March 2012 saw the cinema release of the adaptation of Suzanne Collin’s 2008 novel, The Hunger Games, sparking widespread controversy over some of the arguably unsuitable images and themes. The debate surrounding the film and, more prominently, the trilogy of novels, serves to answer the question: is The Hunger Games and post-apocalyptic literature suitable for children?
The story is told from the view of sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen, a courageous and resourceful teenager who just so happens to be a crack shot with a bow and arrow, as well as being a skilled huntswoman. Katniss lives in a post-apocalyptic world in which twelve destitute ‘Districts’ live in an oppressive hegemony under the wealthy and decadent Capitol. She voluntarily takes the place of her sister, who was selected at random, to partake in a televised battle between twenty-four teenagers – the eponymous Hunger Games – where ultimately there is only one survivor.
Although I think there is very little dispute over how captivating the book is, there seems to be a general consensus that it is not a read to be taken lightly. The high level of violence and graphic detail has hit a nerve in many adult readers, so naturally most of the violent imagery Collins so meticulously creates is likely to leave many of her younger readers in a state of distress, and thus many people would be of the opinion that post-apocalyptic novels such as this are unsuitable for children. Some of these charming scenes include one in which a character is mauled by monstrous dogs, another wherein a contestant, after being beset by a swarm of deadly stinging insects, suffers the grisly demise of having their body bloating into a swollen, blood-covered, pus-oozing carcass, and finally a distressingly detailed account of dissenters having their tongues cut out for disobedience towards the government. Undoubtedly, these images are hardly child-friendly.
However, before we write the novel off as being ‘inappropriate’ for those who are regarded as children – say under-16s – let us not cast a shadow over the benefits that such post-apocalyptic literature can have on the younger and even adult generation. Post-apocalyptic literature- and not just that aimed solely at children and teenagers, such as Cormac McCarthy’s “The Road” and of course, Orwell’s “1984”, although somewhat distressing, deals with thought-provoking and hard-hitting themes and ideas that can enhance a child’s understanding of literature and the world around them through electrified discussion on topics, such as social inequalities, character motivation, the impact of entertainment, politics, war, morality in the face of adversity, and thematic irony.
Ultimately, as with all literary controversy, the debate will be ongoing as opinion will always be split over whether or not any post-apocalyptic literature is suitable for children. Although I lean more towards the view that it is inappropriate, I am also of the opinion that, ultimately, the responsibility lies with the parents to decide whether or not their child is mature enough to deal with underlying tones of such fiction; it is the parents who need to consider their child’s maturity, perception and ability to engage in and cope with the common themes and images that so prevalently appear in post-apocalyptic literature