Hunger Games

Like some of you I have read the Hunger Games trilogy and really enjoyed it. I have mentioned some of my thoughts about these books to my church and my kid, and I have been encouraged me to share them with you. Spoiler Alert: If you have not yet read these books and intend to, you may want to wait to read this.

Let me start with some comments about two criticisms of these books that I have heard about. First, the claim is that the story is violent and so parents should not let their children read it. Well, the Bible is violent. And, if truth be known, life is violent, if lived faithfully - though violent in a different way. If that weren’t the case, then why the need for the armor of God? Parents do need to be careful about when they allow their children to be exposed to certain aspects of life. That includes these books and lots more. But that does not mean that children should always be ‘protected’ from such things. They need to understand the violence involved in following Jesus. Another criticism is that the story is based on a false ethical dilemma: murder or be murdered. But, as Christians, we do not accept this as a dilemma. We are to obey the Commandments of God. And if that means that we will suffer consequences at the hands of men, so be it. So, we will not murder. And that is true even if it means that we will be murdered. So, according to this critique, we should not buy into this story because we are Christians. I understand the point being made here, and there is some validity to it. But what if we read this story intending to learn how someone who is not a Christian (Katniss and Suzanne Collins) understands and deals with the world? We really do need to be careful here, lest we accept Katniss' understanding of her choices. But if we are careful, there are things that we can learn. I did not pick up these books because I wanted to learn something. I read them because they were a very enjoyable read (and my kids were raving about them!). But I did learn some things - or better, I was able to see some things more clearly. And isn't that the point of literature?

Now, a thought or two about a few of the characters.

I really felt for Katniss. Here is this teenage girl who is thrown into a situation that she is unprepared for. She makes some poor choices as she tries to survive not just the Games but the whole situation. She clings to one basic commitment: keeping Prim safe. She responds as an unbeliever, but her goal is commendable.

Then there is Peetah. How can anyone not be impressed with Peetah? Here is a great example of selfless love.

Haymitch makes sense to me. He has experienced a deeper taste of hell than most. His drunkenness is his chosen way to deal with that. Escape.

Cinna is just a likeable person. It makes sense that Katniss trusts him. On top of that, he is quietly using his opportunities and abilities to further the cause of the rebellion, something that may remain unknown. He is committed to the cause and not to his own reputation.

My response

The Hunger Games had a surprisingly powerful affect on me. Here is a group of people, Katniss and the others, who are surrounded by evil. They are under the heel of the Capitol and especially President Snow. That is clear at the beginning of the books. But as you work your way through the story, it becomes increasingly clear that the rebels of District 13 and especially its leader, President Coin, are no better. And to highlight this, Katniss fails in her most fundamental commitment: keeping Prim safe. Prim dies. But she is not killed by President Snow and the Capitol. She is killed by President Coin and the rebels. The solution to the problem of the evil that has confronted Katniss and the rest is not the victory of the rebels. When you get to the end of the story where the rebels can celebrate their victory, the situation has not changed. The evil is still there. And even the assassination of President Coin will not change that. So, while in one sense the ending (focusing on Katniss and Peetah) is satisfying, in another sense it is not. The ending is fine ('This is the best that anyone could hope for.') if you reject a Christian way of looking at things. But the problem upon which the story is built is not solved. Evil continues. It is simply waiting until it can once again impose its ugliness some day in the future. And so, the story is ultimately hopeless. Evil wins. The most that someone can hope for is a little break in the storm to try to live out your life.

All of this made me see more clearly that we live in an evil world. I was reminded again that the solution to that problem is not the victory of the modern day counterparts of Coin and the rebels whether that means (domestically) Republicans, Democrats, the Tea Party, Libertarians, Socialists or (in foreign affairs) America and its close allies. The solution to the problem is the Lordship of Jesus over all the earth. The solution is the kingdom of God. Good and evil are locked in a war. The prophecy of Genesis 3 still describes our world. It's the seed of the woman against the seed of the serpent. This defines our situation and explains our lives.

The Bible, however, is clear about outcome of this war. Jesus will win. Reading these books actually strengthened my belief in that. Jesus will win as he leads his Church to faithfully live and boldly proclaim the Gospel. We are on the front line. What we do matters when it comes to winning this war.