Made by Anaiya Patel and Annalisa Fletcher

The famous book and movie series “The Hunger Games” is loved by many for its extreme dystopian themes. According to film synopsis it states, “The Capitol of Panem maintains its hold on its 12 districts by forcing them each to select a boy and a girl, called Tributes, to compete in a nationally televised event called the Hunger Games. Every citizen must watch as the youths fight to the death until only one remains. District 12 Tribute Katniss Everdeen has little to rely on, other than her hunting skills and sharp instincts, in an arena where she must weigh survival against love.” The Capitol has full authority over poorer districts by using fear, economic control, and public spectacle to establish disparities. Even though all the events are clearly fictional and extreme, certain concepts like the wealth gap between the rich and the poor, government power, and manipulation of media are things that can be compared to real life. Throughout history and still today, governments and social systems have been criticized for fueling inequality, silencing other views, and exploiting vulnerable groups.

Bella Ncho[10] explained, “I feel like it was captivating, I liked the movie better than the book, it felt like more slower filler information and the movie made the plot points feel more intense.” She also pointed out the social and political parallels to real life and that it shows how powerful groups can influence public opinion and how gossip and media can shape how we view others in our society. Additionally, there’s the extreme wealth gap between the corrupt Capitol and the districts which can be reflected in our modern economic inequalities where people feel that taxes and resources aren’t being spent in ways that would benefit the public. Bella quotes the concept of “trickle-down economics” which is where leaders promise that wealth will eventually reach and benefit everyone but in reality, it is false hope to the people that are struggling. While society does not literally make people fight to death like in the games, we still have issues with governments and systems taking advantage of vulnerable populations by jailing them or targeting them overall.

Mina Ly [9] says “Rich people want to keep the poor people poor.” People in districts are forced to put their names in a box to get food in order to survive. But this comes with repercussions as your name is more likely to be pulled from the box of potential tributes. It’s similar to real life as people are forced to make difficult decisions to survive even if there are consequences. This shows how both Panem and some real societies use poverty as a way to keep people dependent, tired, and unable to fight back. In “The Hunger Games”, many elements of Panem reflect real‑life systems of power and inequality. The Capitol keeps the districts poor to maintain control, showing how “when people are struggling to survive, they can’t challenge those in power,” just like in real societies where poverty limits opportunity. Mina says, “The capital follows the words, your life is ours to take,” which mirrors how some systems use harsh punishment to keep people silent.

The Capitol distracts its citizens with luxury and entertainment, proving that “when people are dazzled by comfort, they stop questioning the lies that hold that comfort together.” Mina adds that the little kids with the swords playing around like it’s a game show and not big deal however for the other party it’s life or death reflects how people only really care when it directly impacts them. Characters also show these connections: Haymitch represents trauma survivors who carry invisible scars from violence, while Finnick’s exploitation reflects the way young celebrities in real life are used for profit and attention. Even outside the arena, struggles like poverty and gentrification echo real issues, because “escaping poverty feels impossible when opportunity is only offered to a select few.”

Mina discusses how the games were created to instill fear, and how they can take your life at any time in the same way that ICE agents evoke fear in immigrants because they can get away with killing you even though it’s extremely unethical and immoral. Mina further explains that the Capitol’s extreme wealth shows shocking differences between social classes. Mina says, “A woman gives Peeta a drink so he can throw up and eat more.” This illustrates wastefulness that the starving districts could never imagine. This sharp divide emphasizes how inequality becomes normalized when one group has far more than they need.

Beyond the arena, the story also connects to modern issues such as gentrification. Mina says, “in real life, people are often forced out of their neighborhoods when wealthier buyers move in, build large homes, and raise property values so high that original residents can no longer afford to stay.” This resembles how the Capitol forces the districts into fixed roles, controlling where they live and what opportunities they have. Just as Panem makes it nearly impossible for districts to escape poverty, gentrification creates situations where escaping economic hardship becomes equally difficult. Many families today face homelessness or displacement because systems value property and profit more than community stability.

What makes The Hunger Games stand out is that it does more than just tell a dramatic survival story. The world of Panem exaggerates problems that many people already notice in real life, such as economic inequality, media influence, and the way power can be used to control others.