What is eco-criticism? According to Peter Barry's Beginning Theory: An introduction to literary and cultural theory, some things eco-critics do include incorporating concepts such as energy, balance, symbiosis, and sustainability of resources. Eco-critics also examine the concepts of life vs. death and collective ethical responsibility.
I went to watch The Hunger Games on Saturday and I couldn't help but see things with what seemed to be this eco-critical perspective. I found this idea too prevalent to pass up such further investigation. I'm interested in how having this perspective shapes the way I understand the movie as a whole or how this understanding differs from viewers without knowledge of eco-critical theory?
First off, I must confess that I watched the movie without first reading the book. Therefore, my whole perspective of The Hunger Games is based on the movie. However, I heard from several of my friends, huge fans of the books, that the movie stayed true to the novel for the most part and that they were very content with the cinematic version.
(The following paragraphs are what one could call a spoiler alert. If you haven't read the book or watched the movie (and plan to), I suggest you stop reading right here.)
What automatically captivated my attention was the lead character, a girl named Katniss Evergreen, and her distinguishable feature of self-reliance. Not only is she clearly portrayed as the family pillar, but she also has an indisputable connection with nature. This display of the connection between humans and nature is very important in the eco-critical theory.
The woods in which Katniss escapes to hunt for game gives off a sense that the greenery is secure and familiar to her. It seems natural for her to swiftly pull out a bow and arrow and aim for the large deer 20 feet away. Although she has the intent to kill the creature, I could tell from her lifestyle that hunting is a very natural part of her life and that any means of accessing food to survive is a necessity. This situation is also patterned through other characters in District 12. Gale, Katniss' best friend, also hunts to support his family.
When all the tributes are finally set into the arena for the games, they are forced to adjust to the way of life in the forest. Katniss proves her extensive knowledge of nature in saving Peeta from eating poisonous berries, climbing trees to escape danger, using the mockingjays as a means of communication, and her overall ability to stay alive.
One other largely important aspect of the eco-critical approach present in the film is the whole concept of life vs. death. The games are a battle to the death. Regardless of who you are fighting, you must kill or be killed. There can only be one winner. It was captivating to watch the kids in the games, who seemed utterly terrified, become so malicious and intent on killing another kid with the same bad-luck to survive. Some kids formed an alliance with each other against the others. The games remind me of the "entertaining" gladiator fights and how there could only be one crowned victor. Only one could live. Only one could die. That provides an interesting balance to the games, and obviously (sarcasm) brings sensibility to its overall purpose. When Katniss and Peeta create an imbalance in the system by both winning the games, all hell breaks loose. Well, all hell is about to break loose. And now we wait in anticipation of the second movie.
In summation, The Hunger Games can be looked at very eco-critically and I would like to think that it is a very reasonable way of understanding its madness. Vicious tiger chases and all.
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