Volume IV Special Issue V June 2024

Name of Author : Amisha Bharat Jayakar

Title of the paper : Were the odds ever in their favour?- The Psychological Implications of the Hunger Games on its tributes

Abstract: Amidst the hordes of Young Adult Fiction books sweeping the world off their feet with their charismatic characters and fantastical plots, came in 2008 a phenomenon so profound, that it cemented itself in the genre of modern young adult Dystopian Fiction, perhaps for aeons to come. Set in the fictional yet desolate world of Panem ruled by the four horsemen of the dystopian genre fear, violence, trauma and media control, The Hunger Games trilogy by Suzanne Collins depicts with exceeding clarity, an image that is a scathing critique of a totalitarian society that seems to care for none but itself. In a move that threatens to dismantle the carefully built, fiercely watched state of Panem, Katniss Everdeen, in the span of three books, battles the system, rages against unfairness and becomes the embodiment of hope that Panem has been waiting for. Considering that the trilogys narrative was heavily centred around the reaping of young children and adults as tributes, to participate in a violent arena-esque environment, this research paper, bravely attempts to delve deep into the psychological implications of being ingrained with the idea of kill or be killed, and the implicating behaviour that seems to be a consequence of the psychological trauma faced by these children in the arena. This paper thus, aims to look into the Hunger Games as a catalyst for a complete psychological and moral degradation that develops in these tributes owing to stressors of fear, survivors guilt, anxiety and ethical dilemmas that force that hand, eventually leading to a complete degradation of the mental state.

Keywords : Dystopia, psychological trauma, survivors guilt, fear, PTSD, ethical degradation.

DOI :

Page Number : 78-82