A while back, I did a post about the similarities
between “The Hunger Games” and “Battle Royale.” Many people have accused
Suzanne Collins of “ripping off” “Battle Royale.” I still stand by what I say
about it being foolish to think that they do not invite comparison, but “The
Hunger Games” is still the better of the two and has plenty to be its own
story. As I watch the movies though and read the story, my background in
mythology always kicks in for some reason. I see the plight that Katniss goes
through, I think of why she is there, why the capitol does what it does, and then draw parallels
to another story that is well known and very similar. I think of the story of
Theseus and the Minotaur.
“The Hunger Games” is a
tournament where youth is recruited to be sacrificed because of a penance that
surrounding districts must pay for losing a war to the governing body also
known as the capitol. The districts send a young man and woman to die in an
arena as a reminder of the capitol’s power.
In the story of the Minotaur,
Greece must send seven sons and seven daughters to Crete to be sacrificed as penance
for their actions. In some versions of the story, King Minos of Crete sends his
son Androgeus to compete in the Pan-Athenian games in Athens. Androgeus does so
well in the games that people in Athens become jealous enough to send assassins
to kill him. When King Minos finds out about his son’s death, he demands that Greece
send Minos the assassins for execution. Nobody knows who the assassins are.
Greece pays Minos by sending the entire town.
The other version of the
story has Crete defeat Athens in a war. In both versions of the story, Greece
must send seven sons and seven daughters to be executed every set number of
years. This version of the story mirrors “The Hunger Games.” Some differences
come in at this point. The biggest difference being that the seven sons and
daughters are to be fed to the Minotaur while the tributes must kill each other
until one remains.
Like most Greek myths, a hero emerges to kill the
Minotaur and save the people of Athens. The hero’s name is Theseus. When it
comes time to pick the seven sons and daughters, Theseus volunteers to take the
place of one of the boys. Wait a minute, he
Both Katniss and Theseus have
outside help. Katniss has the help of Haymich and her sponsors, while Theseus
gets help from King Minos’ daughter. Both of these assistants give the heroes
things they need to aid them in their quest. Theseus gains a ball of string
that helps him find his way out of the maze, while Katniss gets burn medicine,
food, or anything she may need to stay alive.
One big difference that may
still be on your mind is the fact that Theseus has to face a Minotaur, and
Katniss does not. While Katniss does not have to face a Minotaur, she does have
to face beasts that are hybrids. The Minotaur is a hybrid of a bull and a
human. Katniss must face a few different hybrids. The most disturbing of these
creatures can only be read about in the books. When there are only a few
tributes left, Katniss must not only face the other tributes, but a pack of
dogs that have features of the fallen tributes. At one point Katniss wonders if
the capitol actually took the eyes from the fallen tributes and placed them in
the dogs. This puts a half man half-animal creature in the arena with Katniss.
We also have the symbol of “The
Hunger Games,” a bird called a mockingjay. The mockingjay is a hybrid of a
mockingbird and a jaberjay, another creation of the capitol. Katniss herself
becomes a symbol of the rebellion of the districts later in the story and
is referred to as the mockingjay. The Minotaur becomes the symbol of Theseus’
story just as much as the mockingjay symbolizes Katniss’ story.
What this comparison boils
down to is a basic fear of war. In both stories, young people are drawn into a
situation that means their death. When there is a war, young people are called
upon to give their lives. Whether the cause is just or not, the fear of this
situation is something we all carry inside of us.
I do not know if Suzanne
Collins is a big fan of Greek mythology. I am willing to bet she has a working
knowledge of the Minotaur’s story. Whatever the case is, there will be more
stories that can be traced back to the story of Theseus and the Minotaur. It is
a story that will always remain relevant, not matter how obscure it may seem to
people.
Please leave comments and
follow if you like this article.
