The Hunger Games

Katniss hates the hypocrisy and duplicity of the Capitol, where the veneer of perfection is valued over the preservation of human life. This is apparent in how Capitol citizens treat the Hunger Games as an innocent diversion rather than acknowledging its cruel realities—“everything is about them, not the dying boys and girls in the arena” (354). However, Katniss also learns that she must adopt this same duplicity if she wants to survive. She presents the illusion of friendship—and eventually romance—with her fellow tribute, Peeta. This onscreen romantic relationship is a strategy to improve their odds of survival, to curry the favor of sponsors in the Capitol. The charade holds true in the case of Katniss, whose feelings toward Peeta are complex and confusing. On the other hand, Peeta’s feelings do not slowly transition into reality but are revealed to have always been real. Despite fears of being deceived by Peeta due to his acting talent, Katniss eventually finds herself in the role of deceiver, having convinced Peeta that her affection was genuine.

With duplicity and deception comes the issue of perception. Distinguishing the line between what is real and what is false can be difficult, especially when each party has their own agenda and ruses to support it. Due to their asynchronous duplicity and inability to have an honest conversation to clear up misunderstandings during the games, Katniss and Peeta both have difficulty in finding the truth behind each other’s performances. Where Peeta takes Katniss’s act at face value, Katniss struggles to perceive Peeta’s true intent. When he requests private training with Haymitch, and when he allies with the Careers, Katniss assumes deception and betrayal because she does not understand his strategy.

Ultimately, Katniss discovers that the line between acting and feeling can be blurry, and Peeta is so taken in by Katniss’ act that he is unaware that she is lying to him at all. But just as Katniss comes to realize the extent of the Capitol’s depravity, which spurs her acts of rebellion, she eventually comes to understand Peeta’s character and true feelings, which puts them on honest, if not steady, ground. These themes are extremely important to the plot of The Hunger Games, as they support plot and character development, and plant seeds for conflict in the sequels.

Contrast is frequently used to highlight the differences between the Capitol and the districts—particularly with regard to abundance versus dearth. These contrasts are often metaphorical but are also frequently presented visually. This is shown in Katniss’s contemplation of the Capitol’s rich and abundant food and higher quality of life, and the general out-of-touch frivolity of its inhabitants. The difference between the grimy, gritty survivors in the districts and the shallow, selfish people of the Capitol is particularly noticeable during Katniss’s makeover, when she considers the colorful style assistants to be “so unlike people” that they cause her no more embarrassment than a group of colorful birds (62).

Katniss also acknowledges that the upbeat background music used in the Hunger Games recap video makes the experience even worse, since the lighthearted tone does not match the child murder content. This example is a particularly poignant show of the Capitol’s understanding of what the games are (i.e., an amusing source of entertainment) versus how the districts see the games (i.e., child murder as a vehicle of the Capitol’s continued dominance). These contrasts between the Capitol and those under its control set the scene, justify resentment in the main characters, and highlight the main conflict at the heart of the dystopia.

The novel also employs irony to further contrast the Capitol and the districts. Each use of irony serves a purpose, whether it is establishing characters, providing insight into the dynamics of the setting, moving the plot forward, or provoking an intense emotional response. Many instances of irony are noticed by the narrator. Katniss initially recognizes the irony of putting up a fence to keep the animals out of District 12 so that the people are safe while they starve to death. She also notices the irony in Effie Trinket’s tone-deaf comments about the lack of table manners in District 12’s former tributes: “Barbarism? That’s ironic coming from a woman helping to prepare us for slaughter” (74). She is also aware of the irony when she enjoys a bird’s eye view of the Capitol only to realize that the birds have safety and freedom, which is “the very opposite” of her own situation (144). Katniss also reveals her wry sense of humor when she acknowledges the irony of being the “girl on fire” when she is literally set on fire (177).

Other examples of irony include Katniss and Peeta being invited into the nicest rooms they have ever seen, offered amenities they have never had before, and provided as much rich food as they want, all before they are sent to their likely deaths, which emphasizes the disparity between life in the Capitol and in the districts. The most impactful moment of irony is when Katniss and Peeta secure their right to live by threatening suicide.