of intensity or opportunity. Offred recollects her mom saying that it is ‘really astounding, what individuals can become acclimated to, as long as there are a couple of remunerations.’ Offred’s lack of concern after she starts her association with Nick shows reality of this knowledge. In the book it says “I said, I have made a life for myself, here, of a sort. That must have been what the settlers’ wives thought, and women who survived wars, if they had a man. Humanity is so adaptable, my mother would say. Truly amazing, what people can get used to, as long as there are a few compensations”. Offred considers Ofglen’s idea to assist her with getting away Gilead, and she defends her craving to remain. Since she has started seeing Nick furtively, she believes she has something more to live for contrasted and the years she abandoned love or friendship. Despite the fact that her circumstance has improved a piece, her readiness to remain basically a detainee in Gilead shows how little it takes to cause her to disregard the monstrosities occurring in her reality. Her circumstance limits her frightfully contrasted with the opportunity her previous life permitted, however her association with Nick enables her to recover the most modest piece of her previous presence. The physical warmth and friendship become pay that make the limitations practically endurable. Offred appears to be all of a sudden so content that she doesn’t state yes when Ofglen gets some information about the Commander.

The Ladies and by a large help Gilead’s presence by enthusiastically partaking in it, filling in as operators of the extremist state. While a lady like Serena Joy has no power in the realm of men, she practices authority inside her own family unit and appears to savor the experience of her oppression over Offred. She desirously protects what little power she has and employs it anxiously. Along these lines, the ladies known as Aunts, particularly Aunt Lydia, go about as willing operators of the Gileadean state. They teach other ladies into the decision philosophy, watch out for resistance, and for the most part serve a similar capacity for Gilead that the Jewish police did under Nazi principle. In this quote “Is that how we lived, then? But we lived as usual. Everyone does, most of the time. Whatever is going on is as usual. Even this is as usual, now. We lived, as usual, by ignoring. Ignoring isn’t the same as ignorance, you have to work at it. Nothing changes instantly: in a gradually heating bathtub you’d be boiled to death before you knew it.” Offred thinks about a discussion she had with Moira in school. She thinks that its difficult to accept that they were once so easygoing and lighthearted such that life in Gilead doesn’t permit. Here, she concedes that they weren’t unconscious of the progressions occurring around them. Like everybody, they wanted to imagine the progressions weren’t going on and live their lives of course. The willing obliviousness in the end prompted the ascent of Gilead, which shows how perilous disregarding a circumstance can be.

Atwood’s message is disheartening. Simultaneously as she denounces Offred, Serena Joy, Aunts, and even Moira for their lack of concern, she recommends that regardless of whether those ladies gathered quality and quit consenting, they would almost certainly neglect to have any kind of effect. In Gilead the minor uprisings of protections don’t really make a difference. At last, Offred escapes as a result of karma instead of opposition. In the book, it says “I didn’t go on any of the marches. Luke said it would be futile and I had to think about them, my family, him and her.”Offred reviews that when she was terminated from her activity since ladies were never again permitted to work, there were some little dissent walks she didn’t join. She and her better half surrender to the progressions occurring in their reality. As they felt weak to oppose the new system, they attempted to concentrate on their family. Be that as it may, on the grounds that insufficient individuals attempted to retaliate, their family wound up being destroyed in any case.

In conclusion Offred remembers her mother saying that it is truly dumbfounding, what people can become accustomed to, as long as there are two or three compensations. Offred’s absence of worry after she begins her relationship with Nick shows truth of this information. Notwithstanding the way that her situation has improved a piece, her preparation to remain fundamentally a prisoner in Gilead shows how little it takes to make her dismissal the immensities happening in her world. While a polite Serena Joy has no power in the domain of men, she rehearses authority inside her own nuclear family and seems to enjoy the experience of her mistreatment over Offred.

In the book the Handmaid’s tale it shows The Causes of Complacency. People believe that, how they got to a certain point is fair and Just , Causes of Complacency, In the Handmaid’s Tale because individuals going through suffering and Persecution, by the Ladies by and large help Gilead’s presence by enthusiastically partaking in it, and disregard to have any sort of impact.

In today’s society, we are always striving to make our world a better place. Many texts and films have been created to depict a utopian world that enables people to explore and experience the perfect society anyone could wish for. However, aiming to establish a utopian society can lead to a dystopia, as we may feel inclined to take drastic measures such as censorship, surveillance, and control to keep us safe, but is also an invasion of privacy and a breach of human rights. Texts like Fahrenheit 451 and Nosedive exaggerate and critique current controversies in our society and provide an accurate glimpse of our future. Do you think we are living in a dystopia?

All mainstream media are supposedly covering every single angle to this virus that they can, with all the updates on cases, hoardings, and brawls from country to country, to keep society up to date with the latest news. But is showing the panic helping us stay calm? And how is toilet paper more newsworthy than the real issue – the victims of the virus, the nurses and doctors working countless hours, the conditions of lockdown and deaths around the world? Long queues, toilet paper, and face masks are not the full picture of the pandemic. So, what is being censored? It is impossible to answer this question, but inferences can be made. China has had no new cases of coronavirus. This is great news to hear and it gives much-needed hope…but…Why are foreign journalists expelled from China? During this pandemic, Facebook and YouTube have been charged with censorship. The posts were ‘fake news’ and ‘scams’, but then why have the ethical teams charged them? And who is watching us and why? There is danger in censorship. This kind of propaganda is the foundation of a dystopian world and we are beginning to see it!

Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451 imagines a dystopian world where information and knowledge are censored through the banning and burning of books. In multiple scenes, the main character is seen burning books in people’s houses because these books and the information they contain have been censored to prevent knowledge from the citizens. With the elimination of information that contradicts the government, people will only know what they are told by the government; they think it will eradicate any issues in their society. “If you don’t want a man unhappy politically, don’t give him two sides to a question to worry him; give him one. Better yet, give him none.” Of course, we are not burning books and rewriting history, but we are constantly being overwhelmed with contradicting information and thus there is no trust in our leaders. 

A common ideology that our contemporary society associates with social media is that it enables individuals to communicate, share information, produce and distribute content, and connect with others. But when we press agree, do we know where our information goes? It is so easy to agree to the terms and conditions so when we sign through, we sign our information away. Who is accessing and using that information? The amount of data that these apps collect is concerning. One can agree that the information that we post online is used as a way of surveillance, the surveillance that strips us of our privacy which we have a right to. So, what’s going on with this new Tik Tok app? TikTok is a Chinese social networking app where that is used to create short dance, lip-sync, comedy, and talent videos for lighthearted fun. However, do not be fooled by the quirky 15-second videos, TikTok tok has been accused of surveillancing the activities gathering the private and personally identifiable data that tracks the location and activities of its users, and selling them to servers in China. Crazy right? Our data is out there and we cannot do anything about it….The company is benefiting from the alleged surveillance because it uses this data to sell targeted ads. Surveillance may be justified when dealing with law enforcement agencies and tackling crimes such as terrorism and money laundering, however, surveillance causes an invasion of privacy to millions of users whose privacy should be respected and protected, otherwise will lead our society to a dystopian. 

Black Mirror’s Nosedive portrays a dystopian world where social media has dehumanized human interactions, relationships, and empathy. In the film, the fact that every character wears a digital contact lens connected to the phone’s rating app shows that they are constantly put under surveillance by the government and as individuals, and can go through each others’ data, especially with the content they post and when they posted it. This links to our current society in which lives are constantly put under surveillance by electronic devices and social media apps, such as TikTok, where the constant surveillance and breach of privacy will lead to a dystopian society. The more we know about where our information goes, the more fear of dystopia we have…..

As a society, we all try to make our world a better place by comparing it to utopia. But in an attempt to create a utopia, our current controversies determine whether we are becoming a dystopia because of the censorship using propaganda and the constant surveillance of social media apps. Texts like Fahrenheit 451 and Nosedive have predicted that censorship and surveillance are relevant in our society by exaggerating our societal fears. Have these societal fears become reality? Now do you think we are living in a dystopia?

“Dystopian writers focus on the oppression of their gender and fail to consider the oppression of the other sex within their novels” Explore how far you agree with this view [30]

Dystopian literature often suggests that gender plays a pivotal role in one’s freedom, both Atwood’s ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ and Orwell’s ‘Nineteen Eighty–Four’ demonstrate the difficulties within different gender divides. Whilst both novelists share the common theme of ‘gender oppression’ both texts approach oppression in separate ways.

Writers of dystopian literature focus on the oppression of their gender through the use of language. Both protagonists (Offred + Winston) experience restrictions on their language as the institutions attempt to reduce their thoughts by limiting their ability to communicate effectively. Both novelists stress the importance of language on freedom and without sufficient language, we’re unable to experience a full range of emotions further oppressing our thoughts. In ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ Offred is forbidden to read or write; even the cushions with “faith” and “charity” are removed from her bedroom making it impossible for her to expand on her vocabulary. Atwood explores gender oppression when readers discover that the men in Gilead are free to read the Bible and contextually this links in with 1st wave feminism where women were powerless in a patriarchal society that forbade them to have equal rights such as an education. Meanwhile, Orwell approaches language differently by considering both genders, the debauching of language in ‘1984’ makes criticisms of the Party “linguistically impossible” as argued by Bernard Crick. The debauching of language affects both genders and Orwell includes the ‘oppression of the other sex’. Although Orwell considers both men and women, the debauching of language seems to affect men more. Orwell excludes women by stating how Julia “didn’t care for reading” but Ampleforth has been arrested because he wrote the word “God” in a poem and due to the “destruction of words” he could not think of another word to rhyme with “rod”. This idea is mirrored in many other dystopias such as Lois Lowry’s ‘The Giver’, in this dystopia protagonist Jonas is “careful about language” as he “searched for the right word to describe his feeling” This description reinforces that without the right vocabulary we are unable to communicate our thoughts. This view is further supported by Ludwig Wittgenstein who states: “The limits of my language mean the limits of my world”. Wittgenstein’s statement supports the view that without the right vocabulary, one cannot express oneself, placing a “limit” on their “world”. In Atwood’s dystopia this statement mostly applies to women as the men in Gilead are free to expand on their vocabulary and Offred’s only chance of expanding her vocabulary is through a hidden note and scrabble. While this game of Scrabble is “indecent” and “dangerous” Atwood showcases through a feminist point of view that this game is Offred’s chance to escape into a “fantasy” world far away from the “heart of Gilead”. Both novelists highlight the significance of language on the range of thought and demonstrate how a reduction in words affects both genders – Orwell choosing to do so from a male point of view and Atwood exploring through a female point of view.

It could be argued that both dystopias ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ and ‘1984’ depict women as systematically degraded by men. In Orwell’s novel, we see a male point of view on women, Winston’s first impression of women is that they “were all alike” This description reinforces how women are looked down upon by men reducing their individuality to the collective. Similarly in Atwood’s dystopia the Handmaids are all described as being “alike” and “doubled” This diminishes their identity making them unimportant. Correspondingly, both novelists consider gender oppression of women, ‘1984’ Winston’s first impressions of Julia are sexual as he observes “the shapeliness of her hips” and in their first sexual encounter he objectifies her further stating how “except for her mouth, you could not call her beautiful”. It could be argued that Orwell is more interested in how Julia appears to Winston than her personality, Julia is described in a similar way to the Proles and Orwell has done this to perhaps indicate how women suffer from criticisms from men. This is most evident when Julia’s swearing is likened to “the sneeze of a horse” – the use of animalistic terms presents Julia as inhuman. Beatrix Campbell argues in her essay ‘Orwell – Paterfamilias or Big Brother?’ that the portrayal of Julia as a sex object with no interest in ideas is typical of Orwell’s negative attitudes towards women, even when he’s trying to be positive about them. About the question Orwell is trying to acknowledge the oppression of both sexes but fails to understand the opposite sex defining women using rational terms such as “rabbit” and “horse”. Comparably, Atwood’s dystopia explores the objectification of women through ‘The Ceremony’, in this ceremony the Handmaids are referred to as “two-legged wombs”. This links in with Second-Wave Feminism which Atwood was inspired by: this movement campaigned for social change regarding domestic violence and sexual harassment. In addition to this, a Marxist feminist would have turned their attention to how women are turned into commodities, in ‘1984’ Julia becomes Winston’s “physical necessity” and in Atwood’s dystopia, Offred is a necessity to combat the Birth dearth. This is supported by K. Reshmi who states how Offred’s “body is segmented, and her value is determined based on her reproductive capability” – this links in with the American New Rights movement in the early 1980s which warned about the Birth dearth and the right to abortion. Both novelists have focussed on gender oppression by demonstrating a bleak future for women as they’re often seen as a “physical necessity” rather than an individual.

Dystopian literature focuses on the importance of ‘names’ on different genders. Both Atwood and Orwell demonstrate the significance of belonging and having an identity, both dystopias suggest that without names one cannot claim individualism. In Atwood’s ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ women are stripped of their identities, almost every woman is referred to as either: a Wife, Aunt, Martha, Econowife, Unwoman, or Handmaid with the prefix “” before their commander’s name. This links in with Puritan New England, many of the practices in Atwood’s Gilead resemble those ideas of Puritanism. For example, Anne K. Kaler writes that New England Puritan women were assigned names like ‘Silence, Fear … Be Fruitful’ to be ‘reminded … of their feminine destiny’, and they were not allowed to use combs or mirrors or wear anything but plain and functional clothing according to Gina Wisker. This is reflected in Atwood’s dystopia as Offred’s identity has inevitably been stripped away from her and she’s physically confined inside her little red riding hood uniform with “white wings”. Atwood has deliberately placed the prefix “Of” before Offred, Ofwarren, and Ofglen’s names to demonstrate that they are the property of someone else – they’re objects rather than people. Atwood focuses on how patriarchy affects women by deliberately choosing to use the prefix ‘Of’ to showcase how Handmaids and women, in general, are commodities. However, in ‘1984’ names are addressed differently – Orwell gives his character Winston a full name but Julia is just a first name, this may demonstrate Orwell’s views towards women forcing readers to question whether are men more deserving of a full name than women. However, Orwell’s main focus is on the oppression of men – in Part 3 of ‘1984’ Orwell depicts how identity is easily erased, Winston is no longer referred to as “Winston Smith” but is referred to as “6079 Smith W”. Interestingly, in focussing on the oppression of men Orwell neglects Julia’s oppression in the Ministry of Love as he fails to consider her as a prisoner only focussing on Winston and how men are affected. It is only until the end of the novel we discover that Julia has been released but during the torture, we see no sign of her. Whilst both writers have addressed the oppression of their gender they both deceptively use names to suggest the opposite. Orwell’s reference to “Big Brother is watching you” perhaps sardonically overplays what the government should be like – an institution that cares for and protects its citizens by “watching” over them rather than depriving them of their individuality. By using such terms Orwell is criticizing the rise in powerful dictators of the 20th century – Stalin named himself ‘Uncle Joe’ and in the novel ‘1984’ the term “Big Brother” resembles this kind of oppression experienced in the 20th century. Similarly, Atwood has used deceptive names in her dystopia such as “Aunts” – usually an Aunt is a caring figure who looks over you, but the Aunts threaten to abuse Handmaids with “cattle prods”. Both novelists have addressed gender oppression similarly, the reference to ‘Aunts’ a feminine word makes us question whether is Atwood also addressing gender oppression on men, and the term ‘Big Brother’ is deliberately masculine perhaps addressing gender oppression on men + women caused by men.

Undeniably both novelists have focussed their attention on the oppression of their gender as pointed out by Margaret Atwood in the Guardian “The majority of dystopias – Orwell’s included – have been written by men and the point of view has been male”. Although both writers focus mainly on oppression towards their gender they both consider the opposite sex for example in ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ Atwood introduces us to Nick and how he is affected by this whole regime.

Katniss and Peeta have to work even harder to overcome the bias against them and win the hearts of the sponsors and the crowd. Being as poor as they are comes with some benefits and some disadvantages. They have been underfed most of their lives which means they are skinny and weak compared to the other tributes. Living in District 12 also gives them a natural sense of survival. Katniss spends a lot of time hunting to survive which is basically what the Hunger Games are. Peeta also uses skills from his trade, like his cake decorating, to give him an upper hand in the games. Just like in their everyday lives Katniss and Peeta are spending every waking moment during the games fighting to survive. Because of the social class system set up by the Capitol people are treated very unfairly based on where they were born.

The time that Suzanne Collins lived in when she was writing this book had a heavy effect on the plot of the book. It was from watching TV that the concept of the Hunger Games came to her. She was surfing the channels and saw a reality TV show where people were competing to stay in the game and footage from the invasion of Iraq. The two concepts mixed in her mind and led her to the Hunger Games. She published the book in 2008 which was a time when reality shows, like Survivor, were very popular. If the reader approaches this book thinking of it as a reality TV show, a lot of the same themes arise. The authors give a glimpse into the character’s normal life then follow their story as they go through a series of challenges. The reader or viewer is then able to relate with the characters because they are normal people and then think about themselves in the same situation.

The Hunger Games depicts a society in which traditional gender stereotypes for men and women are prevalent. In District 12, men are expected to have a job, normally in the coal mines, to provide for their families. While women fill their role at home taking care of their children. In our society, men are thought of as strong, physical workers, while women are seen as weaker more emotional beings. The book follows the story of two characters who challenge this thinking through their way of survival at home and in the Hunger Games. Katniss Everdeen is a 16-year-old female who is strong, intelligent, confident, and skilled at hunting, more specifically archery. She does all that she can to take care of her younger sister. Peeta Mellark works with his father as a baker in District 12. Peeta is the male counterpart to Katniss in The Hunger Games. He is physically strong from his work, but also emotionally expressive. The society in which they live conducts an annual reaping for the Hunger Games. They select one girl and one boy from each of the 12 districts to compete against one another in a battle to the death, held in a huge arena created by the Capitol.

“It was slow-going at first, but I was determined to feed us. I stole eggs from nests, caught fish in nets, sometimes managed to shoot a squirrel or rabbit for stew, and gathered the various plants that sprung up beneath my feet. Plants are tricky. Many are edible, but one false mouthful and you’re dead. I checked and double-checked the plants I harvested with my father’s pictures. I kept us alive.” This is a quote from The Hunger Games where Katniss is describing how she provides food for her family. After her father died in a mine explosion her mother shut down. Instead of getting a job and working hard to give her family a “normal life”, Katniss’ mother just laid in bed all day feeling bad for herself. This left Katniss with huge shoes to fill. She worked hard every day to keep her family from starving. This wouldn’t necessarily be the response of every teenage girl. She risked her life daily to go outside of her district, into the wilderness to hunt.

“We were five. You had a plaid dress and your hair… was in two braids instead of one. …’ So that day, in the music assembly, the teacher asked who knew the valley song. Your hand shot right up in the air. She put you up on a stool and had you sing it for us. And I swear every bird outside the windows fell silent. And right when your song ended, I knew – just like your mother- I was a goner.” This is a quote from Peeta describing the moment he fell in love with Katniss. His crush on Katniss develops throughout the book, starting as a secret and ending as a tool Katniss uses to win the hearts of the sponsors. Even when they were first selected at the reaping Peeta was open about his emotions. He wasn’t like the other male tributes, acting tough and emotionless, he let people see his emotions and tried to be himself. He wasn’t in the games to win them or to look cool he wanted to prove a point. The night before the games he says, ‘Only I keep wishing I could think of a way to …to show the Capitol they don’t own me. That I’m more than just a piece in their Games.’ Unlike their society, Katniss and Peeta show that males and females don’t have to fall into their stereotypes, but can both be vulnerable, strong, likable, admired, and ultimately themselves.

Depending on a person’s gender and where they were born, they live completely different lives. The over-powerful Capitol is to blame for this cruel injustice. For the most part, the people of Panem seem to have come to accept this fact and just do what they can to get by. Peeta and Katniss are different. They prove that people from District 12 aren’t worthless but can win the games. They show that their gender does not determine or constrain what they can do. Throughout the book, Peeta and Katniss teach people a lesson by continuing to challenge the status quo of Panem.