Hope and equilibrium in the dystopian world of The Hunger Games

  1. María Sandra Peña-Cervel 1
  2. Andreea Rosca 2
  1. 1 Universidad de La Rioja
    info

    Universidad de La Rioja

    Logroño, España

    ROR https://ror.org/0553yr311

  2. 2 Universitat de València
    info

    Universitat de València

    Valencia, España

    ROR https://ror.org/043nxc105

Journal:
Círculo de lingüística aplicada a la comunicación

ISSN: 1576-4737

Year of publication: 2021

Issue: 85

Pages: 227-244

Type: Article

DOI: 10.5209/CLAC.73549 DIALNET GOOGLE SCHOLAR lock_openOpen access editor

More publications in: Círculo de lingüística aplicada a la comunicación

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Abstract

This paper provides evidence of the fruitfulness of combining analytical categories from Cognitive Linguistics and Critical Discourse Analysis for the analysis of complex literary characterizations. It does so through a detailed study of the “tributes”, i.e. the randomly selected children who have to fight to death in a nationally televised show, in The Hunger Games. The study proves the effectiveness of such categories to provide an analytically accurate picture of the dystopian world depicted in the novel, which is revealed to include a paradoxical element of hope. The type of dehumanization that characterizes the dystopian society of Panem is portrayed through an internally consistent set of ontological metaphors which project negative aspects of lower forms of existence onto people. This selection of metaphors promotes a biased perspective on the poor inhabitants of Panem, while legitimizing the social inequalities the wealthy Capitol works hard to immortalize. However, Katniss undergoes a metamorphosis through her discovery of her own identity, which hints at an emerging female empowerment. This transformation, together with her identification with the Mockingjay, a supernatural being that voices her beliefs and emotions, contributes to disrupting the status quo imposed by the almighty Gamemakers and to purveying a message of optimism

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Funding information

We would like to express our gratitude to Dr. Francisco J. Ruiz de Mendoza (University of La Rioja) for his helpful remarks on a previous draft of this article. Any remaining weakness is our own responsibility. The research on which this article is based has been financed by FEDER/Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities, State Research Agency, project no. FFI2017-82730-P.

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