Base and Superstructure in Suzanne Collins’ Hunger Game

International Journal of Research and Scientific Innovation (IJRSI) | Volume V, Issue V, May 2018 | ISSN 2321–2705

Base and Superstructure in Suzanne Collins’ Hunger Game

Muhammad Kiki Wardana, Wan Anayati

Faculty of Language and Communication, Universitas Harapan Medan, Indonesia

Abstract: – Marxist criticism in literature had been widely used to define the very basic of human’s question; social justice. Social justice plays a pivotal role in the Marxist scene. Dystopian novel like the Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins highlights this notion very clear. The base defined in the novel is the Panem’s ideology in mitigating the civil war ever took place in the nation which eventually has triggered Panem’s Superstructure of various 13 labour districts segregated by the luxurious and exclusive capitol where the President snow resides along it’s ubiquitous people. The social injustice cultured in this imaginary –american nation look like has sparked the unseen grassroots ideology to change their fate through a rebellion. This is aligned with the Marxism ideology offers a simple thought. Men since they proceeded to become thinkers had collected ideas, concepts and consciousness to survive.

Keywords: Marxist Criticism, Base and Infrastructure, Panem, The Reaping and Tribute, The Hunger Games

I. INTRODUCTION

Venturing the elements of Marxism in Dystopia particularly in a selected American Dystopia novel would ignite possible inquiries: how do the historical elements in Marxism coexist with the futuristic elements of Dystopia? And what makes the elements of Marxism found in American Dystopia novel different from others? I realize that there were limited works alienate these two disciplines as Marxism seems to be very segregated though it is widely taught in political science and literature but still Marxism’s spark has become very dim lately. Not to mention how Soviet Union crumbled and how people look at North Korea suspiciously contributed to the poeple’s stream of thinking that Marxism is an epic failure while Dystopia genre which mushroomed in the early 20th century requisitely postulates human’s wild fantasy of imagined society at it best.

These two things are obviously polarized. Marxism ideology has been tested and proven but it seems not everyone content about it.

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