Even before the first movie came out in 2012, the “Hunger Games” trilogy had become a worldwide sensation and obsession. With the third movie again being a global phenomenon people have started to ask one simple question; could the Hunger Games actually happen?
Forget Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark. Forget the 13 Districts. Focus on the concept. The government in Panem, called the Capitol, uses the Hunger Games to remind its citizens that the government controls everything, even children’s lives. Throughout the 75 years of the games, over 1,700 children aged 12-18 have died and most were killed by other children. The games are projected in each district as “entertainment.” In order to make the games last longer and make the tributes look better, survival training and stylists are provided. There isn’t really a point to that part, since the Capitol just chose 24 kids at random to die, except one.
Can history actually repeat itself? Jennifer Lawrence, who plays Katniss, stated “Gladiators used to fight in an arena for entertainment. Humanity has watched other humans die as entertainment before. It can happen again.” These ancient traditions used to be thought of as the best sport and only the strongest survived. This is the same logic involved in the Hunger Games, only with teenagers and better technology.
Author Suzanne Collins never specified a year of the games in the books. It is assumed that the book is set at least a century from now, but probably longer. The book itself has 75 games, so that makes the year 2089 if the first games were held this year. This isn’t accurate though, considering America had to fall apart in order for Panem to rise, then a rebellion had to occur within Panem, and then the games would come along. If this ever does become reality, it will not happen within this century, so no one alive right now has to worry.
The thought of the games becoming real troubles many people. Some people brush it off as a story and only that, but others are comparing the events in Ferguson to the “Hunger Games.” Quotes from the book have been graffitied in Ferguson, saying “The odds are never in our favor” and “If we burn, you burn with us.” On online blogs about the Hunger Games, people do not appear to be panicking about being a tribute during this lifetime. But of course, there are always those people who want to start training as soon as possible so they can survive longer. I looked it up. There is actually a Hunger Games Survival Camp, just Google it; it’s the first result. Just saying, there are some spelling errors on the homepage, so it seems a little sketchy.
It is possible that one day the novels will become real. As Lawrence said, gladiators were the most popular form of entertainment at one point. There are factors that make people very uncomfortable, like the fact that kids are killing each other, adults are sabotaging to kill the kids faster and more violently, and government officials make bets on how long each tribute will survive. The technology featured in the movies is still unattainable, and a few revolutions have to happen before America becomes Panem. And even if this does occur, the new government could flourish. A revolution could happen at any time, and even if the country’s name changes to Panem, that DOES NOT mean to start freaking out and practicing your archery. Breathe. Relax. It most likely will not happen within this century. You’ll live.