History repeats itself if we as humans do not know what mistakes were made in the past. Ancient Rome lasted for centuries because the leaders adapted to the mistakes of the past leaders. Today’s culture has fallen into a doomed pattern by ignoring the strives the Roman’s made to improve itself. “The Roman Empire made the largest impact on western culture today,” said Dr. Edward Woodfin, a western civilization professor at Converse College. From the time the Roman Empire was established it’s citizens knew there were rich and then there is everyone else. Those who were not rich worked long and hard days under the watchful eye of the Roman army. The rich placated the differences with Panem et Circenses or food and entertainment. Eventually though the rich were outnumbered and a slave revolt began.
…show more content…
Suzanne Collins utilizes some of the ancient Roman Empires strengths and weaknesses in her book The Hunger Games by recreating differences in social class and governing styles, retailing the story of Spartacus and the slave revolt that mocks present day society. To truly understand parallels of The Hunger Games and Spartacus one must have an understanding of Roman history. Roman Empire begins 17 years after Caesar’s death in 44 B.C.E (Hunt 170). During this time there was a civil war that ended with a “disguised monarchy” to begin the Pax Romana (Hunt 170). The Pax Romana lasted about 200 years and was a period where trade flourished, but taxes rose (Hunt 170). Rome’s population was nearly a million and most were without jobs (Hunt 173). Augustus paid for grain and oil to feed the people (Hunt 174). Slaves had to live hardships and provide violent entertainment in gladiator combats (Hunt 175). The strongest slaves were sent away to train and kill for the entertainment of Rome, said Dr. Woodfin, people were fed well so that they had the energy to compet. These events were sponsored by the king and most work was suspended to view it. If this sounds familiar you are right, The Hunger Games is a model of the Roman Empire. Suzanne Collins wanted to give us a modern gladiator games (Collins 2). This modern version even had a similar past. “The result [after global disasters and war] was Panem...which brought peace and prosperity to its citizens. Then the Dark Days came, uprisings of the the districts against the capitol. Twelve were defeated the thirteenth obliterated. The Treaty of Treason gave us new laws and guaranteed peace and as a yearly reminder… it gave us Hunger Games” (Collins 18) So, Rome was around long before the Roman Empire emerged, but it was not peaceful. When Caesar took control he was a voice for the people and everyone got rich, much like the first sentence. After …show more content…
Spartacus was a slave from an outer part of the Roman Empire (Shaw 2). “District 12 was an area known as Appalachia” (Collins 41). Appalachia is an mountain range that in Panem was the furthest most remote district. So Spartacus and Katniss are from remote areas. After committing a crime and/ or being chosen in the reaping they are forced to go another place to train. Spartacus was sent to Sicily where as Katniss was sent to the Capitol’s training center (Shaw 2). From there they both excel at killing people for entertainment, but there are visable signs of resistance that stirs something in others. It was as if they were both used. In fact there is no documents with Spartacus’s exact words in them (Shaw 27). The only documents about Spartacus were documents that were used to show him as an envisionary or to incite sympathy for slaves (Shaw 27). Dr. Harbin has said that she thinks Cinna used Katniss. Spartacus and Katniss were symbolizes whether they were real or not. Today Spartacus is still considered as a symbol of rebellion and Katniss is following in his footsteps, but she does what he can’t. Spartacus loses the battle in the end and Katniss can see beyond just the end of the battle she saw the end of the war when she killed the next oppressor. Katniss may have not directly been told that when one person of power is killed another takes their place, but she witnesses it time and time again,
Suzanne Collins utilizes some of the ancient Roman Empires strengths and weaknesses in her book The Hunger Games by recreating differences in social class and governing styles, retailing the story of Spartacus and the slave revolt that mocks present day society. To truly understand parallels of The Hunger Games and Spartacus one must have an understanding of Roman history. Roman Empire begins 17 years after Caesar’s death in 44 B.C.E (Hunt 170). During this time there was a civil war that ended with a “disguised monarchy” to begin the Pax Romana (Hunt 170). The Pax Romana lasted about 200 years and was a period where trade flourished, but taxes rose (Hunt 170). Rome’s population was nearly a million and most were without jobs (Hunt 173). Augustus paid for grain and oil to feed the people (Hunt 174). Slaves had to live hardships and provide violent entertainment in gladiator combats (Hunt 175). The strongest slaves were sent away to train and kill for the entertainment of Rome, said Dr. Woodfin, people were fed well so that they had the energy to compet. These events were sponsored by the king and most work was suspended to view it. If this sounds familiar you are right, The Hunger Games is a model of the Roman Empire. Suzanne Collins wanted to give us a modern gladiator games (Collins 2). This modern version even had a similar past. “The result [after global disasters and war] was Panem...which brought peace and prosperity to its citizens. Then the Dark Days came, uprisings of the the districts against the capitol. Twelve were defeated the thirteenth obliterated. The Treaty of Treason gave us new laws and guaranteed peace and as a yearly reminder… it gave us Hunger Games” (Collins 18) So, Rome was around long before the Roman Empire emerged, but it was not peaceful. When Caesar took control he was a voice for the people and everyone got rich, much like the first sentence. After …show more content…
Spartacus was a slave from an outer part of the Roman Empire (Shaw 2). “District 12 was an area known as Appalachia” (Collins 41). Appalachia is an mountain range that in Panem was the furthest most remote district. So Spartacus and Katniss are from remote areas. After committing a crime and/ or being chosen in the reaping they are forced to go another place to train. Spartacus was sent to Sicily where as Katniss was sent to the Capitol’s training center (Shaw 2). From there they both excel at killing people for entertainment, but there are visable signs of resistance that stirs something in others. It was as if they were both used. In fact there is no documents with Spartacus’s exact words in them (Shaw 27). The only documents about Spartacus were documents that were used to show him as an envisionary or to incite sympathy for slaves (Shaw 27). Dr. Harbin has said that she thinks Cinna used Katniss. Spartacus and Katniss were symbolizes whether they were real or not. Today Spartacus is still considered as a symbol of rebellion and Katniss is following in his footsteps, but she does what he can’t. Spartacus loses the battle in the end and Katniss can see beyond just the end of the battle she saw the end of the war when she killed the next oppressor. Katniss may have not directly been told that when one person of power is killed another takes their place, but she witnesses it time and time again,