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By Harper Hall
Warning: Spoilers Ahead
I recently finished reading Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins, the newest prequel to The Hunger Games series. In the Hunger Games, child tributes must survive a deadly, televised competition in a controlled arena, where they must fight each other until only one remains alive. I first read The Hunger Games in seventh grade, and my eyes were opened to the world of dystopian literature. Revisiting this series six years later offered me new insights into the country of Panem, allowing me to better understand the purpose of the series. Sunrise on the Reaping is the story of Haymitch Abernathy, a boy from District 12 reaped for the 50th Hunger Games. Readers of the series recognize him from his role as a mentor to Katniss and Peeta in the 74th and 75th Hunger Games, in which he quickly became a fan favorite. Sunrise on the Reaping showcases Haymitch’s experience in the Games, and how he fought against the Capitol every step of the way.
Sunrise on the Reaping opens with a quote from George Orwell: “All propaganda is lies, even when one is telling the truth. I don’t think this matters so long as one knows what one is doing, and why.” Readers of Sunrise on the Reaping quickly learn that propaganda is a central focus of the novel. Every part of the Capitol and the Hunger Games that is projected to the Districts is carefully curated to make the Capitol appear strong and in control. Haymitch sees this early on in the novel, with the footage of his reaping being completely reconstructed after one of the tributes was shot by a Peacekeeper. A riot ensues, more members of District 12 are killed, and Haymitch is reaped as a result. Although the cameras are rolling this entire time, the footage is reconstructed so no rebellion is shown to citizens of Panem. This situation repeats again later in the novel, when a chariot explodes during the Parade of Tributes and kills another tribute from District 12, Louella McCoy. In an act of defiance, Haymitch runs with her body to where President Snow presides over the parade, trying to force him to acknowledge that he killed a thirteen year old girl in front of millions of spectators. In response, President Snow completely wipes the footage of Haymitch’s act of defiance and replaces the dead Louella McCoy with a body double. The public never knows that the real Louella died, or that Haymitch fought for her in her last moments. During the Games, Haymitch unsuccessfully tries to destroy the arena multiple times, which is never aired to the public. In his final moments in the Games, Haymitch realizes the arena is in the shape of an eye, reinforcing the message that the Capitol is always watching. When he exits the arena, Haymitch discovers that all acts of his resistance to the Capitol were wiped, smothering any rebellion that might have arisen as a result.
Sunrise on the Reaping perfectly exemplifies how propaganda influences citizens' perception of their government. It showcases the lengths the Capitol was willing to go to protect their stronghold on the population, leaving citizens of the Capitol content and smothering all seeds of rebellion within the Districts. When the United States reframes situations as the prevailing admin sees fit, it's important to be deliberate in the information we ingest and challenge the government when answers are insufficient. Sunrise on the Reaping is an incredible novel that I hope will inspire readers to examine the information they consume and encourage them to resist unjust situations.
Harper Hall is a McConnell Scholar in the class of 2028 at the University of Louisville. She studies political science.