The Food Metaphors In The Hunger Games Trilogy

The Hunger Games trilogy,written by Suzanne Collins,one of the best sellers in America,describes a dystopia in which the government dominates its people by food.In the trilogy,Collins connects food with class identity,political power,historical and social criticism,and thus endows food with class characteristics,political meanings and historical and social connotations.From the perspective of food,this thesis aims to illuminate the food metaphors and reveal the meaning and value of the food in the trilogy from the class,political,historical and social aspects.This thesis is divided into six chapters.In the first chapter,this thesis gives an introduction to the author Suzanne Collins and Her The Hunger Games trilogy,and the scholarly reception in China and abroad.Then,it sets forth the thesis,structure and significance of the study.In the second chapter,this thesis presents food writing in literature and explicates the cultural,political and social implications of food.In the third chapter,from the perspective of class identity,this thesis explores different class identities and statuses between the Capitol and the districts which are reflected in the distinctive food.Various refined food in the Capitol declares,whether in quality or quantity,its citizens' privileged identity.The rough and meager food in the districts intuitively shows the class status of the oppressed.Besides,the tributes,a special group in the trilogy,have a closer relationship with food.The tributes' names and "the Stockyard" imply both the tributes' humble class status and their position of being eaten.In the fourth chapter,from the perspective of political power,this thesis analyzes the rulers' domination and the rebels' revolt presented in food.On one hand,food is a tool of totalitarian domination.Whether in or outside the Hunger Games,the rulers of the Capitol,represented by President Snow,show off their political power by means of food.On the other,food becomes a strong weapon to rebel against the totalitarian system in the hands of the oppressed.In the individuals' revolt,the ordinary people express their dissatisfaction with the Capitol by food.In the collective rebellion,food is both an original motivation and a communicative means.With food as their material support,the rebels overthrow the totalitarian government and build a better world where everyone enjoys food equality.In the fifth chapter,this thesis elaborates the historical spectacle and social allegory implied in the trilogy from the perspective of historical and social criticism.By resurrecting the delicacy and orgy in the Roman Empire,Collins' food writing reflects the extravagance of the Capitol and predicts the ordinary people's revolt and the decline and fall of the Capitol.Besides,through food,Collins reveals the absence of identity hidden behind the fast food culture in American society.In the absurd allegory for the modern world,Collins also presents two kinds of hunger:the poor's physical hunger and the rich's spiritual hunger.In the sixth chapter,this thesis concludes that Collins endues food with multiple metaphors such as class status,political power,historical and social criticism.It is Collins'compassionate feelings and concerns about the present situation that hide behind her food writing.Since "people regard food as their prime want",the food writing in The Hunger Games trilogy can be seen as both a small narrative advocated by the postmodern literature and a true "grand narrative".