On The Hunger Games, Plutarch, and Why We Should Read the Ancient Works

From the island of Crete comes a tale of bravery and daring feats between man and myth. Theseus and the Minotaur, a monster birthed by the wife of King Minos and was half man half bull, and a man born of a rival king.

Androgeus was the human son of King Minos who participated in the Panthenaic Games in Athens. After winning the games, Androgeus was ambushed and killed. Plutarch writes that Androgeus was killed in a treacherous way, but the details of this are obscure. In another story, King Aegeus of Athens had Androgeus face the Marrathonian Bull, which ended his life.

King Minos was furious over the loss of his son and declared war on Athens. After his failure to take the city in an ambush, Minos prayed to Zeus for revenge. Athens was struck with a terrible famine and pestilence. The Athenians sought the oracle to figure out how to end their suffering. They were told to give Minos whatever he wanted in retribution. Minos decided that every 7-9 years, the King of Athens would send 7 Athenian boys and 7 girls to be devoured by the Minotaur in his labyrinth home under the castle.

The Hunger Games was published during my sophomore year of college. While I didn’t jump in until I had graduated, I did binge read the entire series while visiting my new husband’s family over Christmas in 2011. I was captivated by Suzanne Collin’s depiction of Panem, a dystopian nation ruled by the callous Capitol. Upon the defeat of the 12 districts during the country’s civil war, the Capitol ordered the districts to send one boy and one girl to the capitol to fight to the death in the arena.

King Aegeus had a son, Theseus, from whom he had been separated from since birth. Theseus reunited with his father in Athens in time for the 14 children to be sent to Crete. Unable to bear the thought of these children being sent to their death, Theseus volunteered to go to Crete and slay the Minotaur.

In district 12, Katniss Everdeen stands with fellow children her age waiting to find out who has been reaped for the annual Hunger Games. In seconds her life changes when she hears the words, Primrose Everdeen, her little sister, come from the announcer’s lips. Unable to stand the thought of her sister going to her death in the capitol, Katniss volunteers as tribute.

In 2020, I read through Edith Hamilton’s Mythology when a thought struck me. Collins had written a modern day Theseus and the Minotaur. Her story was drawn from heavy inspiration from Greek mythology and the biographer Plutarch. While it’s common for creatives to build stories out of other stories, we’re all familiar with the Lion King being a representation of Shakespeare, seeing how deep the connections went in the Hunger Games has been interesting to me every time I read through the series.

The president of Panem is named Coriolanus Snow, a character name known to those who have read through Plutarch’s Life of Coriolanus and the Shakespeare play of the same name. Coriolanus, the Roman leader, was famous for his military actions and defeating an enemy army to defend Rome. Despite being nominated as a consul, he was unpopular with his people and cannot win the vote he needs. Coriolanus’s mother in the Shakespeare works is named Volumnia. Interestingly, Collins also chose this name for the character of Dr. Gaul, a teacher of Coriolanus Snow in the Battle of Snakes and Songbirds. Dr. Gaul takes on a leadership and mentorship role for Snow. In Plutarch’s biography, Volumnia was the wife of Coriolanus.

When I first encountered Plutarch I thought again of the Hunger Games and Collins decision to name the head gamemaker Plutarch Havensbee in the second book. When I looked into this further I learned that Suzanne’s father read Plutarch to her growing up. Plutarch's biographies often present leaders with both virtues and vices, and Plutarch Heavensbee's character reflects a similar moral ambiguity, as he works within the Capitol's oppressive system while secretly aiding the rebels.

The connections between the Hunger Games and Ancient or Classical works don’t end with Theseus. Collins admits to drawing inspiration from the Roman gladiator games. There are even subtle hints to Greek and Roman myths, like Castor and Pollux, brothers in the Hunger Games were also twin brothers in Greek and Roman myths.

The Mockingjay, a hybrid bird that plays a significant role in the series, can be seen as a reference to the myth of Philomela. In Greek mythology, Philomela is transformed into a nightingale, symbolizing freedom and the power of song. Similarly, the Mockingjay becomes a symbol of rebellion and resistance against the Capitol.

The extravagant lifestyle of the Capitol's residents, with its decadence and excess, reflects the opulence of ancient Rome. This can be linked to the observations made by historical figures like Plutarch, providing a commentary on societal inequalities.

The three-finger salute, a gesture of solidarity and defiance used by the rebels, can be likened to the Greek custom of raising three fingers as a symbol of resistance or protest. This subtle reference ties in with the rebellion against the Capitol's authority.

The punishment of turning individuals into Avox (mute servants) for rebellion against the Capitol can be compared to the punishment of cutting out the tongue of the Thracian women who aided rebels in Ancient Greece. ( A punishment documented in Shakespeare)

While we can enjoy the Hunger Games series without diving into all the references to ancient works, having an understanding of these elements enhances the book series. The links between The Hunger Games, Plutarch, and Greek mythology is incredibly fascinating and intellectually enriching. Through this exploration, we can deepen our children's understanding of classical ideals, societal structures, and the enduring nature of human narratives. These elements build on each other over time, proving that there’s nothing new under the sun.

Ancient texts to read and enjoy:

Mythology by Edith Hamilton
The Greek Way by Edith Hamilton
The Plutarch Project by Anne White
Plutarch Lives
The Odyssey
The Illiad
The Aeneid
The Epic of Gilgamesh

Reading these ancient works not only makes us better readers of current literature, they also inspire a sense of adventure and provide better understanding of the people and cultures who have existed before us. If you’ve not yet visited the pages of these stories, I encourage you to do so.