What is an example of Allegory in the book hunger games?

Answer 1

There is foreshadowing on the covers. The first cover has the mockinjay pin, which is everything Katniss is. The second cover has the mockingjay escaping, which again, is exactly what happens, and the third cover, has the mockingjay pin, but with the bird broken away from the trapping circle. This book isn't out yet, but I'm sure we can all guess what this foreshadows.

The main symbol in The Hunger Games, is the mockingjay. The thing that survived despite the capitols intentions. Just like Katniss. She is the Mockinjay. And the mockingjay becomes the symbol of rebellion. Also, the whole 'girl on fire' thing. She metaphorically set the districts alight with the courage to fight. She was the spark and from her came a massive fire.

Holding out the berries was the spark too. :)

I miss prim D:

Answer 2

It all started with the coming up event of the 74th Annual Hunger Games. Two people from each 12 districts are chosen to go into the games. When they draw these names it is called the reaping. Katniss 14 years old volunteered to enter the games for her sister Prim. they allowed her to do so. Katniss and Peeta are the 2 main character's. Peeta is the other tribute chosen from district 12. There are 24 tributes in all, and at first, only 1 can win. As the games go on, they announce 2 people from the same district can win. Katniss and Peeta pretend to like each other. As the game proceeds, Peeta actually falls for Katniss and she doesn't know how she feels, she thinks she MIGHT like him but she also thinks she MIGHT like her BFF Gale back home. It is a very good book.. Katniss and Peeta win.

But there are tons of awesome details I failed to enter because I don't have enough time to rewrite the entire book. This is a book that I even read and I'm not one for reading it is a series and it has a lot of cliff hangers that make you want to keep reading so I'd honestly give it a try. I think I will start "Catching Fire" the next book.

Answer 3

You could argue it's an allegory of a number of things. One intepretation points to the generalized belief that the US/developed world lives at the expense of the undeveloped world. Think of the Capitol as the US/developed world and the districts as the developing world (Africa, parts of the Mid-East, parts of Asia etc). In the US, we produce very few goods. Most of our manufactured goods and energy resources (like petroleum) are imported from other nations. In exchange for the world's resources at low prices, we export less useful services like entertainment (i.e., movies and music), and provide military protection to parts of the world. People in the US spend vast sums of money on changing their superficial appearance, much like people in the Capitol. All the while, the people in developing countries starve and look at how much food and our extravagant lifestyles with disdain. (This view however ignores the fact that the conditions in developing nations are often a result of the bad economic and social policies of their own respective elected governments and corrupt regimes.)

The second interpretation attempts to draws symbolism from present U.S. politics with Washington D.C. as literally the Capitol and the unchecked power of the Executive Branch. The District of Columbia has become the wealthiest city in the US by serving as the headquarters of many special interests lobby all vying for the favors of politicians. Our capital is also popular circuit of many pro-bureaucracy celebrities and media outlets much like the Hunger Games, Effie Trinket and Caesar Flickerman. As the seat of absolute confiscatory power for the nation's taxing authority, it also collects a mandatory "tribute" from all fifty states. The name "Panem" alludes to "Panem et Circenses" (Bread and Circuses), referring to the ancient Roman emperors who maintained their popular power by providing free bread and entertainment to the masses at the expense of the provinces.

Another interpretation compares the relationship of Britain with its 13 American colonies which conveniently lends itself to the 13 districts of the book. Britain set harsh, oppressive rules and taxes on the colonies, just like the capitol treats the districts. The 13 colonies supplied Britain with supplies/resources (tobacco, cotton, clothing etc), just like the districts provide the Capitol with resources. Eventually, the 13 colonies revolted against Britain. Eventually, the 13 districts revolt against the Capitol. The differences are the early American govt. wasn't oppressive like the British while the new rebel govt. that replaces Snow and co. seem corrupt just like the previous govt.

There also is a strong anti-war/anti-violence theme in the book. In Mockingjay, Katniss seems to be suffering from shell-shock (something that happens to some people after they fight in wars or see horrific events--they withdraw as they are absorbed by the Horror of remembering what they went through. They also have horrible dreams about what they went through. It was common after Vietnam, a war the author's father fought in). Peeta's arguments for a cease-fire in the war between the capitol/districts because if the wars continue there won't be any people left also has a strong anti-war message that seems applicable to today. Also, in Mockingjay when the rebels are trying to crack "the nut" in district 2, Gale wants to go in and kill the Capitol forces by any means necessary, no matter how humane, while Katniss wants to make sure they kill the Capitol forces humanely. In Vietnam, we used Napalm and and firebomed the Viet Cong (similar to what happened to district 12). We also used types of gas (which some argue isn't humane). Also, Prim dies with lots of other children when they are bombed. Throughout the War on Iraq and in Afganistan, the press has had lots of coverage how children have been accidentally hit when the US has bombed high-value targets. Collins says she partly got the idea for the book while watching War on Iraq footage and her father fought in Vietnam which apparently severely impacted Collins. As a result, this theme is hardly surprising.

There is a strong anti-TV message. The hunger games are basically a cross between MMA taken up a few notches (instead of two guys trying to beat the snot out of each other it is a bunch of people trying to kill each other anyway possible), and a reality TV show. Just like in reality TV, the atmosphere of the hunger games is staged and elements are inserted to make the shows more entertaining (when the pods are activated/the gamemakers insert new elements). In reality TV, there is also a winner who gets a big prize. Katniss is disgusted by how she runs around with a camera following her for "propos," which continues the anti-TV/camera message. This message makes sense given how Collins came up with the idea for the book (watching reality TV+war on Iraq footage) and Collins is notoriously camera shy.

You also could argue that the hunger games are an allegory for teenage adolescence (see the Laura Miller in the New Yorker). According to the NYT, though "But this is not a theory that appeals to Collins. 'I don't write about adolescence,' she said. 'I write about war. For adolescents.'"

It's a bit of a long answer but I have been thinking about it since I finished the series and did a bit of research on the author.

Answer 4

Harry Potter. Katniss faces many dangers along with Harry. President Snow is the Voldemort and the Capital are the Death Eaters.