“Absolute power corrupts absolutely” these words flew around my mind as I watched the latest installment of the celebrated Hunger Games series, The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes. The story revolves around the rise to power of a young Coriolanus Snow, played by Tom Blyth, as he mentors District 12’s Lucy Gray Baird, portrayed by Rachel Zegler, through the 10th annual Hunger Games. Throughout the nearly 3-hour runtime of The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, the themes of authority and exploitation are incredibly evident. We are transported to the world where, after a bloody civil war, the Capital, the victor, institutes the annual hunger games, taking two tributes from every district. The 10th Hunger Games showcases the shift from a routine showcase of power to the commodification of human life. Coriolanus does everything in his power to better the Hunger Games’ ratings and keep Lucy Gray alive in order to win the coveted Plinth prize. An unexpected romance flourishes between the two due to Coriolanus’s tricks. However, a question asked by Lucy Gray, “Are you helping me because you care or because you have something to win?” hints towards a more sinister side. This sinister side of Coriolanus is confirmed in the latter third of the movie as he moves in the ranks from his exile due to his cheats to his glorious return to the Capital. This return comes off from the backs of the betrayal of his anti-hunger games best friend Sejanus, portrayed by Josh Andres Rivera, and Lucy Gray.
As I sat in that packed movie theater, I contemplated how similar his arc is to that of Marlow from Heart of
Darkness. These are two ambitious young men who pave their way through the
exploitation and commodification of human life. Throughout Heart of Darkness
and The Ballad of Songbirds and
Snakes, both characters initially start by having quite a naïve and quite
simple view of the world. Marlow believes that his trip to the Congo will
simply bring him riches and fame. Coriolanus believes that if his tribute wins
the Hunger Games, it will lift him from poverty. Throughout both stories, the characters slowly become more familiar with the people they exploit, with Marlow
going deeper into the Congo and Coriolanus becoming closer to Lucy Gray and
getting exiled to District 12. However, their conclusion is where these characters
deviate completely. Marlow becomes much more philosophical and numb to the atrocities
he experienced, and he tries to be a cautionary example to the sailors who
hear his story. Coriolanus, however, finds a way to get back to the Capital and
return with fortunes off the backs of betrayals and his charming personality.
Coriolanus serves as an example of who Marlow could have been had he gone even
further in the company, whilst also serving as a much more successful Kurtz, giving
into his evil need for power.
Fans of The Ballad of Songbirds
and Snakes may be disappointed by how the movie portrayed Coriolanus as
much more sympathetic and morally gray compared to his literary counterpart.
The reason for this is Coriolanus's lack of inner dialogue, where his
dark desires are more thoroughly explored. A notable exchange between
Coriolanus and his cousin Tigris, portrayed by Hunter Schafer, denotes his character
arc. Throughout the movie, Tigris refers to Coriolanus as affectionately as
Corio. However, after all his betrayals and his triumphant return to the Capital, she simply states, “You look just like your father, Coriolanus.” This is significant
since Coriolanus’s father is revealed to have been the bloodthirsty creator of
the Hunger Games.
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