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For my critique, I will be looking at The Hunger Games (2012) through a Feminist Lens followed by a Marxist Lens.
The Hunger Games is an intense action movie that was directed by Gary Ross and was written by Suzanne Collins and Billy Ray. The movie’s plot starts off where the nation of Panem is divided into 12 different districts that are ruled over by the Capitol. Every year, two young male and female representatives must compete in a televised event called the “Hunger Games”, that is broadcasted throughout the nation of Panem. When 12-year-old Primrose Everdeen is chosen to participate, her 16-year-old sister, Katniss Everdeen, volunteers to take her place with Peeta Melark. They are escorted by chaperone Effie Trinket and mentor Haymitch Abernathy to the Capitol where they train and prepare to battle against the toughest tributes, some of whom have been training for their whole entire lives.
Firstly, I will look at The Hunger Games through a feminist lens. A feminist lens highlights “The ways in which literature (and other cultural productions) reinforce or undermine the economic, political, social, and psychological oppression of women”. Looking at The Hunger Games through a feminist lens reveals itself to be an empowering, pro-feminist movie that challenges gender stereotypes in society by presenting a female protagonist.
In the beginning of the movie, when the Capitol comes over to District 12 to select the male and female tributes, Effie Trinket announces Katniss’s sister, Primrose Everdeen, for the female tribute. When Katniss hears this, she quickly volunteers to take her sister’s place. This is shown when she says, “I volunteer! I volunteer! I volunteer as tribute!” . Not only does this reveal Katniss’s character of being caring for her sister so that she wouldn’t have to go, but it also shows that she is brave. This challenges the gender stereotype that women are too scared, or too shy. When the Hunger Games start, and Katniss is fighting against the other tributes in the arena, she finds another tribute from District 11 named Rue, who is considered as a “weak” tribute amongst the others. When Katniss befriends Rue, they together look out for each other. When another woman from District 2, named Clove, comes and threatens to kill Katniss while mocking Rue, a man from the same district that Rue is from, named Thresh, kills Clove. After killing Clove, Thresh spares Katniss by letting her escape thanks to her kindness to Rue by saying, “Just this time 12… For Rue.” Katniss’s supporting relationship with another tribute earns her what no other woman in the arena deserves, and that is deserving the right to live. This challenges the gender stereotype that women are wicked. Close to the ending of the Hunger Games when Katniss finds Peeta camouflaged, she notices that he had some severe injuries. Katniss cares for Peeta by cleaning out the wounds and helping him walk to find a safe location to rest. Once they find a safe location, she cares for him even more by adventuring out into the wilderness to find a supply drop containing medicine shown in the line, “We’ll just get you some medicine”. This is a representation of how equally both genders can look out for one another even to the point of sacrificing their lives. This challenges the gender stereotype that women are dependent on men.
Secondly, I will look at The Hunger Games using a Marxist lens. A Marxist lens highlights the ways in which literature reflects on “the struggle between economic classes” and whether it “promotes or impedes progress toward a just, equitable society”.
When applying the Marxist lens to The Hunger Games, it reveals itself to be a satirical critique of capitalism. Unfortunately, it fails in its critique because it benefits off the very system it purports to critique.
Near the beginning of the movie, everyone in District 12 is working to produce and manufacture goods to provide for the Capitol. This is shown in the movie when Katniss goes to the black market where everybody is working and then the Capitol comes over to separate everyone. This shows the overwhelming power that the Capitol has over the 12 districts and is considered as a narrative of capitalism where the rich get richer and the poor get poorer. During the Hunger Games, when Rue dies, Katniss lays her body in a field, placing flowers all around her body. Katniss holds up the “Three Finger Salute” to the camera, and the peacekeepers ensure that no one interferes with the law. Members of District 11 see this and also follow by holding up the “Three Finger Salute”, which causes them to start a rebellion against the Capitol. This shows capitalism because of the media covering the game, which is predominantly filled with capitalist values that are used by the Capitol government. At the end of the movie, President Snow, who is the government of Panem, uses the peacekeepers to do his dirty work. To be specific, when Katniss and Peeta were the remaining tributes, Seneca Crane made a rule change at the end of the Hunger Games where only one victor may win. Peeta urges Katniss to shoot him, but Katniss comes up with a plan where they will both eat the poisonous berries so that the Capitol will not have their victor. Once the Capitol sees this, Crane quickly comes up and stops the two at the last second by saying, “Stop! Stop! Ladies and gentlemen, may I present the winners of the 74th annual Hunger Games.” This only made President Snow and the Capitol look weak because Crane was the Hunger Games Master and the public face of the failure. President Snow was not happy with Crane’s intervention and for punishment, assigned the peacekeepers to escort him to an empty room with the poisonous berries in a bowl. This shows that President Snow uses his powers to gain capitalism over Panem.
To conclude, after analyzing The Hunger Games through a feminist lens followed by a Marxist lens, it becomes clear that the movie is trying to promote feminism by showcasing a strong female character who is a good role model for women in general, thus revealing itself to be an empowering, pro-feminist movie that challenges gender stereotypes in society by presenting a female protagonist. On the other hand, viewers can clearly see the division in society between the Capitol and the 12 Districts, thus revealing itself to be a satirical critique of capitalism. Unfortunately, it fails in its critique because it benefits off the very system it purports to critique.
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