What is the atmosphere created in the Hunger Games?

In the book The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, the atmosphere created in the Hunger Games was quite brutal. In this environment, normal people could be turned into murderers due to the harshness of their circumstances. Not only this, but people’s identities were transformed from humans to mere things in a game. This is most clearly shown by Peeta’s conversation with Katniss about their impending involvement in the Hunger Games.

Before the Hunger Games commence, Peeta and Katniss talk about their concerns about the Hunger Games. Katniss mainly focuses on the physical and literal type of environment that they will experience. For example, she primarily concentrates on survival and the type of arena she will encounter, such as a cold environment versus a hot one. Peeta, on the other hand, shows the deeper atmosphere that the Hunger Games creates.

For Peeta, he is mainly concerned with how the environment will impact who he actually is as a human being. As Peeta illustrates, he does not want to be turned into someone or even something that he is not. Peeta himself states:

“I don’t want them to change me in there. Turn me into some kind of monster that I’m not.”

With this type of atmosphere, Peeta and Katniss realize that they are game pieces in the Hunger Games. The environment degrades and debases the players; however, Peeta recognizes this and wants to fight (and possibly die) with “His purity of self.” Although he realizes that when the time comes, he will probably have to kill someone, he also wants to show that he is “more than just a piece in their Games.”

As a result, the atmosphere created in the Hunger Games is one of desperation and debasement. However, Peeta recognizes this atmosphere and chooses to preserve his own identity, regardless of the games' atmosphere.