Concepts of Nature in Young Adult Dystopian Fiction. Suzanne Collins' The Hunger Games Series

Bachelorarbeit aus dem Jahr 2016 im Fachbereich Amerikanistik - Literatur, Note: 2,0, Universität Rostock (Anglistik/Amerikanistik), Sprache: Deutsch, Abstract: The aim of this paper is to show that nature and ecocritical topics are a significant aspect of young adult dystopian novels, since they are supposed to remind the readers that to respect nature and live in harmony with it is an important feature of their lives and a key to happiness. Contemporary dystopian young adult fiction is also supposed to remind the readership that exploiting or manipulating nature or avoiding environmental issues - next to the other features of our today's society that are criticized in young adult dystopian novels, like reality TV, the restriction of individual freedom and constant surveillance by the government - will lead to the destruction of the world as they know it and the development of a dystopian world.

An oppressed society, a young hero and extreme settings - young adult dystopia is the rising star of genres in literature and film in today's society. Because it raises questions about the world we live in and creates rebellious and authentic protagonists, it appears to be charming for the adolescent readership. Throughout the last years, especially The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins has been extremely successful. Starting with the books, over the films, to little Mockingjay pins in the shops, Collins's trilogy took over the world of teenagers. The story is about a teenage girl, named Katniss, who lives in one of the poorest parts of her country, Panem. Every year there are the annual Hunger Games where teenagers are forced to fight each other to death until there is only one winner. After Katniss survives the 74th Hunger Games by tricking the government, a rebellion of the oppressed people of Panem starts and Katniss becomes the symbol of it.

Nature and the manipulation of it, as well as the benefits of knowing nature, play a major role in The Hunger Games series since Katniss has a special relationship to the natural world which helps her to survive in the Games, and later, is the anchor to her sanity. The Hunger Games series shows that the strict separation of people from nature and the creation of a fake, artificial nature that is manipulated by an oppressing power is a central way to control people by taking away a source of sustenance and a place of freedom. The nature outside of the districts of Panem symbolizes freedom, refuge and escape, while the artificial 'nature' in the arena causes distance and fear of nature for the citizens of Panem, as it is the only access to nature they are allowed to have.