Hunger Games

It is a well-known theory that SHOCK can bring an adult into a childlike state, producing regression in the personality, the loss of will and several other effects. When you enter a shock state, your mind is far more likely to obey than it was before the induced shock. These techniques, usually applied by torturers, can be also applied to an entire society. Under that logic, wars, terrorist attacks, a natural disaster o any other event that produces fright and a sense of unbalance in society may push us, an entire nation, into a state of shock. Of course, this effect gets boosted and spread through mass media, pulling us all into a state of shock that can be used to subdue an entire society. When we are scared we are more likely to comply than before, and that’s the case of the capitol’s domination over Panem. But can this model last forever?

The shock doctrine, as explained by author Naomi Klein, discuss on how natural or man-made disasters are used to force unpopular and even harmful political and economic changes on unwilling nations. Using the shock-treatment as a metaphor, Klein explains that many countries have been receiving shock therapy during the last decades.The people of these countries have been subdued to a psychological manipulation and trauma that sought to capitalize on crises and disasters, both real and orchestrated, so radical changes that probably couldn’t be implemented through the democratic way, could be put forward without any trouble

Under that assumption, the whole purpose of the Hunger Games put forward by the Treaty of treason is to dominate people through fear, enforcing and sustaining a politic and economic system that only provides for the needs of a few, exploiting the rest of the nation. That way, the capitol, the only district that doesn’t have any production mean or even natural resources, forces laws so they get to keep everything and leave almost nothing for the rest of the districts. The higher spheres of power decide over the life of millions, using them like little pieces of machinery, justifying their terrible acts on a rebellion over 70 years ago. The capitol uses the Hunger Games to keep the mass reduced into scared herd, objectifying people and shocking them into obedienceyear by year, just as it is stated in the book:

“Taking the kids from our districts, forcing them to kill one

another while we watch — this is the Capitol’s way of reminding

us how totally we are at their mercy. How little chance we

would stand of surviving another rebellion.

Whatever words they use, the real message is clear. “Look

how we take your children and sacrifice them and there’s

nothing you can do. If you lift a finger, we will destroy every

last one of you. Just as we did in District Thirteen.”(Page19)

But fear can only dominate people for so long. Historically, fear-based domination systems have

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