The Hunger Games Are Even Darker Than You Realize Thanks To 1 Subtle Weapon Detail

The already brutal premise of The Hunger Games becomes even more cruel with one small detail regarding the weapons in the Cornucopia. The Hunger Games Cornucopia in the center of the arena has a vast array of weapons for the tributes to choose from, but the element leaves out one crucial aspect. This further emphasizes the sinister intentions of the Hunger Games Capitol, as well as how the Capitol views the tributes themselves.

The first two Hunger Games movies show that the tributes are given time in a training center before the games. Confident and pompous tributes from Districts 1 and 2 hone in on their skills as if training for an athletic contest, but the training center is essentially useless for non-combative tributes from other districts. Weak or young Hunger Games tributes do not stand a chance in a weapons battle, but this is an expectation of the Capitol, as there is no training in self-defense, only combat, especially when considering a certain detail.

The Hunger Games Never Give Tributes Shields, Only Weapons

Weapons are the only items available in the Cornucopia.

Interestingly, the Capitol never provides tributes with shields, forcing them to make a choice: try your luck with a weapon or die. It also creates a sense of urgency as the tributes desperately race to their preferred weapon to swiftly attack anyone in the vicinity of the Cornucopia. One purpose of the Hunger Games is to serve as game show-like entertainment for the Capitol, and this immediate brutality is the exact entertainment that the Capitol citizens want. This also means that violent tributes are likely to be favored by viewers and have an advantage over others in the arena.

Many tributes in The Hunger Games find clever ways to work around the lack of protection. Peeta’s infamous camouflage technique is a memorable moment from the first movie, but some tributes simply resort to fleeing and hiding. This defeats the purpose and origin of the Hunger Games that President Snow has in mind. If tributes hide for too long, that’s less action for the viewers. Therefore, it’s the Gamemaker’s job to force any frightened tributes out of hiding, meaning everyone is forced to fight, one way or another.

No Shields In The Hunger Games Makes Sense For The Capitol

The Capitol doesn’t want the tributes to be able to defend themselves.

Only the Hunger Games victor is supposed to survive. The lack of shields in the arena ensures that the games will be a quick and violent affair. This is what the Capitol wants, as the death of tributes serves as a reminder to all the districts of the Capitol’s power. Other than prolonging the event, shields could also give the tributes hope of surviving, and hope has no home in the games. President Snow describes hope as being “the only thing stronger than fear,” and the Capitol tyrant would prefer the tributes and districts remain fearful.

As far as the existing The Hunger Games movies have shown, shields have never been included in the games. The earliest occurrence of the Hunger Games that the movies feature is the 10th Games in The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes. Earlier versions of the games could have possibly included shields, becoming more barbaric as the years went on. After the success of the recent franchise release, more prequel movies could be made to provide further insight into the game’s weaponry and explore other ways in which the Capitol guarantees a violent, entertaining battle to the death.