The Hunger Games is fantastic.
In reading the series the second time through, I have realized one thing.
We are the Capitol.
You may think we can't be compared. You may think The Capitol is too extreme, but let’s pretend it isn’t. Just humor me for a little bit.
The Capitol desires entertainment but is not satisfied with consistency. They want more intense battles and struggles to entertain themselves every year. Nothing will satisfy them because they always want something bigger and better than the year before. Their standards are ever-increasing with their hunger for something more than the status quo.
The Capitol has an endless food supply at the cost of others, who starve to death. They exploit people to get what they want. As long as they are well fed, have a great living situation, and are entertained, they have no concern for anyone else.
The Capitol has a fast-changing fashion sense that people will do anything to keep up with. For many, that means altering themselves surgically because they do not see value or beauty in their natural form.
The Capitol places great value on individuality, which is why everyone tries to look different. The key to survival is to protect yourself. After all, your loyalty to friends only goes so far.
The Capitol revolves around technology. You can never escape from it.
But perhaps you’re right and this comparison is too radical. I’m sure at a glance the U.S. has no relation to The Capitol.
The U.S. desires entertainment but is not satisfied with consistency…
The U.S. has an endless food supply at the cost of others, who starve to death…
The U.S. has a fast-changing fashion sense that people will do anything to keep up with…
The U.S. places great value on individuality…
The U.S. revolves around technology…
Rather than denying it, maybe we should be asking a different question.
What can we do about it?
