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The Hunger Games is a dystopian fictional novel by Suzanne Collins. The novel depicts an unequal world within which Panem and the citizens are troubled by the oppressive Capitol regime. The power of authority overcomes any others. Inequality is heavily present throughout the novel, both, in and out of the games. The Capitol holds influence and power over the other districts and is thus dominating in Panem. The main distinction in the novel is wealth- wealthier classes compared to poorer ones. Collins presents us with an unfair reaping system which is how tributes for the Hunger Games are selected. Inequality is also presented through the tributes- some tributes come trained for the games and thus have an advantage over others. Other disadvantages are also in terms of appearances and jobs. Regardless of the circumstances, Collins always highlights prejudice in situations. Effie says, “May the odds be ever in your favor”, but in Panem, wealth decides your odds.
The tesserae system is extremely unfair. The tesserae system helps decide who participates in the Hunger Games- a fight to the death. The tributes are chosen at a reaping which is held in the square. The reaping is also an opportunity for the Capitol to ‘keep tabs on the population’. Hypothetically, the system is fair, as everybody has an equal chance to be chosen for the games or so it is said. The poorer people in District 12 use tesserae- which are portions of meals and oils, to have their name entered in the reaping more times. It is their only chance at surviving. Richer households do not require tesserae and as a result, have their name entered less times. Gale has to face similar injustice during the reaping. When talking to Madge, he gets furious about how unjust and
corrupt the system is, as he had ‘six entries at the age of twelve’, whereas Madge was fortunate enough to be born into a wealthy family which means she does not require tesserae to survive. Even though the system is unfair and nobody can control how it works, ‘It’s just the way it is’ and the system cannot be changed- the injustice will always remain within Panem. The ‘reaping system is unfair’ in the age selection process too. ‘You become eligible for the reaping the day you turn twelve’- kids are qualified to participate in the Hunger Games rather than adults- who have a higher chance at winning. The Capitol only chooses kids to participate in the deadly games because they want Panem to feel powerless against them and understand how they are still in their clutch. Therefore, regardless of how the reaping system is displayed as random, the reality is that the poorer are more likely to be chosen and so are kids rather than adults because the reaping is only eligible for kids from 12-18... this shows the Capitol’s power and that kids die hopelessly for the sole purpose of entertainment but also injustice and sacrifice by having to follow rules and give up your life against your will.
The accolades from the wealthier regions have a benefit over those from other, more unfortunate areas. Also, the wealthy who do become accolades will, in general, have a further favorable position since they have been ‘trained their whole lives’ for the games and later, volunteer to attempt to win them. Even though ‘it’s technically against the rules to train tributes before they reach the Capitol’ regardless, ‘it happens every year’. These trained tributes are referred to as ‘Career Tributes’ or ‘Careers’, ‘as like as not, the winner will be one of them’. They are ‘the exceptions [are the kids] from wealthier districts, the volunteers’. They come from Districts ‘1, 2, and 4’ and ‘traditionally have
this look about them’. They are stronger, and better prepared for the tribulations of the Hunger Games, there are ‘boys who are three times [my] size’ and ‘girls who know twenty different ways to kill you with a knife’. They have a considerably greater advantage than the poor tributes who were selected accidentally. They are consequently more likely to survive. It is an honor for Career Tributes to participate in the Hunger Games, while for the tributes from the poorer districts, it is essentially a death sentence. Thus, regardless of the rules or the circumstances- the wealthier always have an upper hand over the poor, this is a display of bias because it proves that some districts are in no position to win the games whereas other, richer districts are built for this.
In Panem, wealth is vigorously engaged within the hands of the affluent, outstandingly those living in
the Capitol and a portion of the richer districts, like Districts 1,2, and 3, and thus it brings about a gigantic disparity between their lives, creating a detachment and differentiation between the rich and the poor in the novel. This disparity uncovers itself in changed manners all through the novel, anyway among the eminent are food, occupations, and appearances. Inside the helpless regions, a few of the occupants need more to eat. Katniss notes that ‘dying of starvation is a common cause’ in District 12, moreover, she needs to hunt wrongfully inside the forested areas to take care of and uphold her family. Disparity likewise appeared in occupations in District 12 ‘men and women with
hunched shoulders, and swollen knuckles, many of whom have long since stopped trying to scrub the coal dust out of their broken nails and lines on their sunken faces’ work all day and show exertion in their activity however are scarcely granted, also, their diseases are left unbothered and they don't tidy themselves up. While ‘they do surgery in the Capitol, to make people look younger and thinner’ because appearance is what’s concentrated on in the Capitol. In District 12, ‘looking old is something of an achievement since so many people die early’ chiefly due to working in the mines. This builds up the establishment of contrast between the rich and the destitute in Panem, with the center concentrated on the wealthier and no help given to the helpless which brings about making an unmistakable distinction in social classes.
Throughout The Hunger Games, inequality is consistently displayed. Likewise, Collins highlights the difference in ages, and how the reaping system is unfair by leaning an advantage towards the wealthier- the chances are never even. Suzanne Collins also shows us how money can cheat the law, rules, and the system- the Career Tributes are at an advantage due to their trained background, and the rules are exempted for them. Correspondingly, there is inequality between the classes which leads to an imbalance in jobs, food, and appearances. Citizens of the Capitol live a luxurious life whereas people of District 12 live in austerity. In conclusion, in Panem, wealth decides your fate.
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