Marxist criticism of The Hunger GamesOne of the strongest themes of The Hunger Games is its condemnation of imperialism, represented by the Capitol of Panem. Throughout its pages, the novel invites readers to denounce the oppressive socioeconomic forces and repressive ideologies of the Capitol and its representatives. The Hunger Games certainly has a Marxist agenda as it reveals the crippling effects of the oppression of the people by a few elites. The citizens of the Capitol live a life of luxury and comfort while the poor, hard-working citizens of the other districts struggle to survive. These are “men and women with hunched shoulders, swollen knuckles, many who have long since given up trying to remove the coal dust from their broken nails and the features of their sunken faces” (Collins 4). They are the perfect representation of the Marxist proletariat, “the majority of the world's population who live in substandard conditions and who have always performed the manual labor that fills the coffers of the rich” (Tyson 54). They have lost hope and merely toil under the rule of the privileged elite, the bourgeoisie that controls the world's natural, economic and human resources. This domination pervades every aspect of their lives: they are constantly watched by “peacekeepers” who ensure there is no hint of rebellion among the people. Katniss and her best friend Gale (a boy who also lost his father at a young age) have nothing but contempt for the Orwellian intrusiveness of the Capitol's "big brother". “District Twelve. Where you can safely starve,” Katniss murmurs. Then he quickly looks over his shoulder. Even here, even in the middle of nowhere, you're afraid that someone might hear you” (Collins 4). ...... middle of paper ...... at home, they are seen as mere entertainment. The value of human life is directly equal to the amount of wealth and influence one possesses. After the Games, Katniss hears the reactions of the citizens of the Capitol as she recovers, and is disgusted by their point of view: It's funny, because even though they're chatting about the Games, it's all about where they were or what they did. they were doing or how they felt when a specific event occurred. "I was still in bed!" “I just dyed my eyebrows!” “I swear I almost passed out!” It's all about them, not about the boys and girls dying in the arena” (353). Ultimately, the Games are a stark reminder to citizens that they are not autonomous, but are completely controlled by the Capitol. Peeta, the other tribute from District 12, longs to break free from this repressive ideology, but Katniss rejects him: "'I just keep wishing