The Hunger Games

Fear is paralyzing; therefore, totalitarian governments such as that in Panem capitalize on fear in order to maintain control. I think that the best example to prove this is when Katniss steps into the tube that will bring her up to the arena. When she turns around and looks at Cinna, all sound goes away except for a piercing silence. The audience can see the panic in her face as she is elevated to her potential death. Paralyzed by fear of what is to come, Katniss does not regain control of herself until just before the starting bomb goes off. The audience experiences this fear through the director's use of sound. At first all is silent, then there is a piercing pitch, and then there is the muffled countdown. As Katniss looks around and assesses her situation, the countdown becomes left muffled and everything becomes clear. This representation of fear is used to show the dangers of the Hunger Games but also to show the dangers of living in Panem. The people in the districts are paralyzed by fear and forced to stay immobile by ruthless peacekeepers and strict borders.

Hope, on the other hand, is mobilizing. The salute the people give Katniss is a sign of respect and hope. It is a peace but defiant act that tells the government that society agrees with the unprecedented actions of Katniss. After Rue dies, Katniss, who is aware of the vast audience, shows this sign of hope to tell people that no matter what the circumstance or how brutal the Hunger Games are, she will not be changed. The people from Rue's district who are watching in the square, all salute back to the screen. This single act of kindness and humanity sparks the rebellion. After saluting, people begin to fight the peacekeepers and anarchy ensues.

I believe the most influential statement made in this movie is by President Snow when he explains the following to Seneca Crane: "Hope. It is the only thing stronger than fear. A little hope is effective. A lot of hope is dangerous. Spark is fine, as long as it's contained". Presdient Snow is aware of the fragility of his power; therefore, he has created a system to ensures the regulation of fear and hope in order to maintain the obedience of the people.

Katniss disrupts this regulation because she is stubborn and will not give into the Captiol's demands. I think it is interesting how Haymitch always says that Katniss has issues getting along with others. The fact is, she does not get along with the people in the Captiol because she can see through their lies and recognize the corruption. Ironically, Haymitch and Katniss get along really well in the most important times because they all understand the gravity of the situations. The people, on the other hand, love Katniss because she is fearless. She maintains her morality even in the face of barbarism. She gives people the strength to do the same in their own districts and fight for what is right.