Abstract
Games are generally an activity for fun and entertainment. Many play games for relaxation and physical fitness. The novel “The Hunger Games” transforms them into mechanisms of oppression that expose the hegemonic power of the Capitol over the citizens of Panem. The study tries to understand how narrative structures and symbols within the novel reveal the realities of violence, inequality, and resistance in dystopian societies. The objective of the study is to analyze the game metaphor as a critique of political oppression, to examine the emotional and psychological burdens imposed upon the tributes, and to explore the symbolic significance of elements such as fire, the rose, and the Mockingjay in shaping the narrative of survival and rebellion. The study employs a qualitative textual analysis using narratology as its theoretical framework to investigate the narrative techniques, symbolic representations, and character transformations presented in the novel. The findings reveal that the Capitol sustains its authority not only through physical violence but also through ideological control and emotional manipulation embedded within the structure of the Games. Furthermore, the resistance of the tributes emerges as a narratological disruption that challenges the imposed system of power and reality. The study concludes that the game metaphor in the novel serves as a powerful literary device for critiquing authoritarianism and contributes significantly to contemporary literary and political criticism.
Keywords: Game Tyranny, Mediator, Mockingjay, Metaphor, Social Inequality, Tribute.