Social Criticism in the Hunger Games and Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland Essay Example

in the Hunger Games. experiences the Capitol’s control on her ain organic structure. It is already in the beginning of the novel. where the reader gets to cognize that “Starvation is non an uncommon destiny in District 12” ( Collins 33 ) . The Capitol doesn’t provide plenty nutrient for the occupants in the poorer Districts and that is why Katniss knows the feeling of being “desperate plenty to eat [ rotted veggies at the grocer’s ] ” ( Collins 35 ) . The governmental control is present in all parts of Panem but particularly shown in the set up of the Hunger Games designed by the Gamemakers. They are free to alter the regulations and pull strings the games whenever they feel that these are acquiring less entertaining for the audience. This includes. for case. puting up a fire wall to drive together the Tributes. Katniss provinces that “everyone knows they could destruct [ them ] all within seconds” ( Collins 214 ) but that they “don’t want [ her ] dead” ( Collins 214 ) because the audience is attracted by her.

This is why she “only” gets hurt severely but doesn’t get killed during the Gamemaker’s intercession. As they announce the regulation alteration. which declares both Tributes from one District as victors if they are the last 1s to last. their whole power becomes obvious. This shows non merely their capableness to randomly pull strings the Tributes physically. but besides on an emotional degree because Katniss now sees the opportunity to return place with Peeta. Just as Katniss. Alice experiences authorities subjugation. carried out by the Queen of Hearts. Already at their first

meeting. Alice gets to cognize her oppressive nature when all of her followings uneasily “ [ throw ] themselves level upon their faces” ( Carroll 118 ) as the Queen arrives. The extent of her hideous character is underlined as one gets to cognize that the Queen punished three of her nurserymans to be beheaded for no evident ground. “Off with their caputs! ” ( Carroll 122 ) seems to be her favourite phrase. since “The Queen had merely [ this ] one manner of settling all troubles. great or small” ( Carroll 128 ) .

The Queen’s Croquet Game can be compared to the Hunger Games in footings of puting arbitrary regulations which please the oppressor: If person doesn’t follow the Queen’s unfathomable regulations. he is declared to be beheaded. The usage of these arbitrary decease sentences is similar to the use the Gamemakers perform. They all have the end to play with the affected person’s fright as a tool of societal force per unit area. The unpredictability of the Queen’s determinations becomes even more obvious when Alice attends a test where the Knave of Hearts is accused for holding stolen some prostitutes which the Queen had made. Not merely that the ground for this charge seems pathetic but when happening no grounds the Queen merely overrules the jury and the justice. which once more underlines the oppressive power she possesses. Both novels. The Hunger Games and Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. hence win in picturing arbitrary steps and ferociousness as a manner to portray authorities subjugation. personified by the Gamemakers and the Queen of Hearts. Being confronted with this subjugation. both misss think about which

topographic point they take and self reflect their individualities. Harmonizing to Erik Erikson. an of import developmental psychologist and psychoanalyst. “identity formation is one of the cardinal undertakings of adolescence. ” ( Beck. Earl 77 ) . Associating to that. both novels trade with the cardinal subject of children’s development. Katniss. although being merely age 16. can be described as relatively mature. at first glimpse. Since her male parent died in a mine accident. she has to replace him in being the breadwinner of the household.

On closer scrutiny. nevertheless. one discovers Katniss’ immatureness: she doesn’t seem to be able to form her feelings. which lets her appear stubborn in some ways. This is for case shown in the relationship to her female parent who sinks into a deep depression after losing her hubby. Katniss isn’t able to experience any compassion ; her emotions could instead be described as disdain. Her insecurity refering her emotions for Peeta underlines the feeling of Katniss being an immature miss with puberty feelings. During the Hunger Games Katniss gets confronted with the consequence her outward visual aspect and personality have on the audience. which gets her to believe about who she is. This point marks the beginning of Katniss’ individuality battle that is led by the inquiries how she can continue her ( non yet found ) individuality in a universe that forces her to kill and who she can swear in. Forced by the Capitol she takes the function of “the miss who was on fire” . pretends strength. even if feeling weak. Throughout the Games Katniss acts how she thinks the audience expects her to because she is

dependent on its gifts and the good will of the patrons. She ne'er comes at easiness with her personality and in the terminal still asks herself “who she is and who she is not” ( Collins 450 ) . The seven-year old Alice uses a really educated linguistic communication. which makes her look a batch more mature than other childs of her age. at first glimpse. But like Katniss. Alice shows her immatureness by her behaviour. for case by mounting into a coney hole “never one time sing how in the universe she was to acquire out again” ( Carroll 8 ) .

As Katniss. Alice isn’t able to get by with her ideas and feelings. call on the carpeting herself “to travel on shouting in this way” ( Carroll 22 ) . With Alice’s entryway into the wonderland the individuality battle starts. She begins to inquire herself if she has “been changed in the night” ( Carroll 22 ) and “Who [ she is ] so? ” ( Carroll 26 ) . Like Katniss. she is non certain what to swear in. which is shown when she finds the small bottle. because even if “it was all really good to state “Drink me” . [ … ] the wise small Alice was non traveling to make that in a hurry” ( Carroll 14 ) . The procedure of shriveling and turning. which happens to Alice several times. can be seen as a metaphor for the pubescence procedure and the pandemonium a kid has to confront while traveling through it. Just like Katniss. Alice gets confronted with the consequence her changed outward visual aspect has on

the characters that surround her.

She. for illustration. is prohibited from fall ining the test. because “All individuals more than a mile high [ have ] to go forth the court” ( Carroll 184 ) . Additionally. the funny characters of the wonderland sometimes seek to force her into a function. like the Pigeon that calls her “a snake ; and there’s no usage denying it” . because it has “seen a good many small misss in [ her ] clip. but ne'er one with such a cervix as that! ” ( Carroll 76 ) . Even if Alice leaves the wonderland as a “giant” although come ining it little. one ne'er gets the feeling that she matures wholly. Like Katniss’ . Alice’s individuality remains unstable till the terminal of the novel. All in all both misss see their egos in a state of affairs. in which they are fighting with their individuality. led by the inquiry who they are. non coming to a decision. The two of them. Katniss and Alice feel themselves influenced by the force per unit area society lays on them by seting them into functions they don’t fit in. They are in a manner captured in between their true nature and the unreal nature society wants them to be.

Both misss. Katniss and Alice. find themselves in phantasy universes which are built up between natural and unreal elements. Katniss lives in the state of Panem. which is separated into the 12 Districts and the opinion Capitol. While the different Districts are left reasonably natural. the Capitol builds the absolute contrast to these. When Katniss arrives in the opinion metropolis she describes the

“magnificence of the glittering edifices in a rainbow of chromaticities that tower into the air. the glistening autos that roll down the broad paved streets. the curiously appareled people with eccentric hair and painted faces [ … ] ” ( Collins 72 ) in colourss that “seem unreal. the pinks to deep. [ … ] the xanthous painful to the eyes. ” ( Collins 72 ) As Katniss gets into the sphere. the reader gets to cognize its’ set up. dwelling of “a level. unfastened stretch of a land [ … ] . a lake [ … ] and sparse piney forests. ” ( Collins 180 ) But even if looking rather natural at first glimpse there are every bit good unreal elements that characterize the sphere. These are. for case. the tracker jackers. a signifier of genetically altered WASP. which consist of “a typical solid gold organic structure and a sting that raises a ball the size of a plum on contact. ” ( Collins 225 ) With this manner of portraying nature and artificiality. Collins in a manner besides values these elements. Whereas nature. like the forests. represents a signifier of sanctuary for Katniss and hence has a positive intension. artificiality. as for case represented by the members of the homework squad. who are called “total idiots” ( Collins 76 ) by Katniss. has a strong negative intension. This word picture can besides be transferred to Alice’ Adventures in Wonderland. As Katniss. Alice finds herself in a fantasy universe that contains natural every bit good as unreal elements.

The scene of the wonderland can be described as rather natural. consisting of a pool. gardens

and forests. However. there are besides unreal elements that are represented by the wonderland’s dwellers. largely animate beings and game cards. which can speak and are called “mad” ( Carroll 92 ) . Not merely in The Hunger Games but besides in Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland one can happen genetically manipulated elements. These are. for case. represented by a mushroom of which “’one side will do you turn taller. and the other side will do you turn shorter. ’” ( Carroll 72 ) or by a drink and a bar which lead to shriveling and turning every bit good. But. like for Katniss. it are the natural elements that represent security for Alice as she. for illustration. feels “herself safe in a thick wood. ” ( Carroll 60 ) With his manner of linking lunacy and use to unreal and security to natural elements. Carroll. as Collins. attributes negative and positive intensions to these. go forthing the reader with the inquiry if the unreal province our society directs to is the right 1. In drumhead. it can be stated that the two novels. even if looking wholly different at first glimpse. take up similar points and utilize them as a unfavorable judgment against society. It isn’t surprising that a subject like authorities subjugation remains relevant in a period of over 100 old ages. since it has been current in the whole history of world.

However. Collins and Carroll make us cognizant of the fact that. even if we feel ourselves populating in a modern universe. we are still oppressed and in a manner demand to revolt against this. Another startling fact. presented by both writers. is

the manner societal force per unit area influences our individuality. Particularly kids can hold a difficult clip. confronted with so many social outlooks they have to carry through. It might be make bolding to state that Carroll uses the word picture of familial change as a unfavorable judgment of society. since he most likely couldn’t foresee the proficient development our universe has gained. Nevertheless. I would see this manner of contrasting artificiality and nature as a demand to contemplate to our true nature. Works cited Beck. John & A ; Earl. Mary. Key Issues in secondary instruction. London: Continuum. 2003. Print. Carroll. Lewis. Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland/ Alice im Wunderland. Munchen: Deutscher Taschenbuch Verlag GmbH & A ; Co. KG. 2012. Print. Collins ; Suzanne. The Hunger Games. United kingdom: Scholastic Ltd. 2009. Print.