Karl Marx: The Tribute

Topic: Dystopia
Source: The Hunger Games
Theory: Conflict Theory
Theorist: Karl Marx
Terms: Proletariats, Bourgeoisie, Social Inequalities, Capitalism








Introduction
Karl Marx volunteered as tribute in the Hunger Games, and is stuck analyzing the conflict and making sense of it. What does he find out? In 2008 Suzanne Collins wrote a book titled the Hunger Games in which the main character, Katniss Everdeen volunteers as tribute in order to save her sister from the Hunger games.


Application:
In order to more fully understand the social inequality within the Hunger Games we will be using Karl Marx, a 19th century philosopher's perspective. Karl Marx is considered the founder of the conflict theory which explains social change through class conflict. This theory offers sociologist an explanation into social phenomenon such as the Hunger Games.




Karl Marx explained that the factory workers during 19th century Germany were considered the lower class. Which he called the proletariats. In the Hunger Games we see that the citizens of all twelve districts are considered the proletariats of Panem. The citizens are viewed as the workers and a labor source for the capital's citizens. We can see an example of this when Katniss' father goes to the mine to extract coal in order for the Capitol to have this resource. We see how workers are exploited and treated as lower class citizens.




Examples from Source:
Proletariats: Citizens of the 12th Districts
Bourgeoisie: Citizens from the Capital, President Snow, the Government
Social Inequality: Food access (resources), lead to poverty
Capitalism: Economic system after the "Dark Days" aka the rebellion